Title

Social identity support and friendship outcomes: A longitudinal study predicting who will be friends and best friends 4 years later

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2005

Publication Title

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

Department

Psychology

Abstract

This longitudinal study tested the hypothesis that social identity support would predict the long-term status of first-year college friendships. Social identity support refers to perceived support for valued aspects of the self that are related to identification with social groups, categories, and roles. First-year undergraduates (N = 100) reported levels of closeness, contact, general support, and social identity support for new same-sex friendships. Logistic regression analyses indicated, as expected, that social identity support predicted whether or not a new friend would be a best friend 4 years later, after controlling for initial levels of closeness, contact, and general relationship-specific social support. Social identity support, however, did not predict status as a mere friend at follow-up. The results regarding best friend status suggest that social identity support may be a unique form of social support that contributes to the development of close relationships.

Volume

22

Issue

3

pp.

416-432

ISSN

0265-4075

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