Relation between acceptance of Kyara in friendship and psychological adjustment: Comparison of Junior High School and University Students

Abstract

Most contemporary adolescents communicate with their friends by using kyara, which is a shortened form of the Japanese pronunciation of the English word "character". The purpose of the present study was to clarify relations between acceptance of kyara in friendship and psychological adjustment by comparing junior high and university students. Junior high school students (n = 396) and university students (n = 244) completed a questionnaire. The results suggested that the university students had a higher percentage than the junior high school students of use of kyara in friendship, and higher scores on sense of self-usefulness, compared to those who did not have a kyara. Factor analysis identified 4 factors in acceptance of kyara: active acceptance, rejection, indifference, and passive acceptance. The results of comparisons of scores and paths revealed differences correlated to educational level. The junior high school students tended not to accept their kyara, and performing with their kyara was related negatively to psychological adjustment. On the other hand, the university students' performing with their kyara was not significantly related to any of the measures, and passive acceptance of kyara was related positively to the students' sense of interpersonal rootedness.