Attachment as a predictor of friendship qualities in college youth

In this study we examined the relationship between adult attachment style and friendship qualities in a sample of 330 undergraduates using the Adult Attachment Measure (Hazan & Shaver, 1987) and the Friendship Qualities Scale (Bukowski, Hoza, & Boivin, 1994). Results indicated that securely attached individuals showed higher levels of transcending problems in their friendships and lower levels of conflict, while avoidant individuals showed higher levels of conflict and lower levels of companionship. Interactions between attachment style, sex of the participant, and the sex of the friend (same/opposite sex) suggested the combined impact of these variables on specific friendship qualities.