Abstract

The aim of the present study is to verify if, and to which degree, the number of reciprocal friendships and the qualitative aspects of this relationship vary in function of disorder (internalizing vs. externalizing disorder) and gender of subjects. Participants: 515 subjects divided into 3 groups: 1) 241 well-adapted; 2) 159 with internalized disorders; 3) 115 with externalized disorders. Measures: Youth Self-Report (Achenbach, 1991); teachers' evaluation of school achievement; a modified version of the Olweus anonymous questionnaire (Menesini, 2002); Intimate Friendship Scale (Tani, Maggino, 2003). Data analysis showed that quantitative aspects of friendship significantly vary only in function of gender of subjects, at the contrary qualitative aspects of reciprocal friendships significantly vary both in function of the type of disorder and gender of subjects.