Friendship is viewed as a relationship which is based on voluntariness. It is pre
dicted that people who are highly urban, high SES, young, and unmarried will be
involved with friends because they are relatively free from obligations and con
straints on their behavior. Data from Los Angeles, U.S.A.; London, England; and
Sydney, Australia indicate that age is the best predictor of voluntary friendship.
Level of urbanism and SES are not at all related to friendship. Involvement with
friends has a positive affect on psychological well-being.
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