Friendship networks and social, school and psychological adjustment in Chinese junior high school students

Abstract

AbstractThe purpose of the study was to examine friendship networks and their associations with social, academic and psychological adjustment in Chinese high school students. A sample of 296 eighth grade students, aged 14 years, in two junior high schools in Shanghai, P. R. China, participated in this study. Information on social functioning, social preference, leadership, school‐related competence and problems, academic achievement, and psychological adjustment including loneliness and perceived competence was obtained from multiple sources. By using a computer‐based network analysis program, NEGOPY, friendship groups, liaisons, dyads and isolates were identified. It was found that children who belonged to friendship groups differed from those who had only one or two mutual friends and those who were completely isolated on indexes of social, emotional and school adjustment. Compared with dyads who had mutual friends, group members had higher scores on social and school competence and lower scores on learning problems and loneliness, suggesting that friendship networks might represent a phenomenon distinct from dyadic relationships. Finally, children who had behavioral and academic problems had difficulties not only in getting involved in group networks but also in establishing mutual friendships in the class. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 40: 5–17, 2003.