One close friend can be enough to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds overcome adversity and thrive, according to a study.

The research also found that having a best friend was more beneficial to youngsters than being part of a gang, especially for boys.

Researchers from the universities of Sussex, Leeds and Queen’s in Belfast surveyed 409 people aged 11 to 19 from schools and colleges serving a poor socioeconomic catchment area in Yorkshire.

The participants completed psychological assessments of the quality of their closest friendship, their resilience in the face of adversity and how they typically coped with their problems.

Psychologist Rebecca Graber, who led the research, said: “Research into promoting resilience in young people has concentrated on support from the family, but friendships are important too.

Boys’ best friendships may be intimate, trustworthy, supportive

“Boys’ and girls’ best friendships are an important source of meaning and strength in the face of substantial adversity.

“There has also been almost a distrust of friendship between boys, with research concentrating on the negative side of belonging to a gang. But that isn’t the whole story.

“Our research suggests that boys’ best friendships may be intimate, trustworthy and supportive, even as they face social pressures towards a stoic or macho masculinity.”

The research is published in the British Journal of Psychology.