Midlife Friendships in an American Faculty Sample

Abstract

This study explored midlife same-sex friendship patterns in an American sample of married faculty members. of particular interest were perceived changes in friendship behavior from young adulthood to midlife and sex differences in friendship interactions. 14 men and 14 women between the ages of 40 and 55 yr. provided responses in a structured interview and completed a comprehensive friendship survey, the Acquaintance Description Form. Analysis showed that while both men and women spend less time now with their close friends than they did formerly, the strength of relationship and expressed self-disclosure were perceived to increase with time. Women, compared to men, reported relating more intimately with their friends and rated their current friendships as more important to them than did men. The durations of men's friendships, both currently and retrospectively, were longer than women's.