In this study, correlates of children's motivation to form friendships are examined using the Friendship Motivation Scale for Children (FMSC), a new scale designed to assess the motivational dimensions that contribute to children's desire for friendships. Specifically, the FMSC consists of four subscales that measure intrinsic motivation, two forms of regulation for extrinsic motivation (identified and external), and amotivation. The results, obtained with a sample of 490 fifth-, sixth-, and seventh-grade boys and girls, confirmed the factor structure of the scale for both genders and revealed adequate reliability (i.e., internal consistency and test-retest stability). Construct validity of the scale was demonstrated by (a) correlations among the four subscales displaying a simplex pattern, and thus supporting the underlying theoretical model (i.e., self-determination continuum), (b) positive correlations between subscales situated at the high end of the self-determination continuum (i.e., intrinsic motivation and identified regulation) and a relationship-maintaining goal, positive correlations between subscales situated at the low end of the self-determination continuum (i.e., external regulation and amotivation) and a revenge goal, and a positive correlation between external regulation and a control goal, (c) positive correlations between self-determined friendship motivation and items assessing the global importance of friendships, and (d) positive correlations between self-determination scores from members of friendship dyads. Furthermore, analyses revealed the existence of several correlates of children's friendship motivation. Children who were more self-determined in their motivation to form friendships were preferred by their peers, and they reported greater perceived social competence, a more internal locus of control of social experience, greater social support from family members, best friend and teacher, and fewer feelings of loneliness and social dissatisfaction. Moreover, loneliness was partially predicted by the discrepancy between children's friendship motivation and presence or absence of a best friend. Finally, girls reported greater self-determined friendship motivation than boys, and gender differences were observed in the relationships between friendship motivation and some of its correlates (i.e., one item stating that friendship is more important than popularity, peer preference, number of reciprocated friends, and having a mutual best friend).
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uottawa.ca/oai:ruor.uottawa.ca:10393/6233 |
| Date | January 2002 |
| Creators | Richard, Jacques F. |
| Contributors | Schneider, Barry H., |
| Publisher | University of Ottawa (Canada) |
| Source Sets | Université d’Ottawa |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 143 p. |
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