Study: Number of close friends dropping in U.S.
Lauren Follis - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 6/27/06 Section: Metro
- Page 1 of 1
While friends may once have been the link between people and their social lives, a new study shows they are taking a back seat to many Americans' busy lives.
Compiling data from the General Social Survey of the National Opinion Research Center, Duke University and University of Arizona scholars have found that more than 50 percent of people admitted to having at most two close friends. The participants were chosen from across the country to represent the American adult population.
"One of the questions that we asked was with whom they discuss important matters," said Lynn Smith-Lovin, a Duke sociology professor.
In 1985, people said they had a mean number of 2.94 "close confidants"; by 2004, that number had dropped to 2.08, a decrease of nearly 30 percent. Social change may be to blame for the drop in the number of close pals, Smith-Lovin said, noting the way people spend their time these days affects the relationships Americans have with one another.
"More families are working in the paid labor force, and more women are working," she said.
Additionally, the number of people admitting to having no one in their lives to confide in more than doubled from 1985-2004, from 10 to 25 percent.
The ways in which people connect with one another have also changed, the researchers found.
"More people may be using the Internet, e-mail, and instant messaging to keep in touch," Smith-Lovin said.
While the overall number of close buddies in Americans' lives have decreased, she said, the relationships people have now are centered on their spouses or partners and immediate family members.
"Close relationships with people from the neighborhood or community groups have declined," she said. "People aren't spending enough time with their neighbors."
Smith-Lovin added that if Americans continue to confide only in their partners, and something happens to the relationship, their social support may be at risk.
Agreeing with Smith-Lovin, Jennifer Glanville, a UI assistant professor of sociology, said, "Americans may be more socially isolated."
She was surprised at the data regarding "close confidants" and noted that more people across the country are using the Internet, which she believes may strengthen individuals' social bonds.
"The Internet offers more ways to be tied to each other," Glanville said.
Many theories surround the decrease in the number of Americans' close friends, she said.
"More people are watching television, there is less involvement in the community, Americans are working longer hours, and there is less time to do other things," she said.
In August, the participants of this survey will be reinterviewed and asked the same questions. While confident in the survey, Smith-Lovin cautioned that it only focused on one of many social connections.
"We don't know if other ties are going down or up," she said. "This study tells us something about how society is connected - but not everything."
E-mail DI reporter Lauren Follis at:
lauren-follis@uiowa.edu
Compiling data from the General Social Survey of the National Opinion Research Center, Duke University and University of Arizona scholars have found that more than 50 percent of people admitted to having at most two close friends. The participants were chosen from across the country to represent the American adult population.
"One of the questions that we asked was with whom they discuss important matters," said Lynn Smith-Lovin, a Duke sociology professor.
In 1985, people said they had a mean number of 2.94 "close confidants"; by 2004, that number had dropped to 2.08, a decrease of nearly 30 percent. Social change may be to blame for the drop in the number of close pals, Smith-Lovin said, noting the way people spend their time these days affects the relationships Americans have with one another.
"More families are working in the paid labor force, and more women are working," she said.
Additionally, the number of people admitting to having no one in their lives to confide in more than doubled from 1985-2004, from 10 to 25 percent.
The ways in which people connect with one another have also changed, the researchers found.
"More people may be using the Internet, e-mail, and instant messaging to keep in touch," Smith-Lovin said.
While the overall number of close buddies in Americans' lives have decreased, she said, the relationships people have now are centered on their spouses or partners and immediate family members.
"Close relationships with people from the neighborhood or community groups have declined," she said. "People aren't spending enough time with their neighbors."
Smith-Lovin added that if Americans continue to confide only in their partners, and something happens to the relationship, their social support may be at risk.
Agreeing with Smith-Lovin, Jennifer Glanville, a UI assistant professor of sociology, said, "Americans may be more socially isolated."
She was surprised at the data regarding "close confidants" and noted that more people across the country are using the Internet, which she believes may strengthen individuals' social bonds.
"The Internet offers more ways to be tied to each other," Glanville said.
Many theories surround the decrease in the number of Americans' close friends, she said.
"More people are watching television, there is less involvement in the community, Americans are working longer hours, and there is less time to do other things," she said.
In August, the participants of this survey will be reinterviewed and asked the same questions. While confident in the survey, Smith-Lovin cautioned that it only focused on one of many social connections.
"We don't know if other ties are going down or up," she said. "This study tells us something about how society is connected - but not everything."
E-mail DI reporter Lauren Follis at:
lauren-follis@uiowa.edu
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