Many studies investigating gender differences in friendships have assumed that friendships were same-sex relationships. Only a few studies have focused on friendships between the sexes and most of these have used college student samples. This study examined friendships of 156 professional men and women using a self-report questionnaire consisting…

Observed 9- to 14-year-old physically abused and nonabused children engaged in tasks with a close friend. Found that dyads with an abused child displayed less intimacy and more conflict than dyads with nonabused children. Compared to other dyads, those with abused boys displayed more negative affect during games, and those with abused girls…

Eleventh- and twelfth-grade adolescents (N=18) were videotaped during same-sex and opposite-sex interactions. In both grades, females felt more comfortable during same-sex interactions and rated their same-sex partners more positively than did males. Females in both grades and eleventh-grade males showed more peer intimacy than did twelfth-grade…

Grieving following the loss of a romantic relationship in young adulthood was examined (N=148). Sex differences, disenfranchisement of grief by others, beliefs about loss, who initiated breakup, and recovery time were studied. Findings point to the importance of recognizing grief reactions in counseling and psychotherapy with young adults. (EMK)

Finds that verbal behaviors were more important to the closeness of women's relationships than men's, but that shared activities were not more important to men than to women. Finds that verbal behaviors were also more important to the closeness of friendships than they were to sibling relationships. (SR)

Examined grade and gender differences in the association between perceived intimacy and power boundary violations and conflict goal reports among 177 adolescents. Found that adolescents' perceptions of intimacy boundary violations were associated with reports of relational and avoidance goals. Grade and gender moderated the association between…

This study assessed second-, third-, fifth-, and sixth-graders' perceptions of relationship quality with a reciprocal classroom friend and a reciprocal classroom best friend. Findings demonstrated that best friends rated higher in quality than did friends on four of seven dimensions. Best friends exhibited more response congruence than did friends…

Examined adolescent intimacy in close friendships and romantic relationships from a systemic perspective. Found qualitative sex-related differences in how partners balance closeness and individuality in the two types of close friendships. Development of an intimate romantic relationship was also found to require greater commitment for males than…

Studied intimacy in best friendships of 217 children of 8-14 years. Results showed that: (1) intimacy between best friends was relatively low at age 8, but increased in late childhood; (2) some components of intimacy developed before others; and (3) females and androgynous males formed a homogeneous high intimacy group. (RJC)

Examined 15-year olds' descriptions of dating partners and romance. Dating experiences were brief in duration, though intense in frequency of contact. Affiliative qualities more than attachment qualities characterized their conscious views of romance. Girls were more likely than boys to mention interpersonal qualities, while boys were more likely…

Adolescents (n=349) completed questionnaire evaluating friendships, expectations, intimacy and attachment, and conflict with friends. Found small differences in friendship network across gender and age. Girls expected more from their friends than did boys, and girls' level of attachment and intimacy with friends was greater. Number of friends in…

In order to explore factors that influence gender differences in same-sex friendship behaviors, the present study examined how affiliation motive, as measured by thematic apperception to same-sex cues, and affiliation value, obtained from modified Edwards (1957) Personal Preference Scale, determine type of friendship situation and its particular…

Uses a developmental perspective on social interaction to trace gender differences in adulthood to relationship patterns that emerge in childhood. Summarizes results of: (1) experimental studies and naturalistic studies of workplace interaction in mixed-sex task-oriented groups; (2) same-sex interaction; (3) adult friendship; and (4) heterosexual…

Observed adolescents' interaction with a same-gender friend in grades 9, 10, and 11. Found evidence of developmental changes for both boys and girls: intimacy based on discussion and self-disclosure increased between grades 9 and 10, and capacity for sustained intimate affect increased between grades 10 and 11. Boys were more likely than girls to…

Noting that when adolescents select friends, they are creating a relationship context that will be an important source of influence, this study examined the criteria adolescents use when choosing friends. Adolescents in grades 7 and 10 were interviewed about the criteria they used when selecting friends, particularly the importance they placed…