Children's Preference and Friendship According to Their Sociometric Status

아동의 사회적 지위에 따른 또래 선호와 우정관계에 관한 연구

This study investigated the relationship between the sociometric status(1) of a target child and the target child's most preferred peer, and (2) of the quality of their friendship between the two peers. Each of the subjects (238 boys, 6, 8, and 10 years of age) nominated 3 preferred peers answered questions about the preferred peers with the use of the Friendship Quality Scales. Results indicated that the sociometric status of children aged 8 and 10 were positively related to that of their most preferred peers. Reciprocal friendships, however, were more frequently observed among children in high sociometric status compared with those in low sociometric status. The quality of friendships among popular children was higher than that of rejected children. The quality of friendships between popular and rejected children was lower than friendship between rejected and rejected children.