Distinctions in friendship research: Variations in the relations between friendship and the Big Five

Abstract

Several distinctions have been suggested and studied in friendship research, such as between women and men, between cross-sex and same-sex friends, and between close and general friends. However, these distinctions have been applied only selectively and sporadically in both assessment and data analysis. Thus, the comparability of results may be limited, the estimation of the relevance of these distinctions may be hindered, and biased or distorted findings may exist in this area. In the present study, we assessed friendship (numbers of friends) using four distinctions: (a) cross-sex and same-sex friends, (b) close and general friends, (c) male and female participants, and (d) two measurement approaches. We analyzed relations with the Big Five by comparing the results when these distinctions and their combinations were ignored with when they were employed. We found that differentiating between women and men as well as between their cross-sex and same-sex friends, but not between close and general friends yielded substantially different results when compared with not differentiating. The relevance of these distinctions in friendship research and the potential consequences of neglecting them are discussed.