Same-sex Versus Other-sex Best Friendship in Early Adolescence:Longitudinal Predictors of Antisocial Behavior ThroughoutAdolescence

摘要

This study examines the relationship betweenhaving other-sex versus same-sex best friends and antiso-cial behavior throughout early adolescence. Participants(N = 955) were recruited in 6th grade and followed lon-gitudinally through 7th, 8th, and 11th grades. Participantswere 58% ethnically diverse youth and 48% girls. Resultsindicate that the frequency of other-sex best friendshipremained stable from 6th to 7th grade but significantlyincreased from 8th to 11th grade. Higher rates of concur-rent antisocial behavior were related to having other-sexbest friends in 6th grade but not in 7th grade. In 8th grade,there was an interaction between friendship and the sex offriends. Boys with only same-sex best friends and girlswith other-sex best friends endorsed higher rates of anti-social behavior. Having other-sex best friends predictedantisocial behavior from 6th to 7th grade and 8th to 11thgrade, especially for girls. Implications for the develop-ment of early adolescent friendship and antisocial behaviorare discussed.