Article

Friendships

The importance and dynamics of friendships in women's lives.

Friendships and Breakups

Friendships are often vital for emotional support during and after breakups. Friends can provide a listening ear, distraction, and encouragement to move forward. Maintaining strong friendships can help reduce feelings of loneliness and promote resilience.

Friendship Dissolution

Friendships can end due to natural changes, incompatible values, or shocks such as a breakup. The end of a friendship may be experienced as rejection and can lead to guilt, anger, or depression. Social media and "therapy speak" have changed how people end friendships, sometimes making the process more impersonal. (See Friendship Recession)

Gender Differences

Women tend to seek emotional support and disclosure in friendships, while men may focus more on shared activities. The end of female-female friendships is often more emotionally upsetting than male-male friendships. (See Attachment in Adults)

Social Media and Friendship

Social media can both support and strain friendships, especially after a breakup. Online interactions may prolong or complicate the process of moving on.

Gender Considerations

Women may rely more heavily on their social networks for support during breakups. Open communication with friends about needs and boundaries is important, especially if friends are also connected to an ex-partner.