Abstract:
Dyadic friendShip' asymmetry was examined in relation to gender, friendship quality, and
friendship status. Sixty-nine grade five children and their mutual, same-sex, friends participated in
a laboratory session comprised ofvarious activities and completed questionnaires to identify
mutual friends and evaluate friendship quality. Asymmetry of power was assessed observationally
during an origami task. Variations in balance of power were evident in children's friendships.
Boys' dyads had significantly greater levels of asymmetry than girls' dyads. Regardless of gender,
asymmetry was associated with lower friendship quality, particularly as indexed by validation and
caring and conflict resolution. Asymmetry was unrelated to differences in friendship status.
Furthermore, relative individual power within the friendship was not related to individual
perceptions offriendship quality. The implications ofthese findings in the theoretical and
empirical literature were considered and suggestions for future research were made.
