Friendship helps children to feel valued, it can protect them from stresses, it can stimulate explorations and learning and it provides children with an opportunity to learn a range of skills, particularly those that relate to personal relationships. For children living with chronic physical or mental health conditions, the role that a single friendship can play in their lives cannot be underestimated. For example, having a friend may reduce the negative effects of living with a chronic health condition, such as improving pain or reducing the chances of victimisation. A friend can provide support and distraction, but what is particularly important to study in relation to friendship is the negative effects of not having friends. Rejection from the peer group may constitute an important source of stress, which in turn may weaken a child’s immune system and leave them vulnerable to infection and physical illness. Children with chronic health conditions are likely to be less successful at making and maintaining friendships.
The Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) study provides an opportunity to understand the patterns of friendships and peer relationships of 9-year-old children in Ireland with chronic physical and mental health conditions. The specific aims of the study include comparing the friendships of children with and without chronic health conditions, comparing friendship patterns of children with different types of health condition and looking at the cognitive, social and emotional correlates of having friends.
