American Friendships Are More Stable Than Previously Believed

Eddie Gonzales Jr. – MessageToEagle.com – American adults likely have more friends than recent surveys suggest, with fewer reporting no friends. However, many desire closer friendships.

Higher quality friendships correlate with increased happiness and life satisfaction.

Image credit: Adobe –  Fatema

While some research indicates American adults are experiencing more loneliness and less social interaction, evidence is conflicting about whether friendships in America are truly declining in number and quality.

Natalie Pennington and colleagues at Colorado State University initiated the American Friendship Project to study US friendships.

In 2022-2023, they surveyed nearly 6, 000 American adults about their friendships and well-being to establish baseline data. Research indicates that American adults typically have four to five friends, consistent with findings from 1970 to 2015. About 2% of respondents reported having no friends, aligning with previous data.

These findings challenge recent concerns about increasing friendlessness. While participants generally reported satisfaction with their friendships, many desired more time with friends or higher quality relationships.

The study indicates participants frequently communicate with friends face-to-face, via phone calls, and through texting. College student participants were more likely to form friendships at school and maintain shorter-term relationships compared to adult participants.

In contrast to earlier research, new data suggests that on average 98% of Americans report having at least one friend, and 58% have five or more friends. Credit: AFP, CC-BY 4.0 

Overall, the researchers say the “American Friendship Project” shows promise for shedding new light on friendship and well-being over time, which could inform efforts to increase and improve such relationships.

The researchers further state, “Despite a high percentage of Americans expressing satisfaction with their quantity of friendships, with over 75% reporting contentment in this regard, a significant proportion, namely 42%, indicated a desire for enhanced intimacy within these relationships.”

This data suggests a discrepancy between the numerical sufficiency of friendships and the qualitative depth of these connections among the American populace.

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Written by Eddie Gonzales  Jr. – MessageToEagle.com Staff Writer