How does friendship influence childhood well-being and positive behaviors?

Background: Studies have shown that childhood friendships are important for healthy social development and well-being. The purpose of this study was to investigate which friendship practices were associated with the development of pro-social behaviors, emotional instability, and aggressiveness among a sample of Italian children. Methods: The sample consisted of 334 children (48% boys, 52% girls) who were 8 to 10 years old (M=9.38; SD=0.89) attending the second (30%), third (53%) and fourth (17%) grades of primary schools in urban and suburban areas of northern Italy. Linear regressions were used to explore the associations of among our variables of interest utilizing three waves of data. Age, gender, and baseline measures were used as covariates in the analysis. Results: Results indicated that concurrent emotional instability was positively associated with conflict (β = 0.67, p < 0.001). Likewise Aggression was concurrently associated with conflict (β = .78, p < 0.001) and negatively associated with intimacy (β = -.19, p < 0.05). Finally pro-social behaviors were concurrently positively associated with intimacy (β = .25, p < 0.001), security (β = .14, p < 0.001) receiving help (β = .17, p < 0.001), and negatively associated with conflict (β = -0.10, p < 0.001). No longitudinal associations were identified. Conclusions: Such findings could assist program planners in the development of programs that enhance positive friendship practices for the development of childhood wellbeing. Further investigation is needed which could further enhance our understanding of the role that friendship has on behavioral problems.