Friendship Dyads Research Articles

Rhythmic Features of Movement Synchrony for Bonding Individuals in Dyadic Interaction

This study examined ways in which rhythmic features of movement contribute to bonding between individuals. Though previous studies have described synchrony as a form of social glue, this research extends those findings to consider the impact of fast versus slow tempo on movement synchrony. This two-part experiment examined dyadic interactions as they occurred between same-sex strangers (Study 1) and friends (Study 2). Participants were video-recorded as they engaged in 5- or 6-min chats, and synchrony was evaluated using wavelet transform via calculations of cross-wavelet coherence. Study 1 employed regression commonality analysis and hierarchical linear modeling and found that among various frequency bands, rapport between individuals was positively associated with synchrony under 0.025 Hz (i.e., slower than once every 40 s) and 0.5–1.5 Hz (i.e., once every 0.67–2 s). On the contrary, Study 2 determined that synchrony of 0.5–1.5 Hz was not impactful among friend dyads and only predictive of the motivation to cultivate a friendly relationship during interactions with strangers. These results indicate the existence of a distinctive rhythm for bonding individuals, and the role of pre-existing friendship as a moderator of the bonding effect of synchrony. However, the role of relative phase (i.e., timing of movement; same versus opposite timing) remains unclear, as the ratio of in- and anti-phase patterning had no significant influence on perceived rapport and motivation to develop relationships. On the basis of the research results, a theoretical contribution is proposed to the study of interpersonal coordination.

Friendship Characteristics of Rejected Children in Middle Childhood

This study investigated children’s friendship factors such as number of friends, friendship quality, and friends’ characteristics as a function of children’s sociometric status. The concordance between children’s and their friends’perceptions of friendship quality was examined. Subjects were fifth grade students recruited from two public schools. The peer nomination index assessed peer rejection and acceptance. Positive and negative nominations as well as social preference identified children into rejected and popular groups. Children who nominated each other on their list of friends were considered mutual friends. Children reported the quality of their friendships using the friendship quality scale. The results showed that rejected children had fewer mutual friends compared to popular children. Rejected children as well as their friends perceived their friendships less positively. Moreover, rejected children’s perception showed lower correlations with their friends’perceptions than popular children’s perceptions. Furthermore, rejected children were similar with friends in respect to peer rejection level. It was concluded that rejected children’s problems in their peer group and dyadic friendships may mutually influence each other. The findings from this study highlight the need for future research on friendship quality and psychosocial adjustment for rejected children. Keywords: friendship, friendship quality, peer rejection, sociometric status

Peer Socialization of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Adolescents' Close Friendships.

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), or self-harming behavior without intent to die (Nock Current Directions in Psychological Science, 18, 78-83, 2009), is associated with distress and impairment across domains, including increased risk for suicidality (Kiekens et al. Journal of Affective Disorders, 239, 171-179, 2018). In adolescence, prevalence of NSSI is high (Swannell et al. Suicide and Life-threatening Behavior, 44, 273-303, 2014), and peer influence regarding NSSI is thought to be strong (Brechwald and Prinstein Journal of Research on Adolescence, 21, 166-79, 2011). Although concern regarding "clusters" of NSSI has long been documented, peer socialization of NSSI in adolescence is understudied. This paper tests peer influence on NSSI frequency within adolescent friendship dyads. Emotion regulation difficulties and friendship quality were evaluated as factors that may influence susceptibility to peer influence effects. Adolescents (N = 196, M age = 15.68, 69.9% female, 87.6% White) nested within 93 friendship dyads reported on their own NSSI frequency, difficulties in emotion regulation, and friendship quality at three time points spaced 3months apart. Cross-lagged Actor-Partner Interdependence Models examined peer influence effects over time. Friends' Time 1 frequency of NSSI uniquely predicted adolescents' own NSSI frequency over 3 and 6months, controlling for initial similarity among friends as well as individual risk factors for NSSI. Peer influence effects were strongest in adolescents with higher levels of emotion regulation difficulty but did not vary as a function of friendship quality. Friends' NSSI frequency is a significant and unique predictor of increases in adolescents' own NSSI frequency over time. Implications for interventions that leverage the important developmental context of peer relationships are discussed.

Determinants of Excessive Reassurance-Seeking: Adolescents’ Internalized Distress, Friendship Conflict, and Inhibitory Control as Prospective Predictors

Substantial research suggests that excessive reassurance-seeking behavior is associated with exacerbations in depressive symptoms and later interpersonal rejection, yet remarkably few studies have examined predictors of this maladaptive social behavior. This study proposed and examined a diathesis stress model suggesting that beyond the effects of prior internalized distress, a combination of poor inhibitory control and dyadic friendship conflict may be especially relevant predictors of adolescents’ excessive reassurance-seeking behavior. Longitudinal associations were examined in a sample of 865 adolescents (54.5% female, 22.2% African American, 23.1% Latinx) who completed self-reported measures of depressive rumination/intrusive thoughts, depressive symptoms, loneliness, friendship conflict, and a performance-based measure of inhibitory control at baseline, as well as a measure of excessive reassurance-seeking at baseline and 2 years later. Results initially revealed a prospective effect of depressive rumination/intrusive thoughts on later excessive reassurance-seeking, consistent with prior work. Final results yielded only a significant interaction effect, revealing that higher levels of friendship conflict coupled with low levels of inhibitory control were associated longitudinally with higher levels of excessive reassurance-seeking. Findings suggest that inhibitory control may moderate the association between adolescents’ interpersonal conflict and their excessive reassurance-seeking.

Accuracy in Perceptions of Fundamental Social Motives: Comparisons to Perceptions of Big Five Traits and Associations With Friendship Quality.

Accurately perceiving others' personalities helps people to successfully navigate their social relationships. However, it is not yet clear whether people can accurately perceive one aspect of people's personalities that may be especially important to understand: motivations. Using the fundamental social motives framework, we examined the extent to which people accurately perceived a friend's motivations (vs. big five traits) and how this was related to friendship quality. A sample of friend dyads completed both self- and friend-assessments of the big five traits and the fundamental motives, and rated friendship quality. Perceivers accurately detected their friend's unique, self-reported ordering of motives (i.e., distinctive accuracy), though to a lesser extent than traits. However, accuracy for motives and traits was positively associated with greater friendship quality to a similar extent. Importantly, these associations emerged above and beyond tendencies to view others highly normatively, as socially desirable, and as similar to the self.

A Longitudinal Investigation of Siblings’ and Friends’ Features of Connectedness and Interaction Quality During Play

ABSTRACTThe present study examined features of sibling and friend dyads’ connectedness (e.g., length and emotional tone of connected sequences) and the quality of the dyads’ interactions during play from early to middle childhood. Forty-four families with a 4-year-old focal child were observed at Time 1 (T1) and again at Time 2 (T2) at age 7 in two separate play sessions (i.e., sibling and friend). Play sessions were coded for interaction quality (i.e., conflict, cooperation). Based on previous research, features of the sequences (i.e., emotional tone, length of sequence) were compared across relationship and time. Research Findings: Findings revealed similarities in the dyads’ interaction quality, with both siblings and friends increasing in cooperation over time. Similarly, the emotional tone of siblings’ and friends’ connected sequences was more likely to be positive than negative; however, siblings’ sequences were short rather than long, whereas friends’ sequences were more likely to be long than short. Practice or Policy: These findings provide new insights into children’s connectedness in child-child relationships and changes in connectedness across development from early to middle childhood. The study highlights the importance of observing the dyad when using a relationships theory framework to examine children’s interactions.

Do Self-Perceived Opinion Leaders Actually Lead Opinions? Evidence From an Observational Study on Political Conversations

Opinion leadership is one of the most prominent concepts in communication sciences. A popular method for studying opinion leadership is the use of self-designating scales. The present study examines whether opinion leaders who are identified by self-designating scales literally lead opinions, that is, actually influence others. For this purpose, 78 dyads of friends were interviewed, and their political conversations were observed. The results reveal that self-perceived opinion leadership is associated with aspects of the influence process (i.e., goal to influence, influential communication, and opinion effects) and with other-perceptions of opinion leadership in political conversations. However, given the small effects and the significant role of the interaction partner with regard to the influence process, it is concluded that the extent to which self-designating scales are able to represent the complexity of social reality is limited.

THE UNIQUE ROLE OF FRIENDSHIP FOR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING ACROSS LIFE AND AROUND THE WORLD

The extent to which various sources of social support contribute to health and well-being has been the subject of many empirical studies. However, how much we value and invest in close relationships change across the lifespan and likely vary cross-culturally. Do close relationships have a static influence on health and well-being across the lifespan or do some close relationships become increasingly more important for health and well-being as people age? In Study 1, a cross-sectional survey of 271,053 adults from 97 different countries, valuing friendships was related to better functioning particularly among older adults whereas valuing familial relationships exerted a static influence on health and well-being across the lifespan. In Study 2, a longitudinal study of 7,481 older adults, only strain from friendships predicted more chronic illnesses over a six-year period; support from spouses, children, and friends predicted higher subjective well-being over an eight-year period. In Study 3, I draw on insights from the Investment Model of Close Relationships to make examine predictors of relationship longevity and how they might vary across relationships in 460 romantic and friendship dyads. Satisfaction and the quality of alternatives to the relationship predicted commitment across relationships. However, partner reports of satisfaction (for friendships) and quality of alternatives (for romantic relationships) provided opposing forces for what predicted commitment. The findings are discussed in the context of lifespan developmental theories of emotion regulation and the dynamic nature of social networks across the lifespan.

The influence of competitive and cooperative video games on behavior during play and friendship quality in adolescence

Many adolescents play video games together with their friends for multiple hours per week. The way in which peers play games may influence their interactions and relationship. Research has shown distinct effects of competitive and cooperative play on aggression, prosocial behavior, and feelings of empathy and trust. The current study investigated the effect of the mode of gaming on adolescents' behavior during gaming, as well as their friendship quality and prosocial behavior afterwards, in a field study with experimental design and naturalistic observations. Adolescent friend dyads played a racing video game either solitary, competitively, or cooperatively. Observers coded participants' behavior during the gaming sessions, while friendship quality and prosocial behavior towards the friend were measured afterwards. Results showed that playing a game competitively lowered friendship quality. Furthermore, the mode of play changed the participants' behavior during game play, with more positive, negative, and hierarchical behavior observed in the cooperative condition. Additionally, positive and prosocial behavior displayed during the gaming session predicted higher friendship quality afterwards. There were no effects on the subsequent prosocial behavior task. This study illustrates that both the mode in which friends play a video game and the behavior displayed during gaming influence friendship quality.

Accurate empathy of romantic partners increases pain ratings but promotes recovery.

BackgroundPerceived empathy is a commonly used strategy to cope with pain and is crucial for maintaining intimacy in dyadic relationships.Materials and methodsThis study used the cold pressor test to investigate how perceived empathy and relationship type interact with the subjective perception of pain and objective measures of recovery time, using heart rate as an index. One hundred and ninety participants were recruited, including 49 friend dyads and 46 romantic partner dyads. Perceived empathy was manipulated by adopting three levels as the experimental conditions: high, accurate, and low.ResultsIn the subjective perception stage, the results showed a significant interaction of relationship type and empathy with pain reporting, indicating that romantic partners reported more pain than friends under the accurate empathy condition. There were no differences between the two groups in the high and low perceived empathy conditions. In the self-recovery stage, the results showed that romantic partners had less pain tolerance than friends in all three perceived empathy conditions. On the other hand, romantic partners recovered faster than friends under the accurate empathy condition, but not under the high and low perceived empathy conditions.ConclusionThese results suggest that perceived accurate empathy is necessary for romantic relationships when coping with pain. The findings deepen our understanding of the mechanism of perceived empathy, and the ways in which it modulates psychological and physiological responses in a social context.

Dynamics of Simultaneous and Imitative Bodily Coordination in Trust and Distrust.

Body synchronization between interacting people involves coordinative movements in time, space and form. The introduction of newer technologies for automated video analysis and motion tracking has considerably improved the accurate measurement of coordination, particularly in temporal and spatial terms. However, the form of interpersonal coordination has been less explored. In the present study we address this gap by exploring the effect of trust on temporal and morphological patterns of interpersonal coordination. We adapted an optical motion-capture system to record spontaneous body movements in pairs of individuals engaged in natural conversations. We conducted two experiments in which we manipulated trust through a breach of expectancy (Study 1: 10 trustful and 10 distrustful participants) and friendship (Study 2: 20 dyads of friends and 20 dyads of strangers). In Study 1, results show the participants' strong, early mirror-like coordination in response to the confederates' breach of trust. In Study 2, imitative coordination tended to be more pronounced in pairs of friends than in pairs of non-friends. Overall, our results show not only that listeners move in reaction to speakers, but also that speakers react to listeners with a chain of dynamic coordination patterns affected by the immediate disposition of, and long-term relationship with, their interlocutors.

A cluster randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of an individual planning intervention with collaborative planning in adolescent friendship dyads to enhance physical activity (TWOgether)

BackgroundMost adolescents do not meet the recommendations for physical activity (PA) of at least 1 h per day. Individual planning (IP) interventions, including forming plans for when, where and how (action planning) to engage in a behavior, as well as the planning for how to deal with arising barriers (coping planning), are effective to enhance PA in adults. Collaborative planning (CP) is conjoint planning of two individuals regarding a behavior which is performed together. It is assumed that CP stimulates social exchange processes between the planning partners. However, it remains unclear whether planning interventions of PA in adolescents are successful and which planning intervention is more effective. Thus, this cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) examines changes in daily moderate-to-vigorous PA in adolescents’ friendship dyads resulting from planning. Individual self-regulating mechanism and social exchange processes are proposed as mediating mechanisms of the effects of planning for health behavior change.MethodsA single-blind four-arm parallel-group cluster-RCT is used. The sample consists of 400 friendship dyads between 14 and 18 years of age. As the recruitment takes place in schools, a cluster randomization of the schools is used to enroll dyads to (a) an IP intervention, (b) a CP intervention or (c) one of the two no-planning control conditions. Devise-measured and self-reported PA as the primary outcomes, self-regulatory strategies, and social exchange processes as secondary outcomes are assessed at three or four time points. After baseline measurement, the baseline ecological momentary assessment of the main variables takes place for 8 days followed by the intervention and a 7-days diary phase. Follow-ups are 1 month and 6 months later. Subsequent to the six-month follow-up, another 7-days diary phase takes place.DiscussionThis is the first study examining IP in comparison to CP in adolescents applying a single-blind cluster RCT. Consequently, the study allows for understanding the efficacy of individual and collaborative planning and the underlying mechanisms in adolescent dyads.Trial registrationThis RCT was funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (100019_169781/1) and was registered on 18/06/2018 at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03575559.

Lonely Adolescents and Their Best Friend: An Examination of Loneliness and Friendship Quality in Best Friendship Dyads

Friendship experiences have been shown to be important predictors of adolescents’ loneliness. The current study examined selection and socialization effects of loneliness within reciprocal best friendships, while controlling for friendship quality. Analyses were conducted on a sample of 884 adolescents (42.08% boys), making up 442 dyads, who were on average 13.51 years old (SD = 1.37). Adolescents completed the peer-related loneliness subscale of the Loneliness and Aloneness Scale for Children and Adolescents as well as the Friendship Qualities Scale. A longitudinal actor-partner interdependence model, which accounts for the interdependencies in the data of best friends, suggested the presence of a selection effect for loneliness but no socialization effect. This finding within best friendships contrasts with studies on friendship networks where both selection and socialization were established.

Qualidade da amizade na adolescência e ajustamento social no grupo de pares

As amizades na adolescência são fundamentais para o desenvolvimento social, emocional e cognitivo. Porém, diferenças na qualidade da relação com um melhor amigo podem também estar associadas ao ajustamento psicossocial dos adolescentes. Este estudo procurou identificar diferentes perfis de qualidade de amizade, contrastando-os relativamente a dimensões positivas e negativas dessa relação, bem como ao ajustamento social dos adolescentes no grupo de pares. 821 participantes do 7º ano de escolaridade (M=13 anos), reportaram a sua percepção da qualidade da melhor amizade e nomeações sociométricas permitiram aceder às dimensões do ajustamento social no grupo de pares. Uma análise hierárquica de clusters baseados nas dimensões positivas da qualidade de amizade permitiu identificar três tipos de perfis, nomeadamente de qualidade alta, média e baixa (QA, QM, QB), que se distinguiram significativamente na qualidade global e em todas as dimensões positivas da amizade: as amizades QA caracterizaram-se por mais companheirismo, validação, ajuda, suporte, intimidade e estratégias de resolução de conflitos, enquanto as amizades QB foram marcadas por valores inferiores nestas dimensões. Diferenças de sexo demonstraram que as raparigas experienciaram mais partilha de intimidade e validação e cuidado nas suas díades de amizade. Também nos aspectos negativos (conflitos e traições), as amizades QA se distinguiram por apresentarem níveis menos frequentes. Quanto ao ajustamento social, os adolescentes com amizades de alta qualidade foram considerados pelos pares como os menos socialmente retirados, excluídos e vitimizados, mas os mais pró-sociais e populares/sociáveis. Adolescentes com amizades de baixa qualidade foram caracterizados com valores opostos. Estes resultados mostram a importância da amizade neste período do desenvolvimento e permitem compreender, em particular, a influência da qualidade dessa relação no contexto social dos jovens.

Transformation of Adolescent Peer Relations in the Social Media Context: Part 1-A Theoretical Framework and Application to Dyadic Peer Relationships.

Investigators have long recognized that adolescents' peer experiences provide a crucial context for the acquisition of developmental competencies, as well as potential risks for a range of adjustment difficulties. However, recent years have seen an exponential increase in adolescents' adoption of social media tools, fundamentally reshaping the landscape of adolescent peer interactions. Although research has begun to examine social media use among adolescents, researchers have lacked a unifying framework for understanding the impact of social media on adolescents' peer experiences. This paper represents Part 1 of a two-part theoretical review, in which we offer a transformation framework to integrate interdisciplinary social media scholarship and guide future work on social media use and peer relations from a theory-driven perspective. We draw on prior conceptualizations of social media as a distinct interpersonal context and apply this understanding to adolescents' peer experiences, outlining features of social media with particular relevance to adolescent peer relations. We argue that social media transforms adolescent peer relationships in five key ways: by changing the frequency or immediacy of experiences, amplifying experiences and demands, altering the qualitative nature of interactions, facilitating new opportunities for compensatory behaviors, and creating entirely novel behaviors. We offer an illustration of the transformation framework applied to adolescents' dyadic friendship processes (i.e., experiences typically occurring between two individuals), reviewing existing evidence and offering theoretical implications. Overall, the transformation framework represents a departure from the prevailing approaches of prior peer relations work and a new model for understanding peer relations in the social media context.

Parent contributions to friendship stability during the primary school years.

The present study examines whether characteristics of parents predict the stability of a child's best friendships across the primary school years. Participants included 1,523 Finnish children (766 boys) who reported involvement in a total of 1,326 reciprocated friendship dyads in the 1st grade (M = 7.16 years old). At the onset of the study, mothers and fathers completed questionnaires describing their own parenting (i.e., behavioral control, psychological control, and affection toward the child) and depressive symptoms. Child scores for peer status (i.e., acceptance and rejection) were derived from 1st grade peer nomination data. Discrete-time survival analyses predicted the occurrence and timing of friendship dissolution, across 1st to 6th grades, for friendships that began in 1st grade. Parent depression and parent psychological control uniquely predicted subsequent child friendship dissolution, above and beyond the contribution of peer status variables. (PsycINFO Database Record

Peer Bonds in Urban School Communities: An Exploratory Study

The literature identifies three main types of peer associations: cliques, crowds, and dyadic friendships. When schools create learning communities, an additional type of peer association may emerge that is not based on interactions but instead is based on membership in a shared community. The aim of this study is to qualitatively explore the nature and characteristics of this association, labeled peer bonds. Observational data (n=432) and semi-structured interviews (n=33) were collected in two urban high schools over the course of three academic years. Data were analyzed using the constant comparison method. Findings suggest that there are six characteristics of peer bonds: investment in peer success, shared identity, shared values, pedagogical caring, shared success, and shared failure. The scholarly significance of this study is the expansion of theoretical conceptualizations of peer associations in learning communities while the practical significance is the potential use of a largely underutilized source for academic interventions, peers, by creating school community.

Dyadic differences in friendships of adolescents with chronic pain compared with pain-free peers.

A multisite cross-sectional study was conducted to examine dyadic friendship features between adolescents with chronic pain (ACP) and their friends compared with non-pain adolescent friendship dyads and the association of these friendship features with loneliness and depressive symptoms. Participants completed a battery of standardized measures to capture friendship features (friendship quality, closeness, and perceived social support from friends) and indices of social-emotional well-being. Sixty-one same sex friendship dyads (122 adolescents) participated; 30 friendship dyads included an adolescent with chronic pain and 52 dyads were female. Adolescents with chronic pain scored significantly higher on measures of loneliness and depressive symptoms compared with all other participants. Hierarchical Multiple Regression analysis revealed that friendship features predicted loneliness and depressive symptoms. Chronic pain predicted loneliness and depressive symptoms above and beyond friendship features. Actor Partner Interdependence Modeling found perceived social support from friends had differing associations on loneliness and depressive symptoms for dyads with a chronic pain member compared with pain-free control dyads. Friendship features were associated with loneliness and depressive symptoms for adolescents, but friendship features alone did not explain loneliness and depressive symptoms for ACP. Further research is needed to understand whether pain-related social support improves loneliness and depressive symptoms for ACP. Furthermore, a more nuanced understanding of loneliness in this population is warranted. Strategies to help ACP garner needed social support from friends are needed to decrease rates of loneliness to improve long-term outcomes.

Associations between friends, academic emotions and achievement: Individual differences in enjoyment and boredom

This study focuses on associations regarding domain-specific academic emotions (enjoyment and boredom) between classmates who are best friends (reciprocated as well as unilateral best friends), and their effects on students' subsequent achievement. Based on 419 dyads (135 reciprocated best friendship dyads and 284 unilateral best friendship dyads), Actor-Partner-Independence models showed a positive effect of best friends' enjoyment on students' enjoyment. Best friends' enjoyment and boredom indirectly influenced achievement through students' enjoyment and boredom (indirect effect), with the exception of unilateral friendship dyads in English class. Differences in the magnitude of influence found for reciprocated and unilateral friendship dyads are discussed in terms of various friendship qualities.

A dyadic analysis of power in sibling and friend conflict in early childhood

AbstractPower processes in siblings' and friends' conflict interactions are of significance for children's development and socialization. This study conducted a comparative analysis of power behaviours (resources and effectiveness) utilized by dyadic partners in sibling and friend conflict during early childhood when focal children were aged 4. The sample consisted of 65 families and included 347 sibling conflict sequences and 326 friend conflict sequences. Data based upon naturalistic observations were coded for resources of power and power effectiveness. Patterns of findings were identified in the conflict process. Specifically, dyads used simple demands most often, followed by coercive, then elaborated information, and finally questioning power. Despite similarities, sibling dyads used coercive power and negative reward power more often than friends. Regarding power effectiveness, sibling and friend dyads were most effective using coercive power, followed by elaborated, and then questioning power. These findings provide strong support for the importance of taking the dyadic relationship context into account when studying the power process in children's interactions.Highlights How does siblings' and friends' dyadic use of power resources and effectiveness differ in the process and outcome of conflict in early childhood? Data were based upon naturalistic observations of conflict, and findings provide strong support for dyadic analyses when studying the power process in siblings and friends interactions. The findings provide new and novel insights regarding children's agency in conflict, thus highlighting the contributions of children to their own socialization process.