McGill Friendship Questionnaire

Abstract

The McGill Friendship Questionnaire (MFQ) is a sophisticated psychological scale designed to measure the perceived quality of dyadic friendship among late adolescents and young adults. Developed by Mendelson and Aboud (1992, 1999), the instrument is unique in that it separates the measurement of emotional attachment and satisfaction (MFQ-Respondent’s Affection) from the functional aspects and social support provided by the friend (MFQ-Friend’s Functions). The scale provides a multi-dimensional assessment across several key facets of interpersonal relationships, offering researchers a robust tool for studying developmental changes in social bonds.

Keywords

Friendship quality, adolescence, young adults, psychometrics, affection, social support, satisfaction, intimacy, reliable alliance, developmental psychology

Authors

Mendelson, M. J., Aboud, F. E.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the McGill Friendship Questionnaire is to provide a detailed, psychometrically sound measure of the quality experienced within a specific, close dyadic friendship. Unlike earlier measures that often focused on global popularity or generic peer relations, the MFQ aims to capture the richness and complexity of perceived quality by isolating two major components: the respondent’s emotional bond and satisfaction with the relationship (MFQ-RA), and the specific functions the friend serves (MFQ-FF).

This differentiation allows researchers to investigate how various dimensions of friendship quality—such as emotional security or the provision of help—independently contribute to overall well-being and psychological adjustment during critical life stages like late adolescence and young adulthood.

Construct

The MFQ measures the construct of Friendship Quality, conceptualized as a multi-faceted construct consisting of affective/evaluative components and instrumental/functional components. This construct is operationalized through two distinct questionnaires:

The McGill Friendship Questionnaire-Respondent’s Affection (MFQ-RA) focuses on the emotional investment, closeness, and general satisfaction the respondent feels towards their specified friend. The MFQ-RA is structured around the following subscales:

• Satisfaction (S): Overall contentment with the friendship.
• Positive Feelings (P): Expressions of liking, care, and desire for longevity.
• Evaluation (E): General positive appraisal of the friend as a person (present in the original version).

The McGill Friendship Questionnaire-Friend’s Functions (MFQ-FF) assesses the specific functional roles and supportive behaviors provided by the friend. This component captures the instrumental aspects of the relationship, which are crucial for social and emotional development. The MFQ-FF encompasses six distinct subscales:

• Stimulating Companionship (S): Shared activities, fun, and engaging interaction.
• Help (H): Providing assistance, information, and practical support.
• Intimacy (I): Trust, self-disclosure, and mutual understanding of feelings.
• Reliable Alliance (R): Loyalty, trustworthiness, and stability during conflict or absence.
• Self-Validation (SV): Making the respondent feel good about themselves, competent, and valued.
• Emotional Security (E): Providing comfort, reassurance, and reducing anxiety or distress.

Validity

While the source content does not explicitly list validity coefficients, the published research utilizing the MFQ provides strong evidence for its Construct Validity. The distinct factor structure, confirmed by the separation into Affection and Functions components, suggests that the scale successfully measures the theoretical dimensions of friendship quality (Mendelson & Aboud, 1999). Studies often correlate MFQ scores with measures of psychological adjustment, personality traits, and social competence, demonstrating Concurrent and Predictive Validity. For instance, the scale has been used to predict popularity and developmental outcomes in early childhood populations, as noted in the 1994 publication by Mendelson, Aboud, & Lanthier, supporting its utility across different developmental stages.

Reliability

The McGill Friendship Questionnaire demonstrates high levels of internal consistency across all subscales, indicating excellent Reliability for both components. The internal consistency, measured using Cronbach’s alpha, is consistently strong, generally exceeding the standard threshold of 0.80 for psychological research instruments. The reported alpha coefficients are as follows:

• Positive Feelings: alpha 0.96
• Satisfaction: alpha 0.92
• Stimulating Companionship: alpha 0.91
• Help: alpha 0.89
• Intimacy: alpha 0.94
• Reliable Alliance: alpha 0.95
• Self-Validation: alpha 0.91
• Emotional Security: alpha 0.92

These high coefficients confirm that the items within each subscale reliably measure their intended latent construct, making the MFQ a highly stable and dependable psychological scale for assessing friendship dimensions.

Factor Analysis

The multi-dimensional structure of the MFQ suggests that the development process relied heavily on factor analysis to confirm the distinct components of friendship quality. For the MFQ-RA, factor analysis initially identified three factors (Satisfaction, Positive Feelings, and Evaluation), although subsequent revisions consolidated the core affective dimensions. Crucially, the MFQ-FF component was derived through factor analytic techniques to ensure that the six proposed functional subscales (Stimulating Companionship, Help, Intimacy, Reliable Alliance, Self-Validation, and Emotional Security) represented statistically distinct and meaningful dimensions of social support and relational function provided by a friend. This rigorous psychometric development ensures the scale provides nuanced data on relational dynamics rather than a single global score.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report psychological scale (Questionnaire)

Format: Two primary components: The McGill Friendship Questionnaire-Respondent’s Affection (MFQ-RA) and the McGill Friendship Questionnaire-Friend’s Functions (MFQ-FF). The MFQ-FF also has a shorter form available (30 items).

Language Available: English (Original research language)

Population Group: Adolescents and Young Adults

Age Group: Late adolescence through young adulthood (utilized in studies from kindergarten through young adulthood, but primarily standardized for older populations).

Population Details: Used in academic research settings to assess the quality of specific dyadic relationships.

Test Methodology: The MFQ-RA uses a 9-point scale ranging from -4 (“Very Much Disagree”) to +4 (“Very Much Agree”). The MFQ-FF uses a 9-point scale with anchors ranging from 1 (“Never”) to 8 (“Always”). Respondents are instructed to rate items regarding a specific, named friend.

Keywords

Friendship measurement, scale development, social relations, attachment, psychometrics, self-report, Mendelson, Aboud

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: [email protected] (Morton J. Mendelson, McGill University)

Correspondence Address: Not provided in source material.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The scale was initially developed and presented in 1992, with a definitive publication detailing the late adolescent and young adult versions in 1999 (Mendelson & Aboud, 1999). The instrument is widely used in academic and research contexts. Researchers interested in utilizing the scale should contact the corresponding author, Morton J. Mendelson, regarding specific permissions and potential usage fees. The full instrument documentation, including the long and short forms, is often made available for non-commercial academic research.

Reference’s

• Aboud‚ F. E.‚ & Mendelson‚ M. J. (November‚ 1992). Measurement and determinants of friendship quality. Invited address to Conference on Friendship in Childhood and Adolescence‚ Montreal‚ Quebec.
• Mendelson‚ M. J.‚ Aboud‚ F. E.‚ & Lanthier‚ R. P. (1994). Personality predictors of friendship and popularity in kindergarten. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology‚ 15‚ 113–135.
• Aboud‚ F. E.‚ & Mendelson‚ M. J. (1996). Determinants of friendship selection and quality: Developmental perspectives. In A. F. Newcomb‚ W. M. Bukowski‚ & W. W. Hartup (Eds.)‚ Friendship in children and adolescents. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Mendelson‚ M. J.‚ & Aboud F. E. (1999). Measuring friendship quality in late adolescents and young adults: The McGill Friendship Questionnaires. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science‚ 31‚ 130–132.
• Mendelson‚ M.J. Kay‚ A. C. (2000). Positive Feelings in Friendship: Does Imbalance in the Relationship Matter? Poster presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association‚ Washington‚ D.C.

The original PDF documents for the MFQ can be downloaded here: MFQ Long Form PDF and MFQ-FF 30-Item Short Form PDF.

Items of the McGill Friendship Questionnaire

McGill Friendship Questionnaire-Respondent’s Affection (MFQ-RA)

Original

1. I am happy with my friendship with ___ (S)
2. I care about ___ (P)
3. I like ___ a lot (P)
4. I feel my friendship with ___ is a great one (S)
5. I am satisfied with my friendship with ___ (S)
6. I think ___ is nice (E)
7. I want to stay friends for a long time (P)
8. I prefer ___ over most people I know (P)
9. I feel close to ___ (P)
10. I think my friendship with ___ is strong (S)
11. I think ___ is a good person (€)
12. I am glad that ___ is my friend (P)
13. I hope ___ and I will stay friends (P)
14. I would miss ___ if he/she left (P)
15. I think ___ is a likable person (€)
16. I enjoy ha‎ving ___ as a friend (P)

Revised

1. I am happy with my friendship with ___(S)
2. I care about ___(P)
3. I like ___ a lot 3 (P)
4. I feel my friendship with ___ is a great one (S)
5. I am satisfied with my friendship with ___(S)
6. I feel my friendship with ____ is good (S)
7. I want to stay friends for a long time (P)
8. I prefer ___ over most people I know (P)
9. I feel close to ___ (P)
10. I think my friendship with ___ is strong (S)
11. I am pleased with my friendship with ___(S)
12. I am glad that ___ is my friend (P)
13. I hope ___ and I will stay friends (P)
14. I would miss ___ if he/she left (P)
15. I am contented with my friendship with ___(S)
16. I enjoy ha‎ving ___ as a friend (P)

Subscale: S = Satisfaction; P = Positive Feelings; E = Evaluation

9-point scale : -4 “Very Much Disagree” to +4 “Very Much Agree”

McGill Friendship Questionnaire-Friend’s Functions (MFQ-FF)

1. ___ is fun to do things with (S)
2. ___ makes me feel important (SV)
3. ___ helps me when I need it (H)
4. ___ is someone I can tell private things to (I)
5. ___ would make me feel comfortable in a new situation (E)
6. ___ would still want to be my friend even if I were angry with him/her (R)
7. ___ would be good to have around if I were frightened (E)
8. ___ tells me interesting things (S)
9. ___ makes me feel good about myself even when I mess up (SV)
10. ___ would stay my friend through bad times (R)
11. ___ knows when I’m upset (I)
12. ___ helps me when I need someone else’s opinion (H)
13. ___ makes me feel sure of myself (SV)
14. ___ has good ideas about entertaining things to do (S)
15. ___ is someone I can tell secrets to (I)
16. ___ gives me useful information when I need it (H)
17. ___ would make me feel better if I were worried (E)
18. ___ would want to stay my friend if we didn’t see each other for a few months (R)
19. ___ would make me feel calmer if I were nervous (E)
20. ___ would still want to be my friend even if we had a fight (R)
21. ___ makes me feel smart (SV)
22. ___ makes me laugh (S)
23. ___ helps me do things (H)
24. ___ knows when something bothers me (I)
25. ___ lends me things that I need (H)
26. ___ is exciting to talk to (S)
27. ___ makes me feel special (SV)
28. ___ would listen if I talked about my problems (I)
29. ___ would make me feel better if I were in trouble (E)
30. ___ would stay my friend even if other people criticized me (R)
31. ___ would understand me if I told her/him my problems (I)
32. ___ would stay my friend even if other people did not like me (R)
33. ___ makes me feel better when I have problems (E)
34. ___ is willing to do favors for me (H)
35. ___ compliments me when I do something well (SV)
36. ___ is enjoyable to be with (S)
37. ___ is easy to talk to about private things (I)
38. ___ is exciting to be with (S)
39. ___ points out things that I am good at (SV)
40. ___ helps me when I’m trying hard to finish something (H)
41. ___ would make me feel better if I were anxious (E)
42. ___ would still want to stay my friend even if we argued (R)
43. ___ makes me feel that I can do things well (SV)
44. ___ would still want to be my friend even if I didn’t have time to see her/him a lot (R)
45. ___ understands my feelings (I)
46. ___ shows me how to do things better (H)
47. ___ is fun to sit and talk with (S)
48. ___ makes me feel better when I’m upset (E)

Short form

1. ___ helps me when I need it.
2. ___ would make me feel comfortable in a new situation.
3. ___ is someone I can tell private things to.
4. ___ has good ideas about entertaining things to do.
5. ___ would want to stay my friend if we didn’t see each other for a few months.
6. ___ makes me feel smart.
7. ___ makes me laugh.
8. ___ knows when I’m upset.
9. ___ helps me do things.
10. ___ points out things that I am good at.
11. ___ would be good to have around if I were frightened.
12. ___ would still want to be my friend even if we had a fight.
13. ___ lends me things that I need.
14. ___ would make me feel better if I were worried.
15. ___ is someone I can tell secrets to.
16. ___ would stay my friend even if other people criticized me.
17. ___ compliments me when I do something well.
18. ___ is exciting to talk to.
19. ___ makes me feel special.
20. ___ would stay my friend even if other people did not like me.
21. ___ knows when something bothers me.
22. ___ is exciting to be with.
23. ___ would make me feel calmer if I were nervous.
24. ___ helps me when I’m trying hard to finish something.
25. ___ makes me feel that I can do things well.
26. ___ would still want to stay my friend even if we argued
27. ___ shows me how to do things better.
28. ___ is fun to sit and talk with.
29. ___ is easy to talk to about private things.
30. ___ makes me feel better when I’m upset.

Subscale: S= Stimulating Companionship‚ H= Help‚ I= Intimacy‚ R= Reliable Alliance‚ SV= Self-Validation‚ E= Emotional Security

9-point scale: 1= “Never” to 8 “Always”