Adolescent Friendship Networks: Continuity and Change Over the School Year
Continuity and change were assessed at multiple levels of adolescent friendship networks over the school year. Middle and high school students from two school systems nominated their close friends in fall and spring. Using these nominations students were classified into five network roles: clique me...
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Published in | Merrill-Palmer Quarterly Vol. 44; no. 3; pp. 313 - 337 |
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Main Authors | , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Detroit
Wayne State University Press
01.07.1998
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Continuity and change were assessed at multiple levels of adolescent friendship networks over the school year. Middle and high school students from two school systems nominated their close friends in fall and spring. Using these nominations students were classified into five network roles: clique members, loose group members, dyad members, isolates, and remainders. There was moderate stability and continuity at all levels of adolescent networks. The fall best friend is very likely to be a close friend, if not still the best friend in spring. Half of all close friendships are stable over the school year. Friendship groups, especially cliques, are also quite stable. Many adolescents also retain their pattern of connections, especially if they have a dense network. Stability at one level does not necessarily co-occur with stability at other levels of the network. Friendship networks become more stable with grade. Results differ little with gender or school. |
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ISSN: | 0272-930X 1535-0266 |