title: Gender-based relationship efficacy: children's self-perceptions in intergroup contexts.
abstract: This research introduces a new construct, gender-based relationship efficacy, which refers to beliefs about one's ability to relate to own- and other-gender peers. Study 1 investigated 204 fourth graders (M age = 9.56) and confirmed that own-gender and other-gender relationship efficacy represent distinguishable aspects of preadolescents' social competency beliefs that are differentially related to outcomes with own- and other-gender peers, including outcome expectancies and friendships with own- and other-gender peers. Study 2 provided further evidence of the distinctiveness of relationship efficacy for own- and other-gender peers among 403 seventh (M age = 12.48) and 453 eighth (M age = 13.50) graders and found gender and age differences. Developmental changes and implications for research on intergroup relationships are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Arizona State University.
authors.forename: Kristina M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Zosuls
authors.forename: Ryan D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Field
authors.forename: Carol Lynn
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Naomi C Z
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: Dawn E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: England
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D012917:Social Adjustment