Friendship Standards: The Dimensions of Ideal Expectations

Abstract

This multi-study investigation identified and confirmed the factor structure of ideal friendship standards. Study 1 (N = 307) conducted an exploratory factor analysis on 30 existing subscales of friendship expectations. Study 2 (N = 401) reduced 181 items from past subscales and single-item measures of friendship expectations to 51 items measuring six factors. Study 3 (N = 668) used an international internet sample to conduct a confirmatory factor analysis on the six factor model. Samples from Study 2 and 3 were combined and factorial invariance was demonstrated by sample, by participant sex, and by age. The six factors of expectations (i.e., symmetrical reciprocity, agency, enjoyment, instrumental aid, similarity, and communion) constitute the ideal standards of friendship.