Worked Cited

Sentse, MirandaLaird, Robert D. "Parent-Child Relationships And Dyadic Friendship Experiences As Predictors Of Behavior Problems In Early Adolescence." Journal Of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology 39.6 (2010): 873-884. Advanced Placement Source. Web. 20 Apr. 2012

Rubin, KennethFredstrom, BridgetBowker, Julie. "Future Directions In . . . Friendship In Childhood And Early Adolescence." Social Development 17.4 (2008): 1085-1096. Advanced Placement Source. Web. 20 Apr. 2012.

Waldrip, Amy M.Malcolm, Kenya T.Jensen-Campbell, Lauri A. "With A Little Help From Your Friends: The Importance Of High-Quality Friendships On Early Adolescent Adjustment." Social Development 17.4 (2008): 832-852. Advanced Placement Source. Web. 20 Apr. 2012.

Sydney's I-Search Blog." : Survey Questions. Web. 20 May 2012. <http://spearsisearch.blogspot.com/2012/04/survey-questions_20.html>.

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Gamma363. "The Importance of Friends." YouTube. YouTube, 18 June 2009. Web. 23 May 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBCY4DOBGOA>.

Documentry

Argumentative Essay

Is Friendship ageless?

    Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the
dividing of our grief. (Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman statesman, orator, philosopher) When my parents became to divorce I had no one to talk to. My friends had left me out to dry, I was constantly bullied, and my parents were preoccupied with other matters. Then I met Jamie, and my life changed forever. He was my first true friend. I thought nothing wrong of the friendship, and still do not. Others however stated that its unhealthy and inappropriate. However I view it differently, and so do the friendship experts.
    My friendship with Jamie has never been inappropriate, but others tend to think differently. This key factor helped me decide what I wanted to survey. One of the ten questions I asked was “Is it our fast paced society the reason that anything out of the ordinary is viewed as wrong or vulgar?” Almost all of the survey takers disagreed. When researching to see if this was psychologically reaction, I instead found that it’s actually healthy for a child to have an adult friend. Having good relationships with older individuals is of critical importance for mental health in childhood and later in life (Armsden & Greenberg, 1987; Tracy & Ainsworth, 1981).

In Parent–Child Relationships and Dyadic Friendship Experiences as Predictors of Behavior Problems in Early Adolescence, it clearly states that low levels of acceptance and support and high levels of rejection and conflict have been linked to higher levels of externalizing problems, like aggression and antisocial behavior, as well as to higher levels of internalizing problems, such as depression and anxiety (Buehler & Gerard, 2002;Rohner & Britner, 2002; Rothbaum & Weisz, 1994). When an adolescent is rejected from a social group and cannot find his or her own it leads to major medical problems. Any time of friendship is helpful for a child to avoid such mental problems. Adolescents need someone outside of their family, to talk to and grow with. In the whole article it never states that age is pressing matter when choosing a friend.

Several studies document that high-quality friendships can buffer children from experiencing the risks associated with negative family experiences. Patterson and colleagues (1989). Adolescents that have strong friendships, but suffer with negative family experiences are less likely to suffer from internalizing problems, and externalizing problems. The stronger the friendship the less likely that negative experiences in general will stay with the adolescent throughout life. The experience will become a suppressed memory due to the distraction of having supportive friends.

All my research clearly states that adolescents need to maintain a strong friendship in order to maintain mental health. Also that friendship is created because of interests, and character qualities. Not age. None of the articles state that age plays a major factor in the dynamic of a friendship. Age plays a factor when it comes to solving problems. All articles state that the older the friend is, the better the solution.

Is friendship ageless? My research proves that it is. Age does not matter when it comes to friendship. Actually it is more benefitationary to have an older friend. Also, that society does not have a negative reaction when it comes to friendships with age gaps. No matter if your friends with someone older or younger, remember it’s healthy and normal.

   

Summaries From Articles

Article 1: Parent-Child Relationships and Dyadic Friendship Experiences As Predictors of Behavior Problems In Early Adolescene


Sentse, MirandaLaird, Robert D. "Parent-Child Relationships And Dyadic Friendship Experiences As Predictors Of Behavior Problems In Early Adolescence." Journal Of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology 39.6 (2010): 873-884. Advanced Placement Source. Web. 20 Apr. 2012


Miranda Senste and Robert D. Laird claim that having a good relationship is of critcal importance for both mental health in childhood and also building relationships later in life. They also argue that the a nature of a relationship with a primary attachment figure is most important for mental health. Senste and Laird state that a majority of children go to the peers to solve probelms than their parental figures. Laird and Senste had also discover that when children try to solve problems with their peers its more likely to have a negative result than a positive one. Laird and Senste stress that children need both relationships with their peers, but also have a parental figure in guiding them through childhood.


Article 2: Future Directions In Friendship In Childhood And Early Adolescene

Rubin, KennethFredstrom, BridgetBowker, Julie. "Future Directions In . . . Friendship In Childhood And Early Adolescence." Social Development 17.4 (2008): 1085-1096. Advanced Placement Source. Web. 20 Apr. 2012.


Kenneth Rubin, Bridget Fredstrom, and Julie Bowker start the article with a quote. "

Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the

dividing of our grief. (Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman statesman, orator, philosopher)" This article revovles around the idea that having friends helps solve problems. Also, that true friendships are made with mutual interests, and that the age does not effect the emotional connections. Basically, it is healthy to have older to friends. Friendship is not defined by age.


Article 3: With A Little Help From Your Friends: The Importance of High Quality Friendships On Early Adolescent Adjustment

Waldrip, Amy M.Malcolm, Kenya T.Jensen-Campbell, Lauri A. "With A Little Help From Your Friends: The Importance Of High-Quality Friendships On Early Adolescent Adjustment." Social Development 17.4 (2008): 832-852. Advanced Placement Source. Web. 20 Apr. 2012.

Malcolm, Waldrip, Jensen, and Campbell conducted the present study to examine unique contributions and the moderating relations between different adolescent relationships. What makes adolescents choose their friends, such as physical attributes. Malcolm, Waldrip, Jensen, and Campbell also observed the negative affects of being victimized, and how that can disrupt the adolescents friendships.

Research Memo

Blog
Can friendship be ageless?

Hypothesis- Friendship is a complicated relationship. It is difficult to find someone you relate to and also can trust. I had a difficult time forming friendships with peers my age due to my interests and beliefs. In life if things get rough where do teens and or young adults turn to? Most turn to friends their own age and others turn to adults. Some find the answers they need through people their own age and others find the answers from adults who went through the same hardship. Unfortunately, our society friendship between an adult and youth are frowned upon. Society tends to think negatively.

Context- My audience was a melting pot. I aimed to survey the youth (ages 16 to 29) and also adults(ages 30 and up). I chose these respondents because every generation has a different view of friendship and what is appropriate and inappropriate  

<><><><>

	Youths: 15	Adults: 11
Shared a friendship with someone older/ younger.	9	7
Level of comfort with a youth and adult being friends. 1-10, 10 being the most comfortable.	6 teens said a level 9 of comfort. 8 teens said a level 10 of comfort. 1 teen said a level 8 of comfort.	11 adults said they were on a comfort level of 10 sharing a friendship with a youth.
Youths can share and solve problems with an adult more effectually, than with people their own age.	Agree- 6 Disagree- 9	Agree- 9 Disagree- 2
Is it our fast pace society the reason that anything out of the ordinary is viewed in a negative way?	Yes- 3 No- 12	Yes- 0 No-11
Do you feel as though society would disagree with a friendship between a youth and an adult?	Yes- 14 No- 1	Yes- 11 No- 0
Would you approve of your teen befriending an adult?	Yes- 15 No-0	Yes- 5 No-6
What would you feel if your teen informed you that they had befriended an adult?	Excited-0 Furious-0 Disappointed-1 Neutral- 14	Excited-0 Furious-5 Disappointed-3 Neutral- 3
A friendship between an adult and youth is innocent.	Agree- 11 Disagree- 4	Agree- 9 Disagree-2

Data Analysis –98 percent of the respondents agreed the society would frown upon a friendship between a youth and an adult. As I hypothesized, society would frown upon something that is out of the ordinary Friendship between a youth and an adult is not unusual, just different.

Every adult who answered the survey said they were 100 percent comfortable being friends with a youth. This information stunned me when I first discovered it. I can see why they would be comfortable with it. Youths need someone to talk to. Friends their age cannot always help with their problems. An adult can provide guidance and advice with major problems.

By my surprise the majority who took the survey disagreed that it’s our fast pace society’s fault that anything out of the ordinary is viewed wrongful or vulgar. What is surprising is due to society’s mentally unstable population who has committed wrongful crimes such as rape or molestation. These unfortunate events has shaped the mind of our society and made friendship between a youth and an adult vile.

Conclusion- My conclusion is that my hypothesis was wrong. I thought that the respondents would not be comfortable with ageless friendship. Mainly, because of my personal experience when I befriended an older man. The only person who agreed and approved was my mother and everyone else reacted negatively. I was also proven wrong by that fact that most did not think it was our fast pace society that has made friendship between a youth and an adult vile. I will admit that I am satisfied with the results because people are more mindful and positive when seeing friendship between a youth and an adult.

Follow Up- I want to continue to pursue my topic. I am unsure how. People are comfortable with ageless friendship. What do parents first think when their child informs them of such relations? Positively? Negatively? Do they look up the adult? How do the youths feel when befriending an adult? How do they befriend an adult? Family friend? Siblings? Do youths feel more secure with an adult? Do they feel like talking out issues and sharing information with their adult friends provides more guidance? I have many questions to answer. Each and every answer will shape my blog.

Survey Questions

Does Friendship have an Age Limit?

Circle the answer.

Youth= Teen or young adult.

Adult= 30 and up.

1. What age group do you belong in?

    14 - 19

    20 - 29

    30 - 39

    40 and up

2. Have you ever been friends with someone older? Younger?

    Yes

    No

3. On scale of one to ten, ten being the most comfortable, how do you feel about an adult and youth being friends?

1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10

4. Agree or Disagree. Youths can share and solve problems with an adult more officiant, than with people their own age.

Agree

Disagree

5. Is it our fast pace society the reason that anything out of the ordinary is viewed as wrong or vulgar?

    Yes

    No

6. Do you feel as though society would disagree with a friendship between a youth and an adult?

    Yes

    No

7. What emotions do you feel about a youth and an adult being friends?

__________________________________________________________________________   

8. Would you approve of your teen befriending an adult?

    Approve

    Disapprove

9.What would you feel if your teen informed you that they had befriended an adult?

    Excited

    Furious   

    Disappointed

    Neutral

10.  A friendship between an adult and youth is innocent.

    True

    False

Essential Questions

How does friendship impact the mental aspect of an adolescents' minds?


When befriending an adult, does social acceptance in high school matter as much?


Does society have an influcence on the community's opinion on an adult befriending a minor?


Can parents accept an opposite sex friendship between an adult and minor? What are their first thoughts when this happens?

The Connection

Is friendship ageless? When I was thirteen years old, my life changed forever. My parents went through a divorce. That first sign of trouble was all it took for my friends to run. The divorce made my father question everything about my mother and her past. Even asking himself if I was truly his child. My father was so curious to know, that he conducted a DNA test. The divorce was the end, but the DNA test was the beginning of the down spiral of depression. I was no longer a happy teen. Every day I would wake up and wonder why I existed. Every night I hoped that I would never wake up. Every minute of everyday I would come up with ways to kill myself. The thing that stop me was a voice within, telling me that was the weak way out and I would pull through. My mother realized how withdrawn I'd become from reality, and then  made the decision to take me to therapy. Therapy didn't help me. He did. A fourty three year old man saved me. He gave me a purpose in life, and someone I could rely on no matter what. It has been and still is the deepest and strongest friendship I could ever hope for. I never would have thought in my short life span that I could connect to someone, much less someone much older than I so much. We both shared the same opinion in politics and religion. We share the same dry humor and wit. He saved me. In so many ways than one.