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Friendship Qualities Scale
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About Friendship Qualities Scale
Scale Name
Friendship Qualities Scale
Author Details
William M. Bukowski, Betsy Hoza, and Michel Boivin
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Friendship Qualities Scale (FQS), developed by William M. Bukowski, Betsy Hoza, and Michel Boivin in 1994, is a self-report questionnaire designed to assess children’s perceived quality of their relationship with their best friend. Targeting children and adolescents (typically ages 8-15), the FQS evaluates friendship quality across five subscales: Companionship, Conflict, Help, Closeness, and Security. Respondents complete the measure with reference to their “very best friend,” as identified through a friendship nomination task. Cited in Bukowski et al. (1994), the scale aligns with developmental psychology frameworks, emphasizing the role of peer relationships in social and emotional well-being (Hartup, 1996).
The FQS comprises 23 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = “Not at all true” to 5 = “Really true”). Subscales include: Companionship (e.g., “My friend and I spend all our free time together”), Conflict (e.g., “My friend and I argue a lot”), Help (e.g., “My friend would help me if I needed it”), Closeness (e.g., “I think about my friend even when my friend is not around”), and Security (e.g., “If I have a problem at school or at home, I can talk to my friend about it”).
Scores are calculated as the arithmetic mean of items per subscale (range: 1-5), with higher scores indicating greater perceived friendship quality, except for Conflict, where higher scores indicate more disagreements. The Security subscale is often excluded due to low reliability (α = 0.58). Validated in child and adolescent samples, the FQS is used to assess peer relationship quality, predict social adjustment, and inform interventions for social skills.
Psychologists, developmental researchers, and educators use the FQS to evaluate friendship dynamics, identify social support deficits, and design programs to enhance peer relationships. Its multidimensional structure is a strength, but the low reliability of the Security subscale and English-only availability may limit its use in some contexts.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the scale from authorized sources, such as Bukowski et al. (1994) in Journal of Social and Personal Relationships (Vol. 11, pp. 471-484), ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses their relationship with their best friend to understand social connections, emphasizing anonymity and using age-appropriate, non-judgmental language.
- Administer a friendship nomination task first, asking children to identify their “very best friend,” then instruct them to rate statements about that friendship using the 5-point scale, based on recent experiences.
- Approximate time for completion is 5-7 minutes, given the 23-item format.
- Administer in school, clinical, or research settings, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private environment. Oral administration may be used for younger children or those with reading difficulties.
Reliability and Validity
The FQS has variable psychometric properties, as reported in Bukowski et al. (1994). Internal consistency for subscales is: Companionship (Cronbach’s α = 0.72), Conflict (α = 0.68), Closeness (α = 0.76), Help (α = 0.81), and Security (α = 0.58). The low reliability of the Security subscale often leads to its exclusion. Test-retest reliability is not widely reported, but stability is inferred to be moderate based on similar friendship measures (r ≈ 0.60-0.80 over weeks).
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with related constructs, such as social support (r ≈ 0.40-0.60 for Help and Closeness) and peer acceptance (r ≈ 0.30-0.50). Discriminant validity is evidenced by weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, like academic performance (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by predicting social adjustment and emotional well-being in longitudinal studies. Factor analyses confirm the five-subscale structure, though the Security subscale’s weak reliability limits its validity. The scale’s psychometrics suggest cautious use, ideally paired with measures like the Network of Relationships Inventory (Furman & Buhrmester, 1985) for comprehensive assessment.
Available Versions
23-Items
Reference
Bukowski, W. M., Hoza, B., & Boivin, M. (1994). Measuring friendship quality during pre-and early adolescence: The development and psychometric properties of the Friendship Qualities Scale. Journal of social and Personal Relationships, 11(3), 471-484.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Friendship Qualities Scale measure?
It measures children’s perceived quality of their best friendship across companionship, conflict, help, closeness, and security.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, developmental researchers, and educators studying children and adolescents (ages 8-15).
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 5-7 minutes.
Is the scale specific to certain groups?
It targets children and adolescents, typically in school settings.
Can the scale inform interventions?
Yes, but the low reliability of the Security subscale (α = 0.58) suggests cautious use with validated measures.
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