A qualitative study of friendships in old age: The case of a nursing home in Turkey

Never walk alone on the way: Friendships of emerging adults

“…Adams et al (2000) classified elements of their definitions of friendship as behavioral, cognitive, and affective processes and structural features. In addition, (Yavuz Güler et al, 2021) used this classification as a model in their studies in which they explored elements of older adults' definitions of friendship. In addition to Adams et al's categories, however, older adults' data defined a new, age‐specific category.…”

“…In the social science literature, friendship has proven to be a factor affecting subjective well‐being, happiness, and self‐esteem, from the first years of an individual's life onward (Bagwell et al, 2005; Demir, 2008; Sherman et al, 2006). Although the experience of friendship is universal, the way people define and see the nature of friendship differs according to variables in the developmental course of one's life, one's historical background, and one's demographic characteristics (Çakmak & Yavuz Güler, 2020; Yavuz Güler et al, 2021; Yavuz Güler et al, 2022). This study examined in‐depth how the emerging adults defined the friendship relationship, and the qualitative findings were explained within the framework of the characteristics of the emerging adulthood period.…”

“…It is observed that emerging adults care about sharing enjoyable moments with friends as the adults do (Çakmak & Yavuz Güler, 2020). However, the “fun” theme is not included in the expressions of the older adults (Yavuz Güler et al, 2021).…”

“…The life responsibilities of elderly individuals decrease, and this situation actually increases the time and interest that can be allocated to friendships. Due to physical changes in old age (e.g., health problems, death, or retirement), the social interaction of individuals is limited compared to other life periods (Yavuz Güler et al, 2021). As a result of the qualitative research conducted by the researchers (Yavuz Güler et al, 2021) with 17 individuals over the age of 65, aiming to understand and describe the unique friendship dynamics of the elderly, it is seen that, unlike other life periods, the elderly often referred to the past when expressing their friendships, and the establishment and maintenance of friendships came from the past.…”

“…Due to physical changes in old age (e.g., health problems, death, or retirement), the social interaction of individuals is limited compared to other life periods (Yavuz Güler et al, 2021). As a result of the qualitative research conducted by the researchers (Yavuz Güler et al, 2021) with 17 individuals over the age of 65, aiming to understand and describe the unique friendship dynamics of the elderly, it is seen that, unlike other life periods, the elderly often referred to the past when expressing their friendships, and the establishment and maintenance of friendships came from the past. Looking at the findings of the study, elderly individuals also stated that their negative health conditions negatively affected their friendships, that their health caregivers became their friends, and that they had hopelessness about friendships (Yavuz Güler et al, 2021).…”