ERIC Number: EJ1215277
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019-Jun
Pages: 40
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0272-4316
EISSN: N/A
Good Character Is What We Look for in a Friend: Character Strengths Are Positively Related to Peer Acceptance and Friendship Quality in Early Adolescents
Journal of Early Adolescence, v39 n6 p864-903 Jun 2019
This study investigates the role of character strengths in peer relationships among early adolescents. A sample of students (N = 339; [X bar] age = 12.84 years, 53.1% female) nominated friends in the classroom and completed assessments of character strengths, the desirability and importance of character strengths in a friend, and friendship quality. Results indicate that the character strengths of honesty, humor, kindness, and fairness were most desirable and important in a friend. Perspective, love, kindness, social intelligence, teamwork, leadership, and humor were associated with higher peer acceptance. Dyadic analyses of mutual best friends suggested that a number of character strengths were also positively related to friend-rated friendship quality. Overall, the results demonstrate the relevance of character strengths for positive peer relationships in adolescents.
Descriptors: Friendship, Ethics, Personality Traits, Role, Peer Relationship, Social Desirability, Humor, Prosocial Behavior, Emotional Intelligence, Teamwork, Leadership, Correlation, Peer Acceptance, Adolescents, Individual Differences, Cross Cultural Studies, Foreign Countries, Student Attitudes, Elementary School Students, Secondary School Students, Social Values
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Switzerland; Liechtenstein
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A