title: Friendship network characteristics and psychological well-being in late adolescence: exploring differences by gender and gender composition.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to examine the association between friendship networks and psychological well-being among 19-year-olds.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data used was a random sample of Swedish individuals born in 1990 who answered a questionnaire in 2009-2010. Friendship networks were considered in terms of three measures of emotional support. Six statements about the individual's emotional state were used to create a summary measure of psychological well-being. Gender and gender composition were included as potentially moderating factors. The association between friendship networks and psychological well-being was analysed by means of linear regression analysis (n = 1289).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicate that males' and females' friendship networks were similar with regard to quality and trust, whereas males' networks were characterized by less self-disclosure and a stronger preference for same-gender friendships. Gender composition did not matter for the support levels. Emotional support was associated with psychological well-being but there were gender differences: females seemed to benefit more health-wise from having high-quality (and trusting) networks. Moreover, whereas self-disclosure among males was positively linked to well-being, this was not the case among females. None of these associations were moderated by gender composition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In sum, friendship networks are beneficial for the psychological well-being among late adolescents, but there are some important differences according to gender.
authors.affiliation: 1Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS), Stockholm University/Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ylva B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Almquist
authors.forename: Viveca
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Östberg
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rostila
authors.forename: Christofer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Edling
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rydgren
mesh_terms: D030881:Disclosure; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D035502:Trust / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Emotional support; friendship; gender differences; late adolescence; psychological well-being; social networks