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06 November 2009
Research shows benefits of befriending to volunteer befrienders
New report published in the Journal of Intercultural Communication
Befriending is commonly regarded as a form of relationship designed to benefit the befriendee with little research looking at the experiences of befrienders. A new report published in the Journal of Intercultural Communication, reports the findings from a study of the experiences of volunteer befrienders to children and young people from minority ethnic backgrounds. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 volunteers.
Participants described the benefits of the relationships, acceptance by befriendees' families, social links and cultural factors relevant to the relationships. The study concludes that befriending relationships should be viewed as more reciprocal than is often assumed and suggests that such relationships can engender positive intergroup relations.
Read the full article: “I’ve learned so much”: befrienders’ experiences of befriending minority ethnic young people (McVittie, Goodall & Barr, 2009; Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh)
Participants described the benefits of the relationships, acceptance by befriendees' families, social links and cultural factors relevant to the relationships. The study concludes that befriending relationships should be viewed as more reciprocal than is often assumed and suggests that such relationships can engender positive intergroup relations.
Read the full article: “I’ve learned so much”: befrienders’ experiences of befriending minority ethnic young people (McVittie, Goodall & Barr, 2009; Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh)
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