Money & society · 1983
What two ways of defining friendship emerged from older adults’ life stories?
Researchers identified a view centered on friends as particular individuals and another centered on friends as relationships. These definitions came from guided conversations with 30 men and 30 women aged 60 or older, not from a test of which view is better.
Details
To explore relationship quality, researchers asked older adults to tell their life stories with friendships as a recurring reference. They analyzed the conversation transcripts for patterns and constructed two definitions: one focused on particular people as friends, and another on friendships as relationships.
The study discussed what holding either or both views might mean in old age and suggested support strategies tailored to these definitions. However, the abstract does not describe those consequences or report testing the strategies. Its central finding is a qualitative distinction in how friendship was defined, not evidence that either view produces better relationships or well-being.
What do you think?
Good conversations begin with curiosity.
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