The concept and formation of best friend relationship among schoolage children

• Main Authors: Rebanal, Ma. Lizette Felix, Diokno, Pauline I.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1995
• Subjects: Best friends; Friendship in children; Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/3715
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study deals with the concept and formation of best friend relationship among schoolage children (from grades 1 to 5). Taken into consideration are factors such as gender and gender preference, perceived family relations and interests that account for the formation of best friend relationships in the schoolage. The respondents in the study totaled 50 schoolage children, where there were 10 respondents from each grade level of whom, 5 were males and 5 were females. Two instruments were used in the study, namely: the interview guide and the Focused Group Discussion (FGD) guide. The interview guide was utilized to answer for the descriptive part of the study concerning the concept of a best friend for schoolage children. Similar questions in the interview were categorized according to (1) need/importance of a best friend (2) what a best friend can give (3) qualities of an ideal best friend (4) concept of similarity in interest, gender, and age and (5) meaning of a best friend . The Focused Group Discussion guide was used to answer for the formation of best friend relationships which was the exploratory part of the study. Similarly, questions were categorized according to (1) gender and gender preference (2) perceived family relations and (3) interests. Data generated in this study on best friendships, being more qualitative than quantitative, were obtained by taking the frequencies and corresponding percentages of the results. Findings indicate that schoolage children need a best friend, and that best friends are seen as providers of material and non-material things. Qualities of the best friend as being kind, good, helpful, and trustworthy are among the most important qualities schoolage children consider in their best friends. Trust among best friends in the schoolage provide for the child's ability to give some form of self-disclosure to their best friend. Similarity in interests, gender and age are not important to a schoolage child's concept of a best friend, but are considered essential in friendship formation. Thus, best friendships in the schoolage are more dominant among children who share the same interests, are of the same sex, and who are of the same age. The family's encouragement and support about having and making friends provide the child with a positive view of human relationships outside his home. As a whole, the schoolage child's concept of a best friend may help him form ideas about friendships but may not be the only determining factor in his actual formation of best friend relationships.