This study of 384 young adolescents (45% girls, M age = 12.94 years) and their desired friendships (friendships that adolescents indicate they would like to form in the future) examined whether (a) adolescents desire to be friends with peers who are well-liked, popular, aggressive, and prosocial; (b) having desired friendships is associated with likeability, popularity, aggression, and prosocial behaviors; and (c) being desired as a friend and having desired friendships are associated uniquely with loneliness. Results revealed that adolescents desire to be friends with peers who are popular, well-liked, and aggressive, but not necessarily prosocial. In addition, girls with desired friendships were less popular than girls without desired friendships; they also reported greater loneliness, after accounting for related peer experiences. Findings from this study highlight the need for future work on desired friendships and adjustment, for young adolescent boys and girls.
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