Brief report: friendships of adolescents with and without diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Friendships of adolescents with chronic illness have been rarely studied.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the friendships of boys and girls with diabetes with those between healthy adolescents.

METHODS: One hundred and thirty-eight adolescents were interviewed at summer camps. Participants indicated their number of close friends and rated friendships for support and conflict. Participants described aspects of their same-sex and other-sex friendships that they liked and disliked.

RESULTS: Adolescents with diabetes have friendships that are similar to those between healthy adolescents, with a few exceptions.

CONCLUSIONS: Emotional support may be especially valued by girls with diabetes, whereas differences among friends may be less valued among adolescents with diabetes.