INTIMATE FRIENDSHIP SCALE - CONCEPTUAL UNDERPINNINGS, PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES AND CONSTRUCT-VALIDITY

The Intimate Friendship Scale is reviewed based on 16 studies relevant to children and preadolescents. The conceptual background is presente d. Intimate friendship is considered a configuration of diverse but co herently related quantitatively commensurate elements, specified here. The structure of the original scale is described, as well as its eigh t dimensions of content. Data on the scale's reliability, content vali dity (through the use of judges), criterion validity (using reciprocit y of choice), predictive validity (through follow-up comparisons after 7 years), construct validity (through comparisons involving kibbutz a nd city, social class, divorce, twins, defense mechanisms and group in terventions) and discriminant validity (through comparisons with comra deship, popularity, role-taking, IQ and social desirability) are prese nted. The discussion addresses questions regarding the scale, and sugg ests directions for future research.