Friendships of Indonesian children: Adjustment of children who differ in friendship presence and similarity between mutual friends

Two aspects of the friendships of 960 Indonesian 10-year-old children were assessed. First, the characteristics of children with and without mutual friends were compared. Children without friends were more aggressive, withdrawn, and lower in academic achievement and social preference than those with friends. Second, similarities between children and their friends were assessed by comparing 132 target children with their friend and non-friend classmates. Children were more similar to their friends than to non-friends in social preference, achievement, peer and teacher rated antisocial behavior and peer and teacher rated social withdrawal. The similarities of the friendships of Indonesian children to those of Western children with respect to these two features provide evidence of construct equivalence of friendships across cultures.