NCJ Number
216706
Journal
Journal of Adolescent Research Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2007 Pages: 32-57
Date Published
January 2007
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This study examined the nature of antipathetic relationships during high school.
Abstract
The results indicated that antipathetic relationships during high school were common, with 75 percent of participants reporting such relationships during high school. These antipathetic relationships were often formed from broken friendships and were characterized by aggression, attempts to do harm, and avoidance. While conflict in these relationships following high school was rare, the relationships were rarely resolved. The findings suggested that antipathetic relationships occurred almost exclusively among adolescents within close proximity of one another, such as within the same school and same grade, and that they were typically formed with members of the same gender. Boys’ antipathetic relationships were more likely to be marked by aggression while girls’ antipathetic relationships were more frequently marked by avoidance. The findings underscore the prevalence of antipathetic relationships during high school and highlight the need for additional research. Data were drawn from 80 college undergraduate students using the Interview of Friendship and Antipathetic Experiences, a semi-structured retrospective measure of high school relationships. Participants were recruited from their psychology courses and completed a demographic questionnaire as well as the relationship measure. Interview data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results are presented with quotations from the interviews as illustration of the central findings. Future research should explore the distinctions between different types of antipathetic relationships during high school. Table, note, references