There have been many studies that explore how men and women handle personal relationships. One such interesting study found that, in order to reduce stress, men could use more close friends, while women should perhaps fortify their family relationships. That makes sense to me, since most women I know would tell you they have a rather complex relationship with one or both of their parents, while most men I know don’t report that (that doesn’t mean they don’t have such family problems, but rather they probably don’t dwell on them). But, most of the research tends to find similar patterns like this: women have more close friendships than men do. Men may have larger groups of people they can call friends, but fewer they could call close friends than women. And we all know those close friendships are the most fulfilling. Here are some theories on why women have more close friendships than men do.
We talk when we aren’t together
My close girlfriends and I talk almost every day that we don’t see each other. I have two close girlfriends, and my sister with whom I’m very close, who I chat with in some capacity every day, just catching each other up on our little updates and stories. In this way, we get to peer into/experience each other’s days, even when we aren’t together. We provide companionship, even when we’re apart.