Differences and consistency between same-sex and other-sex peer relationships during early adolescence.

Abstract

Children's and early adolescents' preference for same-sex peers and the consistency of individual differences in reputation and popularity across the same- and other-sex domains were studied with 3 samples. Findings indicated that individual differences in the same-sex preference (a) derived from children's liking of other-sex peers, (b) were consistent over relatively long intervals, and (c) were related to children's preferences for activities requiring gross motor skills. Same- and other-sex popularity had the same reputational correlates, except that acceptance among other-sex peers was more closely tied to prominence in the peer group. These findings are discussed according to children's and early adolescents' perceptions of and experiences with same- and other-sex peers