A Friend in Need

Abstract

This study examined friendship quality as a possible moderator of risk factors in predicting peer victimization and bullying. Children (50 boys and 49 girls, ages 10 to 13 years) reported on the quality of their best friendship, as well as their bullying and victimization tendencies. Parents reported on their child's internalizing and externalizing behaviors, in addition to bullying and victimization tendencies. Results indicated that externalizing problems were related to bullying behavior; however, friendship quality moderated this relation such that among children with externalizing behaviors, a high-quality friendship significantly attenuated bullying behavior. Internalizing problems and low friendship quality were significantly related to victimization; however, friendship quality did not moderate the relation between internalizing problems and victimization. Implications for interventions based on these findings are discussed.

A Review of Peer Relationships and Friendships in Youth With ADHD

“…Fostering the development of one mutual friendship may be a more realistic goal and may lead to generalization of newly acquired skills outside of the treatment setting, such as during get-togethers (Mikami, 2010). In addition, previous research has illustrated that the presence of at least one mutual friendship may function as a protective factor against peer rejection and victimization, and may lead to greater gains in peer acceptance in the long term (Bollmer, Millich, Harris, & Maras, 2005). Furthermore, social competence and skills appropriate for dyadic interactions may be more beneficial than acceptance by the entire peer group, as this approach requires changing the perception of only one peer (Mikami, 2010).…”

Examination of a Parent-Assisted, Friendship-Building Program for Adolescents With ADHD

“…While results have been mixed, researchers argue that the presence of at least one mutual friendship may function as a protective factor against the consequences of negative peer interactions (Bollmer et al, 2005;Cardoos & Hinshaw, 2011) and allow youth to build social competence within a supportive relationship (Mikami, 2010;Nelson & Aboud, 1985). Thus, the establishment of a new mutual friendship following participation in PEERS provides initial support for the effectiveness of the program for adolescents with ADHD.…”

Social Tie Strength and Online Victimization: An Analysis of Young People Aged 15–30 Years in Four Nations

“…This may point to differences between strong ties created online and offline strong ties maintained online. As noted in previous work, offline popularity and strong ties are both linked to lessened victimization online (Adams et al, 2005;Bollmer et al, 2005;DeSmet et al, 2014;Wegge et al, 2014). This may point to either the difficulty of group protection enforcement of strong tie members online or, perhaps more likely, a misinterpretation of one's social standing and social tie status within an online community.…”

“…It was found that relational reciprocity and closeness are related to the likelihood of victimization through harassment online. Furthermore, past research has shown that strong ties are related to lessened victimization experience both online and offline (Adams, Bukowski, & Bagwell, 2005;Bollmer, Milich, Harris, & Maras, 2005;DeSmet et al, 2014). Finally, in terms of instrumental ties, those individuals having a large network of weak social ties have been shown to be more likely to experience harassment victimization online Wegge et al, 2014).…”