ERIC Number: EJ1425793
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1467-5986
EISSN: EISSN-1469-8439
Friendship Dimensions in Diverse Greek Primary Education Classrooms: Roma Students and Their Non-Roma Peers
Intercultural Education, v35 n3 p327-345 2024
For children, friends play an important role in their socio-emotional development and psychological well-being. Friendships may hold additional value for students who come from minoritized backgrounds. This study aimed to examine representations and themes of friendship in diverse Greek classrooms in which Roma and non-Roma elementary-age students interact daily as an attempt to examine how dyadic relationships may help minoritized students better cope and overcome barriers and adversity. For this qualitative survey, Thematic Analysis was used to analyse the answers of a sample of 57 upper elementary students, 25 Roma, and 32 non-Roma counterparts, that came from similar low socioeconomic status backgrounds, had a permanent residence, systematically attended school, and according to their school grades and teacher, information demonstrated low language achievement. Identified themes revealed that students across groups reported similar information. Children highlighted the perceived similarity between their closest friend and themselves in terms of physical and personality characteristics, emphasised their shared lived experiences expanding through space and time while reflecting the stability and richness, and brought forth aspects of high-quality friendships, such as intimacy and support. The significance and implications for researchers and practitioners of this study are presented.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Peer Relationship, Friendship, Student Diversity, Elementary School Students, Ethnic Groups, Minority Group Students, Coping, Low Income Students, Student Attitudes, Individual Characteristics, Grade 5, Grade 6, Personality Traits, Experience
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 5; Intermediate Grades; Middle Schools; Grade 6
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Greece
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A