Research confirms friendships are vital to young peoples' experiences of school. © Rawpixel.com- stock.adobe.com
<h2><span data-contrast="auto">School friendships are crucial for the wellbeing of rangatahi, finds new reports from the Our Voices project at Waipapa Taumata Rau | The University of Auckland. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></h2>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The reports draw on wellbeing responses from 1000 13-year olds in the Growing Up in New Zealand longitudinal study, the largest ongoing cohort study in New Zealand. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><a href="https://www.schoolnews.co.nz/latest-print-issue/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><b>Read the latest print edition of <em>School News</em> online HERE.</b></a></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Three recently published reports: ‘</span><a href="https://ourvoices.auckland.ac.nz/the-social-lives-of-young-people/" target="_blank"><span data-contrast="none">Social Connections – In-person and Online</span></a><span data-contrast="auto">’; ‘</span><a href="https://ourvoices.auckland.ac.nz/what-makes-school-easy-or-tough/" target="_blank"><span data-contrast="none">School Experiences – Overcoming Challenges</span></a><span data-contrast="auto">’; and ‘</span><a href="https://ourvoices.auckland.ac.nz/school-attendance-what-helps-or-hinders/" target="_blank"><span data-contrast="none">School Attendance – Enablers &; Barriers’</span></a><span data-contrast="auto"> outlined the important of friendships for young people’s experiences of school. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The report on school attendance found that friendships are a primary reason young people attend school. Students also reported enjoying school more when they had positive peer relationships. On the flipside, however, poor relationships presented a barrier to school attendance. The report notes that when young people report poor peer relationships, they could be referring to a form of bullying. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Crucially, the second report found that having positive peer relationships are protective against known school challenges like bullying. Young people reported their friends helped them stand up to bullies and meant they were less likely to be a target. Those without friends were more likely to be bullied. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<figure id="attachment_23977" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-23977" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="size-medium wp-image-23977" src="https://www.schoolnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/c-vejaa-Adobe-Stock-300x200.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-23977" class="wp-caption-text">Those without friends were more likely to be bullied, contributing to negative experiences of school. © cvejaa- stock.adobe.com</figcaption></figure>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The report on social connections in young people found that friendships were one of the main ways young people experienced “belonging”. Feeling belonging is a crucial aspect of wellbeing and personal growth, especially during adolescence. During this time rangatahi are more likely to feel belonging among friends. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Taken together, these findings emphasise the importance of positive social environments at school, says Dr Emma Marks, research fellow in Social and Community Health. Marks says schools should create opportunities for young people to connect socially, inside and outside of school. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">“They need to be given a range of opportunities to develop meaningful social connections, particularly during school transitions, like moving from intermediate to high school, when they can get separated from friends.&#8221;</span></p>
<figure id="attachment_28074" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-28074" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="size-medium wp-image-28074" src="https://www.schoolnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/AdobeStock_145129346-300x200.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-28074" class="wp-caption-text">Having friends was protective for students&#8217; wellbeing. © oneinchpunch- stock.adobe.com</figcaption></figure>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Young people had a range of ideas around making schools a more positive place for social and emotional wellbeing. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">“Respondents felt that increasing school engagement should focus not only on learning and achievement, but also on offering students good experiences to make school more attractive; for example, teachers who care about a young person in their entirety, not just as a learner, and extracurricular activities that help students ‘find their people,” says Marks.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>

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