Characteristic Processes in Close Peer Friendships of Preterm Infants at Age 12

Table 4

Mean scores of friendship behavior types and friendship quality scales at age 12 by prematurity group.

	Full term; ≥38 wga; 𝑛=40; 𝑀 (SD)	Preterm; <37 wga; 𝑛=126; 𝑀 (SD)
Friendship behavior typesa
Leadership	.38(.46)	.50(.39)
Distancing^b	.12(.27)	.05(.32)
Mutual playfulness	.15(.29)	.07(.26)
Friendship quality scales
Validation and caring^c	32.16(7.15)	32.31(6.35)
Conflict resolution^c	8.88(3.09)	9.04(2.96)
Conflict/betrayal^c	17.43(3.26)	18.14(2.64)
Help and guidance^c	26.50(7.10)	24.80(6.70)
Companionship  and  recreation^∧	12.77(4.42)	11.07(4.22)
Intimate exchange^c	17.05(5.22)	15.59(6.19)

Note. ^∧𝑃=.04; ^aaverage factor loading, range −1to1. ^bboys > girls (𝑃=.002); ^cgirls > boys.