The Effect of Parental Abuse and Neglect on Friendship Behaviors Among Adolescents of Eighth Grade Students

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the effect of parental abuse and neglect on friendship behaviors such as loyalty support and intimacy among eighth grade students. In addition the study attempted to examine whether student’s friendship behaviors differ significantly according to their gender, abuse and neglect level and interaction between these two variables. To answer the questions of the study (860) male and female students at grade eight were selected randomly by multi stage cluster sample and two measures of friendship behaviors and childhood trauma were applied. The results revealed no significant differences in practicing friendship behaviors according to gender and physical and emotional abuse and emotional neglect and level of and interaction between these two variables. The results showed also significant differences between physically neglected male and female in practicing support and intimacy in favour of males. In addition the significant differences between genders were found at the results of physical abuse where the males suffering of mild level practicing support with friends more than females.