Friendship and happiness among young adults

Abstract

In recent years, relationship scientists have made significant contributions to our understanding of the relation between friendship and happiness. Within this chapter, we will review empirical evidence that highlights friendship as a consistent and robust correlate of happiness among young adults. In addition to reviewing prominent indices of friendship (e.g. quantity, quality, satisfaction) that are often addressed within the literature, we will touch on issues such as the degree to which friendship is important for one’s happiness. For example, researchers have shown that in some contexts, the contributions of friendship are dependent upon variables such as romantic relationship status or familial support. Thus, we present evidence that allows one to evaluate the relative importance of friendship for happiness, taking various other factors into account. Additionally, we have provided a review of proposed future directions that may support continued growth of the field, allowing for a more enriched understanding of the link between friendship and happiness.