ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the significance of pupil friendships at school for development and adjustment. Research findings clearly suggest that in many cases having friends can offer support and protection and enhance psychological adjustment. Friendships can lay the foundations for future relationships and that most notably they can be contexts for the development of a wide range of social, cognitive and emotional skills or competences. There is a strong sense however that these relationships, experiences, skills and outcomes will vary from individual to individual. Not all children have friendships, not all children have the very positive relationships that one normally expect of friendships, and not all friendships offer the same experiences. One of the main potential benefits of friendships is that they may be an important emotional resource in times of difficulty. Friendships may have a protective role for children who become targets of harassment and dislike by the wider peer group.
