ABSTRACT

Friendships play a key role in students’ belonging in school by supporting them emotionally and psychologically. It has been reported that peer relationships could significantly influence the well-being of students. Positive peer relationships characterised by acceptance and positive interactions were found to promote a student’s self-confidence and his/her positive feelings towards others. Research provided evidence that positive student-teacher relationships contribute to students’ well-being by promoting a sense of belonging to the school, their academic motivation, and engagement with learning. The participants spoke of the way friends contributed to the well-being of autistic students. According to the teachers, having friends minimized autistic students’ sense of isolation and loneliness, and allowed them to have a positive experience in school. Students enjoyed spending time with their friends in school. They often chatted with one another or played games on their smart-phones.