Friendships Between Older Women: Interactions and Reactions

SUMMARY

The purpose of this study was to examine specific interactions between older women and multiple members of their close friend network. Ninety-four women, 65 years of age and older, described their interactions with 182 close friends. The women reported substantial social and emotional involvement with their close friends. Almost all of the women reported getting together with their close friends “just to talk.” For women with multiple close friends, the topics of these conversations differed depending on which friends the women described. Perceptions of equity and inequity in their relationships influenced the way in which the women described their friends and the feelings they expressed about their friendships.