Poster #223 - Discrepancies in Self and Peer Ratings of Friendship Quality and Psychological Well-Being

• In Event: 3-003 - Poster Session 09
  In Poster Session: PS 09 Section - Social Relationships

Integrative Statement

Peer relationships in late adolescence and emerging adulthood play an important role in individuals’ health (Demir et al., 2006). Research has shown that better friendship quality is positively related to psychological well-being (PWB) and inversely related to mental health problems (Demir et al. 2011; Friedlander et al. 2007; Pittman & Richmond 2008; Rubinet al., 2016). Whereas one’s own perception of friendship quality has been linked to PWB, evidence suggests that both partners’ perceptions of friendship quality should match in order for the friendship to provide positive benefits. For example, Demir and Orthel (2011) had college students report on their ideal friendship qualities and perceptions of an actual friendship, and then created real-ideal friendship discrepancy scores. Increased real-ideal discrepancies predicted lower happiness and relationship satisfaction. A limitation of previous research is that perceptions of friendship quality are typically assessed by one partner, as opposed to assessing both friends and the extent to which their perceptions match. The present study addresses this gap by studying close-friend dyads, gathering information from both friends to better understand how discrepancies in friendship quality predict well-being over and above one’s own perception of the relationship. We hypothesized that mutually beneficial friendships, in which both friends perceived friendship quality as high (i.e., low discrepancies in perceptions), would predict higher PWB. Participants were 75 college students (78.7% female, M age=20.03 years, SD=1.823; 69% White) and their closest same-sex friend (M age=20.12 years, SD=2.196; 70% White). Target participants reported on their PWB on the Ryff Psychological Well-Being Scale; they also were asked to nominate their best/closest friend at the university and rate their friendship quality using the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment. A best/close friend was defined as “someone who you enjoy doing things together with, count on to support you when you need it, provide support when he/she needs it, talk about your everyday life, problems, concerns, ideas, and intimate thoughts” (Demir & Ozdemir, 2009). Nominated friends were emailed the survey and reported on their friendship quality and PWB (Table 1). An actor-partner interdependence model was run predicting both partners’ PWB from their own and their partner’s friendship quality perceptions, as well as the interaction between their friendship quality reports to capture discrepancies in perceptions. Analyses controlled for sex of the dyad, transfer status, and affiliation in a sorority/fraternity. Significant interactions emerged showing that discrepancies in perceived friendship quality predicted both partners’ PWB, and the pattern was similar for both partners (Figure 1). The lowest level of PWB emerged when there was a mismatch in perceptions such that one rated their own friendship quality low but their friend rated the quality as high. In contrast, when one’s own perception of friendship quality was high, their PWB remained high regardless of their friends’ perception. The findings suggest that although individuals who view their friendship quality as high report better PWB, they may lack awareness that their friend’s needs in the relationship are not being met, thereby negatively impacting their friend’s PWB.

Authors

• Page Hurley, Southern Methodist University
  Presenting Author

• Chrystyna Kouros, Southern Methodist University
  Non-Presenting Author