The Relationship between Attachment and Children’s Friendship Network and Friendship Quality: Focusing on the Mediating Effect of Empathy

Abstract

This study investigated associations between attachment and friendship. This study also examined the mediating effects of empathy on the association between two variables. Participants consisted of 4th to 6th grade elementary school children including 173 boys and 141 girls. Two elementary schools were located in Seoul and Bucheon. Children participated in a peer nomination interview. They nominated their three most liked peers. Children’s responses to the best friend of the peer nomination identified the children’s best friends. A Friendship Quality Scale measured children’s positive friendship quality and friendship satisfaction. Children completed the Inventory of the Parent and Peer Attachment Scale that assessed maternal and paternal attachment. In addition, they completed a children’s version of the Empathy Quotient that measured empathy. Pearson’s correlation and Structural Equation Modeling were used to analyse the data. The results indicated that attachment had a direct influence on friendship network. Children who had the high levels of attachment security had large friendship network. However, attachment did not have a significant effect on friendship quality. Moreover, empathy had mediating effects on the association between attachment and friendship quality as well as the friendship network. The results of this research highlight the importance of attachment and empathy on children’s friendship. Keywords: attachment, empathy, friendship