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LAWRENCE, Kan. — Contrary to popular belief, Americans aren’t becoming more isolated. A comprehensive new study finds that friendship is alive and well in the United States, with most people reporting multiple close relationships and regular social interactions.
The American Friendship Project (AFP), a survey of social patterns across the country, reveals that the average American has four to five close friends. This finding challenges recent reports suggesting a dramatic rise in social isolation and friendlessness. In fact, the study found that less than 3% of Americans report having no friends at all – a figure that has remained remarkably stable over the past 40 years.
Led by researchers Natalie Pennington, Jeffrey A. Hall, and Amanda J. Holmstrom, the AFP aims to provide the most accurate and complete account of American friendship to date. The study, published in PLOS One, examines not only how many friends people have but also the quality of these relationships and their impact on overall well-being.
One of the most striking findings is the diversity of relationships that people consider friendships. While we often think of friends as peers we’ve known since school or work colleagues we’ve bonded with, the AFP reveals that many Americans count family members, romantic partners, and even casual acquaintances among their friends. This broader definition of friendship paints a richer picture of social connections than previous studies that narrowly focused only on non-family “best friends.”
The study also sheds light on how Americans maintain their friendships in the digital age. Contrary to fears that technology is replacing in-person interaction, the AFP found that face-to-face meetings remain the most common way people connect with friends. About two-thirds of participants reported seeing their friends in person at least once a month. Phone calls and text messaging were also popular, with social media playing a supporting rather than a dominant role in most friendships.
Interestingly, the research reveals that long-distance friendships are quite common, with nearly half of participants reporting having friends who live in different cities or states. This suggests that modern communication technologies are helping people maintain connections across larger geographic divides.
While the overall picture of American friendship is positive, the study does highlight some areas of concern. Many participants expressed a desire for closer friendships and more time with their friends.
Over 40% felt they weren’t as close to their friends as they would like to be, and less than half were satisfied with the amount of time they spent with them. This suggests that while Americans aren’t lacking in friendships, many are yearning for deeper connections.
The AFP also explored how major life changes and events impact friendships. College students, for example, were much more likely to report both making new friends and losing touch with old ones compared to older adults. This reflects the natural ebb and flow of social circles during times of transition.
Perhaps most intriguingly, the study found that the COVID-19 pandemic had a mixed impact on friendships. While some participants reported losing friends or missing out on opportunities to make new connections due to social distancing, others felt the pandemic actually strengthened their existing friendships. This resilience of social bonds in the face of unprecedented challenges speaks to the fundamental importance of friendship in human life.
The AFP’s findings offer a hopeful counternarrative to prevailing concerns about social isolation. While it’s true that many Americans wish for more or deeper friendships, the vast majority have meaningful social connections. This research reminds us that friendship remains a vital and enduring part of the human experience, adapting to new technologies and life circumstances while continuing to provide essential emotional support and companionship.
“Americans long for greater closeness with friends; although over 75% were satisfied with the number of friends they had, 42% felt they were not as close to their friends as they would like,” the researchers conclude in a media release.
Paper Summary
Methodology
The American Friendship Project conducted surveys with two national samples of American adults in 2022 and 2023, as well as a large sample of college students from three universities in 2022. Participants completed detailed questionnaires about their friendships, including a “name generator” task where they listed up to seven friends and provided information about each relationship. The surveys also included measures of well-being, social support, and communication habits. To ensure data quality, researchers used multiple screening methods to identify and remove unreliable responses.
Key Results
The average American has 4-5 close friends. Less than 3% of Americans report having no friends.
Over 75% of participants were satisfied with the number of friends they had. Face-to-face meetings, phone calls, and texting were the most common ways of communicating with friends. Long-distance friendships were common, with about half of friends living in different cities or states.
Many participants (42%) wished for closer friendships or more time with friends. College students reported more friend turnover (both gaining and losing friends) than older adults.
Study Limitations
While the study used large samples, they may not be fully representative of all Americans. The college student sample, in particular, cannot be generalized to all young adults. Additionally, all information about friends was self-reported by participants, which may introduce some bias. The study also allowed for a broad definition of friendship, including family members, which may make comparisons to other friendship studies challenging.
Discussion & Takeaways
The AFP challenges the narrative of increasing social isolation in America. It suggests that friendships are more resilient and diverse than often portrayed in media. The study highlights the importance of considering a wide range of relationships when studying social connections.
It also points to areas for further research, such as understanding why many people desire closer friendships despite having satisfactory numbers of friends. The findings have implications for public health initiatives aimed at combating loneliness and could inform strategies for fostering social connections in communities.
Funding & Disclosures
The study was supported by grants from the University of Kansas, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Michigan State University. The authors declared no competing interests.
