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Friendship network characteristics and psychological well-being in late adolescence: Exploring differences by gender and gender composition

Almquist, Ylva B ; Östberg, Viveca ; Rostila, Mikael ; Edling, Christofer LU orcid and Rydgren, Jens (2014) In Scandinavian Journal of Public Health 42(2). p.146-154
Abstract
Aims: The aim of the present study was to examine the association between friendship networks and psychological well-being among 19-year-olds. Methods: The data used was a random sample of Swedish individuals born in 1990 who answered a questionnaire in 2009–2010. Friendship networks were considered in terms of three measures of emotional support. Six statements about the individual’s emotional state were used to create a summary measure of psychological well-being. Gender and gender composition were included as potentially moderating factors. The association between friendship networks and psychological well-being was analysed by means of linear regression analysis (n = 1289). Results: The results indicate that males’ and females’... (More)
Aims: The aim of the present study was to examine the association between friendship networks and psychological well-being among 19-year-olds. Methods: The data used was a random sample of Swedish individuals born in 1990 who answered a questionnaire in 2009–2010. Friendship networks were considered in terms of three measures of emotional support. Six statements about the individual’s emotional state were used to create a summary measure of psychological well-being. Gender and gender composition were included as potentially moderating factors. The association between friendship networks and psychological well-being was analysed by means of linear regression analysis (n = 1289). Results: The results indicate that males’ and females’ friendship networks were similar with regard to quality and trust, whereas males’ networks were characterized by less self-disclosure and a stronger preference for same-gender friendships. Gender composition did not matter for the support levels. Emotional support was associated with psychological well-being but there were gender differences: females seemed to benefit more health-wise from having high-quality (and trusting) networks. Moreover, whereas self-disclosure among males was positively linked to well-being, this was not the case among females. None of these associations were moderated by gender composition. Conclusions: In sum, friendship networks are beneficial for the psychological well-being among late adolescents, but there are some important differences according to gender. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Emotional support, friendship, gender differences, late adolescence, psychological well-being, social networks
in
Scandinavian Journal of Public Health
volume
42
issue
2
pages
146 - 154
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • wos:000331371600005
  • scopus:84894493998
  • pmid:24247790
ISSN
1651-1905
DOI
10.1177/1403494813510793
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b678cf3d-1bca-4182-a055-d88f1a35c687 (old id 4173031)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:03:05
date last changed
2022-04-04 23:43:12
@article{b678cf3d-1bca-4182-a055-d88f1a35c687,
  abstract     = {{Aims: The aim of the present study was to examine the association between friendship networks and psychological well-being among 19-year-olds. Methods: The data used was a random sample of Swedish individuals born in 1990 who answered a questionnaire in 2009–2010. Friendship networks were considered in terms of three measures of emotional support. Six statements about the individual’s emotional state were used to create a summary measure of psychological well-being. Gender and gender composition were included as potentially moderating factors. The association between friendship networks and psychological well-being was analysed by means of linear regression analysis (n = 1289). Results: The results indicate that males’ and females’ friendship networks were similar with regard to quality and trust, whereas males’ networks were characterized by less self-disclosure and a stronger preference for same-gender friendships. Gender composition did not matter for the support levels. Emotional support was associated with psychological well-being but there were gender differences: females seemed to benefit more health-wise from having high-quality (and trusting) networks. Moreover, whereas self-disclosure among males was positively linked to well-being, this was not the case among females. None of these associations were moderated by gender composition. Conclusions: In sum, friendship networks are beneficial for the psychological well-being among late adolescents, but there are some important differences according to gender.}},
  author       = {{Almquist, Ylva B and Östberg, Viveca and Rostila, Mikael and Edling, Christofer and Rydgren, Jens}},
  issn         = {{1651-1905}},
  keywords     = {{Emotional support; friendship; gender differences; late adolescence; psychological well-being; social networks}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{146--154}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Public Health}},
  title        = {{Friendship network characteristics and psychological well-being in late adolescence: Exploring differences by gender and gender composition}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1403494813510793}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/1403494813510793}},
  volume       = {{42}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}