Distinguishing Children Who Form New Best-Friendships from Those Who Do Not.

Three groups were identified using best-friendship nominations at two time points surrounding the transition to middle school (Time 1: Spring of 5 grade; Time 2: Fall of 6 grade): (i) children who had no best-friendship at Time 1, but had a best-friendship at Time 2 (=109); (ii) children who had no best-friendship at either Time 1 or 2 (=105); and (iii) children with a best-friendship at both Times 1 and 2, but with different peers at each time (=120). Peer nominations of social behaviors and victimization were collected at Times 1 and 2. Findings suggest that attraction to similar others, in addition to increased displays of prosocial behaviors, facilitate the formation of best-friendships for both initially best-friendless and best-friended children.