Gender segregation in peer relationships and its association with peer reputation

Abstract

Background: Segregation by gender when relating to peers is a well-known phenomenon, with important implications for the development of children and adolescents. The objective of this study was to deeply analyze the intra and intergender relationships that young people establish with their peers, as well as the link that these relationships have with social reputation. Method: 593 youngsters (50.1% girls) from 5th and 6th years of Primary Education, and 1st and 2nd years of Compulsory Secondary Education (CSE) completed a sociometric test and a social reputation test. Results: The main results indicate that girls had a higher number of positive reciprocities with other girls, whereas boys tended to have conflictive intragender relationships. We confirmed that the relationships between the different sociometric indices and social reputation were different in boys and girls. Thus, for example, aggression and sociability were differently related to the establishment of intergender relationships in boys and girls. Conclusions: The results related to previous research are discussed, and some possible educational implications are noted.