title: Just being friendly means a lot--women, friendship, and aging.
abstract: This article examines friendship patterns and interactional skills among older, noninstitutionalized women. It draws on two studies, one quantitative and the second qualitative, of friendship undertaken by the author. Friendship is viewed in relation to age, related socio-environmental transitions and psychological growth in later life including the issues of intimacy, reciprocity and relational identity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, SUNY, Old Westbury 11568.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lewittes
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008016:Life Change Events; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D014930:Women