Closest Friendships of Black College Students: Structural Characteristics

Abstract

Studies which have been done in the area of friendship focus mainly on social variables significant in friendshipformation. The present research attempted to investigate the perceived structural characteristics of closest friendships of black college students. It analyzed friendship units of both sexes, the same sex, and the opposite sex. Results indicated there were differences in closest friendship structures between homosocial and heterosocialfriendship units. Heterosocial units tended to be smaller than homosocial, and the dyad and dyadic networks seemed to be the most predominate structures.

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