Distinguishing children who form new best-friendships from those who do not

Abstract

Three groups were identified using best-friendship nominations at two time points surrounding the transition to middle school (Time 1: Spring of 5^th grade; Time 2: Fall of 6^th grade): (i) children who had no best-friendship at Time 1, but had a best-friendship at Time 2 (<i>best-friendship gain; N</i>=109); (ii) children who had no best-friendship at either Time 1 or 2 (<i>chronically best-friendless; N</i>=105); and (iii) children with a best-friendship at both Times 1 and 2, but with different peers at each time (<i>best-friendship change; N</i>=120). Peer nominations of social behaviors and victimization were collected at Times 1 and 2. Findings suggest that attraction to similar others, in addition to increased displays of prosocial behaviors, facilitate the formation of <i>new</i> best-friendships for both initially best-friendless and best-friended children.