A Comparison between the Same-Ethnicity and Cross-Ethnicity Friendship Quality of Adolescents in Viet Nam

Le To Do Quyen,Norzarina Mohd-Zaharim

doi:10.5539/ijps.v7n1p1

Abstract

The present study aims to explore the differences between the same-ethnicity and the cross-ethnicity friendship quality of adolescents in Viet Nam. Participants were 200 ethnic majority students and 200 ethnic minority students from two public high schools in DakLak, Viet Nam. The participants answered the McGill Friendship Questionnaire-Respondent’s Affection (MFQ-RA). The findings showed that there was no significant difference in the same-ethnicity friendship quality between adolescents from ethnic majority and minority groups. However, in terms of the cross-ethnicity friendship quality, adolescents from the ethnic minority groups got significantly higher positive feelings for friends than those from the ethnic majority group. The results revealed that the differences between genders in the same-ethnicity friendship quality were significant. Meanwhile, there were significant differences between genders in cross-ethnicity friendship quality. In fact, girls got significantly higher positive feelings for a friend and the overall same-ethnicity friendship quality than boys. These findings are discussed vis-à-vis previous research on intra- and inter-ethnic friendships and gender comparisons in friendships.

Highlights

1.1 The Role of Friendship Quality in Individuals’ LifeFriendship is a distinctively personal relationship characterized as intimacy and formed by the concerns of a person for the welfare and the sake of the other
Ethnicity is a major factor that should be taken into account when we explore friendship quality
The results indicated that the means of “friendship satisfaction”, “positive feelings for a friend” and overall friendship quality for ethnic minority adolescents were slightly higher than those for ethnic majority adolescents, these differences were not statistically significant

Summary

Introduction

1.1 The Role of Friendship Quality in Individuals’ LifeFriendship is a distinctively personal relationship characterized as intimacy and formed by the concerns of a person for the welfare and the sake of the other. Friendship quality is important because it has direct effects on many aspects of children’s social development, including their self-esteem and social adjustment, and has indirect effects on their attitudes and behaviors (Berndt, 2002). A number of theorists have claimed that friendship quality has both positive and negative aspects. According to these researchers, positive aspects involve companionship, trust and support, disclosure, communication and validation, prosocial behavior, self-esteem support, intimacy, loyalty, etc. Negative aspects refer to conflict and betrayal, dominance attempt, and rivalry of the relationship (Berndt, 2002; Parker & Asher, 1993). Berndt and Keefe (1995) stated that adolescents’ self-esteem and psychological health may be enhanced by high-quality friendships

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Discussion

Conclusion