School Climate and Friendship Choices: A National Study

• In Event: School Experiences and Perceptions of School Climate

Abstract

Schools play an important role in adolescents’ socialization. While adolescents learn norms, values, and behaviors in the process of socializing with peers, school is a primary source of friendships and provides a critical social context for peer socialization. Although some research has examined the influence of peers and school climate on delinquency, little attention has been paid to whether school climate influences peer selection. Using data from the National Study of Delinquency Prevention in Schools (NSDPS), this paper investigates whether two dimensions of school climate -- communal social organization (CSO) and fairness/clarity of rules -- influence the tendency to select peers with positive characteristics. CSO refers to the organization of schools as communities, as indicated by supportive and collaborative relations among members, common goals and norms, and a sense of individual involvement and commitment. It hypothesizes that because adolescents who attend schools with higher CSO and fairer and clearer rules are more likely to know what behaviors will be rewarded and punished and are less likely to behave in ways that are inconsistent with school-level norms, they are more likely to select positive peers. The study results will provide research guidance about the importance of building a positive school environment.

Authors

• Mei Yang, University of Maryland

• Allison Payne, Villanova University

• Denise Gottfredson, University of Maryland