Contributions of friendship: The variability in the experiences of early adolescents with opposite -sex friends

This study compared the influence of different friendship group types (same-sex only, opposite-sex only, mixed-sex) on social competency and social self worth in 290 early adolescents (12–13 years). What kind of influence does opposite-sex only friends have on social self-concept and social competency compared to same-sex only friends? A sociometric nomination questionnaire was used to determine friendship affiliation type along with two self-reporting inventories to analyze social competence (Assessment of Interpersonal Relationships) and social self-concept (Multidimensional Self-Concept Scale). A series of Analysis of Variance procedures were used to indicate any significant main effects and/or interactions between social competency and self-worth to friendship type, ethnicity, and gender. Results revealed (a) significant differences between same-sex only and opposite-sex only and between mixed-sex and opposite-sex only friends on their level of social competency, and (b) significant differences between all three friendships group types on their level of social self-concept. The implications of these and other findings for understanding early adolescents\u27 close friendships and issues for future research are discussed