The Correlates and Consequences of Friendship Change and Friendlessness During Late Childhood and Early Adolescence

Abstract

The present study is designed to identify the consequences of losing friends, gaining friends, and being friendless. Participants were public primary and middle school students (ages 8–14 years, M ag e = 11.35, SD age = 1.41) in Florida and Lithuania (481 boys). Participants completed friend and peer reputation nominations twice during an academic year (fall and spring semesters), with friendships defined by reciprocated nominations. Six friend change groups were identified: Net friend loss-became friendless ( n = 69), net friend loss-remained friended ( n = 255), net friend gain-initially friendless ( n = 90), net friend gain-initially friended ( n = 242), no change in number of friends ( n = 269), and chronically friendless ( n = 46). Among those who lost friends but remained friended, academic achievement and perceptions of being fun decreased; relational aggression increased for those who became friendless. Among those who gained friends and were initially friendless, perceptions of being fun increased; academic achievement and perceptions of being fun increased for those who were initially friended.