Thursday, July 30, 2015

Survey Analyzes the Effect of Sexuality on Friendships


Re-watched Todd Stephens' "Edge of Seventeen" the other night and was doubly impressed at how true-to-life it was. At times it felt like I was watching a documentary about my adolescence -- with Ohio and Annie standing in for Michigan and Debbie -- the acting was so natural. The relationship between Eric and Maggie was particularly hard to relive -- anyone else have borderline girlfriends in high school? -- although it is supported by this recent study from the O.C.

Sheri Ledbetter reports:
In one of the most inclusive studies on friendship ever, Chapman University researchers interviewed over 25,000 people on friendship patterns. One of the central foci of the study was the prevalence of "gender homophily" or individual’s tendency to gravitate towards individuals who are of the same gender. Researchers found this to be more true of heterosexual individuals, with many homosexual men having several female friends. Additionally, researchers found more friendship satisfaction between lesbian women, bisexual women, and bisexual men. Psychologists believes this a symptom of coping with adversity, and thus many gay, lesbian, or bisexual individuals will form close bonds of friendship.
Keep reading HERE.

No comments: