This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 1046496409346578v1 40/6/694    most recent References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Kwon, K. Articles by Lease, A. M. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Children’s Social Identification With a Friendship Group: A Moderating Effect on Intent to Conform to Norms

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA, kkwon2{at}unl.edu

A. Michele Lease

University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

This study examined third- through fifth-grade children’s social identification (i.e., positive affects and emotions) with their friendship group as a process by which friendship group norms might affect children’s behaviors. A confirmatory factor analysis supported a unidimensional model of social identification. Reciprocated friendship group nomination was positively associated with social identification; fifth graders reported a higher level of social identification than third graders. Sex and perceived popularity were not related to social identification. The authors hypothesized that the effect of friendship group norms on children’s intent to conform to those norms would be greater when they strongly identify with their group. This hypothesis was supported with regard to trend and misbehavior norms but not academic norms.

Key Words: social identification • friendship group • group norms • conformity intent • children

This version was published on December 1, 2009

Small Group Research, Vol. 40, No. 6, 694-719 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1046496409346578


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?