Abstract
Adolescence is a period when self-esteem and academic decisions become salient; peer
friendships expand and their significance increases. This research examined female midadolescent
friendships, best-friendships, same-sex friendships, opposite-sex friendships, and
whether each of these three categories of friendship correlated with self-esteem, self-concept
of school. Two different schools were compared. Ninety-seven girls participated, forty-three
from a same-sex school, fifty-four from a mixed-sex school. Using a mixed design,
respondents completed the McGill Friendship Questionnaire (MFQ – RA) (Mendelson &
Abound, 1999), two peer relationship scales and academic self-concept scale, drawn from
Self-Description Questionnaire II (SDQ II) (Marsh, 1992), Rosenberg Self Esteem
Questionnaire (Rosenberg, 1989). Same-sex friendships positively correlated with selfesteem
and self-concept of school. Opposite-sex friendships positively correlated with selfesteem.
Best friendships were not found to be significant. Same-sex school participants had
higher self-concept of school ability. Self-esteem was not significantly different between both
groups. Findings and recommendations for future research are discussed. Author keywords: adolescent girls, peers, school type, self-esteem, self-concept
