Craving Friendship: Investigating Friendship Behaviors of Young Adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome
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Date
2025-05
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Abstract
Friendships are important to all of us, including those with such disabilities, as Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). This study investigated the friendship behaviors of 24 young adults with PWS through reports given by the young adult and their caregiver. Young adults with PWS completed an individual interview, while parents asynchronously completed a separate questionnaire. Young adults answered questions about their friendship behaviors, while parents answered demographic information about themselves and their child, questions on PWS behavioral phenotype characteristics, general friendship questions (e.g., what their friends are like, where they meet friends, etc.), and their friendship behaviors. Findings reveal that young adults with PWS mainly meet their friends through family connections and most friends are individuals with other disabilities. Further, lower friendship behavior scores relate to more severe maladaptive behavior and rigidity. Furthermore, young adults consistently rated themselves as a better friend than their parent did. Directions for future research and policy implications are suggested.