Aspects Of Friendship Research Articles

Friendship Social Support Networks of African Americans

ABSTRACT Friends are crucial for companionship, sharing personal thoughts and feelings, and are positively associated with psychological well-being and mental health. This is one of the first studies to provide an in-depth investigation of social support networks of African American friendship. Using a nationally representative sample of African American adults drawn from the National Survey of American Life, this study investigated sociodemographic correlates, as well as expanded information on marital status and life circumstances of friendships. Additionally, we examined the interrelationships among several aspects of friendship. The findings indicate that, apart from income and region, all other correlates (i.e. age, gender, education, marital status, material hardship, military service, incarceration history, parental status, and urbanicity) were significantly associated with involvement in friendship support networks (i.e. subjective friendship closeness, frequency of contact with friends, frequency of receiving support from friends, and frequency of providing support to friends). Moreover, subjective closeness to friends was positively associated with friend contact, and both subjective closeness to and contact with friends were positively associated with supportive exchanges with friends. These findings indicate the importance of understanding the life circumstances and contexts within which friendships occur and the need for much more quantitative and qualitative research on African American friendships.

ДРУЖИТЬ ИЛИ НЕТ? ПРЕДСТАВЛЕНИЯ РАБОТНИКОВ РОССИЙСКИХ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЙ О ДОПУСТИМОСТИ НЕФОРМАЛЬНЫХ ОТНОШЕНИЙ НА РАБОТЕ

The article discusses various aspects of friendship among employees of the organization. The positive impact of friendship on colleagues is described, as well as the risks of close working relationships. Possible tools for managing friendship on the part of management are also considered. The results of a survey of employees of Russian companies on the topic of friendly relations between colleagues are presented. It was found that the majority of respondents have friends at work and, in general, have a positive attitude towards friendship among colleagues. The survey participants see the greatest benefit from friendship in improving the moral and psychological climate of the team, and the biggest adverse effect of friendship is, in their opinion, “distraction from work.”

Commitment and Extra-Dyadic Sexual Activity in College Students’ Friends with Benefits Relationships: Moderating Effects of Gender

ABSTRACT Friends with benefits relationships (FWBRs) are a common form of relationship for college students that combine aspects of friendship with sex, yet little is known about commitment in these relationships and whether they are more similar to casual relationships or to romantic relationships. We investigated associations between investment, alternatives, and satisfaction, with commitment (per the Investment Model) in college students’ FWBRs and examined how associations between variables differ by participant and partner gender. Primary analyses were conducted with male-female FWBRs (n = 252). Male-male (n = 19) and female-female (n = 4) FWBRs are described. Investment was the strongest predictor of commitment for participants in male-female FWBRs, with commitment higher among women than men when investment was high. Additionally, participants’ perceptions that their own and their partners’ commitment was asymmetrical, as well as reports of extra-dyadic sexual activity (i.e., sex outside the FWBR) correlated with lower commitment to the FWBR. Overall, results suggest that FWBRs can be distinguished not only from other casual sexual relationships such as hookups but can also be differentiated from romantic relationships. Future research and intervention work should measure commitment and investment to predict how these relationships can persist, as well as transition, over time.

The narcissistic experience of friendship: The roles of agentic and communal orientations toward friendship

Narcissism is associated with a wide array of interpersonal problems. The present studies examined the connections between narcissistic personality features and the experience of friendship. We were interested in the possibility that narcissistic admiration (an agentic form of narcissism characterized by assertive self-enhancement and self-promotion) and narcissistic rivalry (an antagonistic form of narcissism characterized by self-protection and self-defense) may have divergent associations with various aspects of friendship. Study 1 found that narcissistic admiration and narcissistic rivalry had divergent associations with maximizing selectivity and negative friendship attributions that were mediated by the agentic and communal orientations toward friendship. Study 2 found that narcissistic admiration and narcissistic rivalry had divergent associations with friendship commitment that were again mediated by agentic and communal orientations toward friendship. These results demonstrate the similarities and differences between narcissistic admiration and narcissistic rivalry in the context of friendship as well as the important roles that agentic and communal orientations toward friendship play in the connections that narcissistic personality features have with outcomes concerning friendship.

The Aristotelian model of friendship and the IU-Kenya Partnership.

Disparity in economic development between high-income countries (HICs) and low- and medium-income countries (LMICs) has necessitated collaborations, some in health-related activities. Globalisation frameworks indicate that, in fair collaborations, the ultimate aim should be to improve the situation in LMICs. In this paper we present the findings of a research study in which we used Aristotle's concept of friendship among unequal parties as an analytic framework to engage with the issue of inequality in an existing international partnership in health, the Indiana University-Kenya Partnership (IU-Kenya Partnership). This is a collaborative health programme involving a consortium of North American universities and schools of the Moi University College of Health Sciences in Kenya. We carried out in-depth oral interviews and focus group discussions with a sample of 41 partners of various IU-Kenya Partnership programmes. We did a comparison of obtained themes to the Aristotelian pointers of aspects of friendship among unequal parties. We eventually identified good and bad aspects of North-South partnerships as perceived in the IU-Kenya Partnership restricted to the Aristotelian model. Key terms: health research collaborations, HICs-LMICs Partnerships, IU-Kenya Partnership, inequality, good and bad partnership, Aristotelian model.

Loss of friends and psychological well-being of older Chinese immigrants

Background and objectives Focusing on a less studied aspect of friendship and an overlooked type of loss, this study examined associations between loss of friends and psychological well-being among older Chinese immigrants and whether such associations are moderated by age, gender, marital status, and social connection. Research methods This study used baseline data from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago. Linear and logistic regressions tested whether the loss of friends was associated depressive symptoms, loneliness, and quality of life . Interaction terms were created to test the moderating effects . Results Losing friends was associated with a greater sense of loneliness but also a higher chance of reporting good quality of life. The association between the loss of friends and loneliness was stronger among married and young-old (59–69) participants . The association between the loss of friends and quality of life was stronger among young-old and old-old (70–79) participants and the participants with the high level of social connection. Discussion and implications Findings shed light on the importance of the loss of friends in shaping psychological well-being among older immigrants. More research is needed to understand the needs of older friend survivors and develop relevant interventions.

WHAT DOES MY PERSONALITY SAYS ABOUT MY FRIENDSHIPS IN LATER LIFE?

Personality traits, such as those identified in the Big Five Personality Model (i.e., openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism), may be associated with different aspects of friendship among older adults. Additionally, men and women form and maintain their friendships differently, which may result in gender differences in their friendships. This study examined the relationship between specific personality traits and friendship characteristics, including friendship quantity, frequency of social interactions with friends, positive and negative friendship quality. The study also explored whether gender moderates the relationship between personality traits and friendships in later life. This study used data from 7,250 community-dwelling older adults, aged 65 years and above (M=75.4 years old, SD=6.91), who participated in 2012 and 2014 Leave-Behind Questionnaire of the Health and Retirement Study. Results from the linear regression analysis indicated significant main effects for the different personality traits and friendship quantity, quality and social interaction frequency, but no main effect for gender was found. However, the moderating effect of gender was significant for the relationship between specific personality traits (i.e. openness to experience, agreeableness and extraversion) and social interaction with friends, as well as for positive and negative friendship quality. For example, older women who scored high on openness to experience reported significantly lower social contact frequency with friends (B=-.16, p<.05) and higher negative friendship quality (B=.08, p<.05) than men who scored high on openness to experience. Study results provide insights for understanding better how personality traits and gender play a role in friendships in later life.

Two brothers, two shares: Alexander and Andrei Potebni

The article deals with the activities of brothers Alexander and Andriy Poteben. The work of the prominent Ukrainian philosopher, linguist and public figure - Alexander Potebni, is covered. His contribution to the development of Ukrainian science is analyzed. The most important scientific achievements of the scientist and their influence on the further development of Ukrainian philosophical thought are mentioned. The scholar's attitude and opinions regarding the Ukrainian language in the context of the current sociopolitical situation are shown. Among other things, his views on Ukrainian-Polish and Ukrainian-Russian relations in the historical past are highlighted. The article analyzes the life and activities of another brother, Andrew Potebni. The period of his stay and study in the Polotsk Cadet Corps is covered. Some aspects of friendship with cadets of Polish, Belarusian and Lithuanian origin are considered. Some of them later became members of the Polish uprising of 1863 against the Russian Empire. The character of A. Potebna and the formation of the outlook of a future participant of revolutionary events in the territory of the Polish lands are characterized. He is referred to his transfer to the 16th Schlossburg Infantry Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division, localized in Warsaw. A. Potebni's participation in the revolutionary struggle and his role during the January Polish uprising of 1863–1864 was demonstrated. The article considers the attitude of the newspaper's editorial staff to it and its struggle against the Russian autocracy. Personal relationships and friendships between A. Potebnei and O. Herzen and M. Ogarev are characterized. The activities of the Committee of Russian Officers in Poland are covered. The article discusses the versions of the attempt on O. Lieders, who held the position of governor of the Kingdom of Poland. The participation of other family members - Nicholas and Peter Potebni - is partially covered. They also joined the Polish armed struggle to restore the Commonwealth.

Friendships in middle childhood: Links to peer and school identification, and general self-worth.

Children's friendships are important for well‐being and school adjustment, but few studies have examined multiple indices of friendships together in middle childhood. The current study surveyed 7‐ to 11‐year‐olds (n = 314) about their friendships, best friendships, friendship quality and indices of self‐worth, identification with peers, and identification with school. Peer relationships were positively related to self‐worth, but not identification with peers or school. Best friendship quality moderated the relationship between number of reciprocated friendship nominations and self‐worth. Children with a reciprocated best friend had higher friendship quality and peer identification than others. Where best friendship was reciprocated, the relationship with identification with peers was mediated via positive friendship quality. The results suggest that friendship reciprocity is particularly relevant for children's self‐worth and identification with peers. The findings are discussed in relation to the importance of fostering the development of reciprocated friendships. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Friendships are related to well‐being, school relations, and how young people feel about their peers at school.Friendship quality may be important in moderating the relationship between peer relations and adjustment. What does this study add? Various aspects of friendships are studied simultaneously with younger children than much previous research.Reciprocated best friendships were better quality than partial or non‐reciprocated best friendships.Friendship reciprocity was most relevant for children's self‐worth and peer identification.

'Best friends forever'? Friendship stability across school transition and associations with mental health and educational attainment.

Friendships have been linked to mental health and school attainment in children. The effects of friendlessness and friendship quality have been well researched, but less is known about the role of friendship stability (i.e., maintaining the same friend over time), an aspect of friendship which is often interrupted by the transition between phases of schooling. Many children report concerns about the secondary school transition which introduces a number of new social and academic challenges for children. To explore rates of friendship stability and whether maintaining a stable best friend across the primary to secondary school transition provided benefits to children's adjustment during this period. Data were from 593 children (M age=11years 2months). This study used longitudinal data from children transitioning into 10 UK secondary schools and explored the association between self-reported friendship stability and three outcomes: academic attainment, emotional problems and conduct problems. Analyses controlled for friendship quality and pre-transition psychological adjustment or attainment as appropriate. Rates of friendship stability were relatively low during this period. Children who kept the same best friend had higher academic attainment and lower levels of conduct problems. Exploratory analyses indicated that secondary school policies that group children based on friendships may support friendship stability. Helping maintain children's best friendships during the transition to secondary school may contribute to higher academic performance and better mental health.

The Role of Friendship in Relationship Marketing, Investigated in the Retail Service Industries

This study examines the role of friendship in relationship marketing attributes. Specific friendship components are evaluated in terms of their contribution to relationship outcomes, customer loyalty, and customer commitment. We analyze the relationship between friendship and relationship marketing variables in two different service industries. For relationship development, different aspects of friendship are expected to serve as pivotal attributes. The positive effect of friendship on customer commitment and customer loyalty is examined. We also investigate the mediating role of friendship regarding other relationship marketing characteristics. Friendship is evaluated as both an antecedent and as a mediator in relationship marketing outcomes.

Friendship according to a Biblical document from the Hellenistic period

In the Hellenistic world, both in Greece and in Egypt, friendship was a current and popular topic. This no doubt has influenced Ben Sira, a Jewish author from the second century bce, who in his book of wisdom has included no less than seven passages on different aspects of friendship. As a keen observer he lays stress on the sociological, or rather the socio-ethical foundations and implications of being one's friend. Over and above this, it always is fear of God which directs one's friendship aright.

Amizade na Infância: Um Estudo Empírico no Projeto Caminhando Juntos de Vitória

Literature on childhood friendship is quite diversified, focusing on various aspects (social, emotional and cognitive, etc.) revealing the complex nature of the subject. This study aimed at investigating different aspects of friendship in children in order to contribute to the formulation of a theoretical model forunderstanding friendship as a complex system of relations. Forty children aged seven to ten years, participants of the “Projeto Caminhando Juntos” (Cajun), in the city of Vitoria, were interviewed. This project offers several courses for children and adolescents from six to seventeen years old enrolled in schools in the city of Vitoria and aims to integrate children socially, avoiding them to stay on the streets, promoting physical education, moral and social children from disadvantaged communities. The results refer to friends network (including the best friend), space and time, activities and communication with friends, psychosocial processes (social support, competition, aggression and reconciliation), cognitive and affective processes (perception of friends and relationship and friendship and emotions) and the development of friendship. These aspects were discussed in light of their possible integration into a theoretical model of childhood friendship. We conclude that wide theoretical models of friendship and interpersonal relationships are necessary to guide research in the area.

Aspectos da amizade de adolescentes portadores de diabetes e câncer

Este trabalho analisa alguns aspectos das amizades de adolescentes acometidos por diabetes e câncer, incluindo o histórico da reação ao diagnóstico, além do companheirismo, auto-revelação e intimidade, apoio social, conflito e expectativas da amizade. Três participantes com diabetes e três amigos, e três adolescentes que tiveram câncer e três amigos, foram entrevistados. Essas amizades se assemelham, em grande parte, àquelas não marcadas por uma doença crônica, especialmente em relação ao companheirismo e à presença de conflitos. Por outro lado, o diabetes ou o câncer parecem afetar aspectos da amizade, principalmente na consideração do apoio social, que se dá forma assimétrica. A auto-revelação e a intimidade sofrem restrições em relação a conteúdos ligados à enfermidade. As expectativas de amizade dão ênfase ao apoio social. Os dados ainda sugerem que afastamento ou aproximação dos amigos pode resultar da identificação de uma doença como câncer ou diabetes.

The Relationship Between School-Aged Bullying and Trust, Shyness and Quality of Friendships in Young Adulthood

We collected data on 170 college students to assess retrospective perception of school-aged bullying experiences, hardiness and aspects of friendships and romantic relationships on the dimensions of trust, relationship quality and shyness. We found that rates of reported victimization were positively correlated with contemporaneous shyness levels. We also noted a statistically significant, inverse relationship between retrospective victimization levels and both friendship quality and trust.

Friendship as a moderator of the relationship between social skills problems and peer victimisation

AbstractPrevious research, primarily in North America, has found that individual factors (e.g., ‘internalising problems’) and social factors (e.g., friendship) interact to influence children's levels of peer victimisation. Some research has found that the identity of children's friends and friendship quality (as ‘protective factors’) are more important than the sheer number of friends. However, studies have produced conflicting findings. A peer nomination inventory was used to assess social skills problems, peer victimisation, peer acceptance, and several different aspects of friendship. Four hundred and forty‐nine children aged 9 to 11 years completed the inventory at two time points over the course of an academic year. Social skills problems were found to predict an increase in peer victimisation over time. Two friendship variables were found to moderate this relationship: a) number of friends, and b) the peer acceptance of the very best‐friend. The relationship was found to be weaker for those children with lots of friends and for those children with a ‘popular’ best‐friend. The findings advance understanding of the factors that promote peer victimisation. Aggr. Behav. 32:110–121, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Peer nominations among adolescents experiencing severe learning difficulties: an exploratory study using sociometric techniques

This paper reports on a small‐scale exploratory study which piloted the use of sociometric techniques with a class group of adolescents attending a day special school for pupils experiencing severe learning difficulties (SLD). The aim of the study was to investigate peer relationships and aspects of friendships among this population. The results indicated that the relationships and friendships of these adolescents appeared genuine and to be of significance. Statistical analysis and observation of actual behaviour indicated that choices made were stable and valid and appeared to be based on similar criteria of acceptability to ‘mainstream’ choices. The majority of adolescents were able to provide rational justifications for their choices and some were able to evaluate the relationship of others with him or her. The implications of the results are discussed with reference to a continuing trend towards inclusion.

"Getting by (or getting high) with a little help from my friends": an examination of adult alcoholics' friendships.

Researchers have devoted much attention to the influence of social support on positive health outcomes, including efficacy of alcoholism treatment. Yet relatively little research has examined the structure (e.g., quantity or frequency of interactions) and quality (e.g., subjective appraisals of value or adequacy) of alcoholics' relationships. In addition, few studies have explored adult alcoholics' friendships, despite research suggesting that friendships influence treatment outcomes. The current study examined friendship characteristics of Project MATCH participants. Participants (1,183 men, 380 women) described the structure and quality of their friendships at baseline and posttreatment. Friendships with drinkers and nondrinkers were examined in relation to baseline and follow-up drinking levels, as well as participant gender, age and parental history of alcohol problems. Significant changes were found in all aspects of friendships with both drinkers and nondrinkers from baseline to the 6-month posttreatment interview. For example, although approximately half of alcoholics friendships were with drinkers at baseline, that proportion decreased following treatment, whereas the proportion of friendships with nondrinkers increased. There was support for the hypothesis that changes in both friendship quality and structure would predict follow-up drinking levels. This study offers persuasive evidence for the importance of quality and, especially, structure of friendships to adult alcoholics' drinking behavior. Results also suggest differences in friendships depending on gender and across the lifespan. Such individual differences may have implications for prevention and treatment.

Do age differences matter in close and casual friendships?: A comparison of age discrepant and age peer friendships

While research has investigated various aspects of friendship, relatively little is known about friendships that develop between people of different ages. Relational qualities in 45 close and 18 casual friendships between age peer and age discrepant friends (friends differing in age by at least 10 years) were examined. In close friendships, age peer relationships were experienced more “intensely”; than age discrepant relationships. Feelings related to companionship, satisfaction, intimacy, nurturance, and reliable alliance were significantly greater in age peer close friendships. In casual friendships, age discrepant friends were rated significantly higher than age peer friends in the category of admiration.

The power of friendship: protection against an escalating cycle of peer victimization.

This study examined 2 aspects of friendship (presence and perceived qualities of a best friend) as moderators of behavioral antecedents and outcomes of peer victimization. A total of 393 children (188 boys and 205 girls) in the 4th and 5th grades (mean age = 10 years 7 months) participated during each of 2 waves of data collection in this 1-year longitudinal study. Results indicated that teacher-reported internalizing and externalizing behaviors predicted increases in peer-reported victimization, but the relation of internalizing behaviors to increases in victimization was attenuated for children with a protective friendship. Victimization predicted increases in internalizing and externalizing behaviors but only for children without a mutual best friendship. Results highlight the importance of peer friendships in preventing an escalating cycle of peer abuse.