EFFECTS OF SEX, ATTRACTION, AND ACCEPTANCE ON CHILDRENS HELP-SEEKING AND ATTITUDES TO INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

We hypothesized that students' levels of attraction to and perceived a cceptance by the classroom group would affect their willingness to rec eive help and their attitudes to interpersonal relationships. The subj ects were 124 boys and 128 girls in Grade 6. Three multivariate analys es of variance were performed within a two (high and low attraction) x two (high and low acceptance) x two (sex) factorial design. Results i ndicated that sex differences existed in willingness to receive help a nd helper preferences. High attraction subjects differed from those wi th low attraction in their higher orientation toward including other c hildren in their activities, accepting control from others, and being affectionate around others. The effects of attraction were more marked for boys' attitudes toward being affectionate and accepting control t han for girls. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.