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Developmental trends and gender differences in the relation between understanding of friendship and asociality

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Abstract

The relation between understanding of friendship and asociality was examined in 91 girls and 104 boys ranging in age from 9 to 17 years. Consistent with previous research, older children had higher understanding of friendship scores than younger children, and girls had higher understanding of friendship scores than boys. The relation between understanding of friendship and asociality was significant only for boys. Difficulty in understanding components of friendship appears to be one correlate of boys' delinquent tendencies.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Dayton, USA

    Linda M. Walsh

  2. Psychology Department, Wright State University, 45435, Dayton, Ohio

    Lawrence A. Kurdek

Authors
  1. Linda M. Walsh
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  2. Lawrence A. Kurdek
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Additional information

This article is based on the master's thesis of the first author, submitted to the University of Dayton.

Received M.A. from University of Dayton. Main interest is clinical psychology.

Received Ph.D. from University of Illinois at Chicago. Main interest is social cognitive development.

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Walsh, L.M., Kurdek, L.A. Developmental trends and gender differences in the relation between understanding of friendship and asociality. J Youth Adolescence 13, 65–71 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02088654

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02088654

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