Values and empathy as predictors of friendship quality among adolescents in Argentina
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UPDATE: 11 September 2025
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Abstract
Deep friendships with low conflict in adolescence has positive benefits for the psychological life of individuals, so it is important to evaluate its predictive value. The aims of this study were: to evaluate the relationships between the values of positive adolescent development, the dimensions of empathy and friendship; to test a structural equation model with the aforementioned variables. The sample consisted of 330 Argentine adolescents: 137 males (41.5 %) and 193 females (58.5 %), aged 11-16 years (M = 12.82 SD = 1.03). Correlations and structural equations were carried out. It was found that social and personal values were positively correlated with perspective taking, emotional recognition, empathic action, degree and depth of friendship. These values in turn correlated negatively with bonding difficulties. Degree and depth of friendship correlated positively with empathic action, emotional recognition and perspective taking. Bonding difficulties correlated negatively with empathic action and emotional regulation. The model tested explained 22 % of the variance in the degree and depth of friendship. In this model, empathy played an important mediating role between adolescent developmental values and the degree and depth of friendship.
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