Children's friendship stability in the United States, China, and Indonesia: Associations with individual attributes and dyadic similarity.

Abstract

Predictors of friendship stability from individual attributes and dyadic similarities were assessed using cross-classified multilevel analyses in this 6- to 8-month longitudinal study of 10-year-old US (White, Black, Asian, other; n = 477, 50% girls), Chinese (n = 467, 59% girls), and Indonesian (Sudanese, Javanese, other; n = 419, 45% girls) children with complete participation and reciprocated baseline friendships. Across countries, individual attributes of social preference, popularity, and academic achievement and dyadic social preference similarity positively predicted friendship stability. Dyadic similarity of popularity, academic achievement, and aggression respectively predicted friendship stabilities of US, Chinese, and Indonesian children. Both individual attributes and dyadic similarity predicted friendship stability, with results that varied across countries consistent with attributes' reputational salience.