Students’ Perceptions of Homophily Related Factors in University Friendships: The Case of the University of Vlora “Ismail Qemali”

Abstract

This article examines how homophily-related considerations shape students’ perceptions of the most influential criteria for forming close university friendships at University of Vlora “Ismail Qemali”. Using a cross-sectional quantitative design, the study is based on a classroom-administered survey conducted between May and October 2025 with a structured 87-item questionnaire, and it presents a focused analysis of Item 28, where respondents select one factor they believe most influences the formation of their closest friendship circle. The sample (N = 84) includes first-year Bachelor’s Nursing students (N = 53) and fifth-year students in the integrated Master of Science in Law program (N = 31). Overall, “shared subculture” was the most frequently reported factor (39.3%), followed by similarity in interests (34.5%) and being from the same city/village (20.2%), whereas political beliefs and socio-economic status were rarely selected. Differences between programs were not statistically significant, χ²(5, N = 84) = 9.39, p = 0.094; p_MC ≈ 0.063; however, the association showed a moderate effect size (Cramér’s V = 0.33), and discrepancies were concentrated mainly in low-frequency categories. The findings suggest that close friendships are perceived to rest primarily on meaning-based affinity, shared subculture and shared interests, with implications for student orientation and interdisciplinary integration initiatives; conclusions remain exploratory due to the institutional sub-sample and the reliance on a single survey item.

Received: 17 December 2026 / Revised: 13 January 2026 / Accepted: 10 March 2026 / Published: 25 March 2026