Attachment style, centrality of groups membership, reported emotional intelligence and friendships in children and adolescents

This study provided evidence linking attachment style, friendship group membership, and group status to friendship quality and reported emotional intelligence. Students in the fifth through eighth grades who participated in this study (N=195) completed the following measures: The BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory: Youth Version, the Adolescent Relationship Scale, a Reactions to Teasing Measure, the Children's Coping Strategies Checklist, and an affect regulation scale.;Results indicate that perceived friendship quality of children/adolescents who are friends with only securely attached children/adolescents was higher than the quality of friendships of those who are friends with only the insecurely attached. Since securely attached children/adolescents were predicted to be better adjusted, it was also believed that those who were members of friendship groups that contained both the securely and insecurely attached would have higher quality friendships than those in groups that contained only the insecurely attached. This hypothesis was confirmed and suggests that being members of higher functioning groups (groups with secures) might allow children/adolescents to have better quality friendships.;Another aspect of friendship group formation studied was central and peripheral group membership. When insecurely attached children/adolescents are classified as central members of groups they score higher in companionship and "help and guidance" than the insecurely attached who are classified as peripheral members of groups. These insecurely attached central members have higher overall emotional intelligence, indicating that even though insecure children/adolescents may have a more difficult time navigating interpersonal relationships, those who are central members of groups are more adept at communicating their needs and having satisfying relationships than those who are classified as peripheral members.;The friendship formation of victims of peer abuse was also investigated. Victims are more likely to be insecurely attached, making it difficult for them to form friendships. Victims who were classified as central members of groups had better emotional intelligence scores than victims who were classified as peripheral members of groups. Although the causal direction cannot be determined, it may be that being a central member of a friendship group may allow children/adolescents who are historically less likely to have fulfilling friendships to function better in social contexts.