The Therapeutic Value of Friendship Between Women

Abstract

This study examined whether a group of 42 university women perceived their best and slight same-sex friendships as therapeutic. Of those subjects, 29 had best friends who also participated in the study. Two paper and pencil instruments were completed by all participants and 10 of the best friend pairs were interviewed. Results of the study indicated that both best and slight same-sex friendships had therapeutic value for women, with best friendships seen as more therapeutic than slight friendships. Rank ordering of the therapeutic factors used as a basis for the study resulted in agreement among subjects on the relative importance of the factors in their best and slight friendships. Subjects and their best friends were also in agreement on the worth and rank orderings of these factors. Background for the study is provided by the literature review which included psychological perspectives on friendship, friendship's therapeutic importance, and sex differences in friendship. An additional perspective on female friendship is offered based on literature and observations outside psychology. Results are discussed in light of these somewhat contradictory perspectives.

Using Social Work Theory for the Facilitation of Friendships

“…He found that friends tended to be similar on such factors as age, occupation, education, and political and religious preferences. Indeed, women and men declare sharing similar values with their friends and report that having congruent values was important to their friendship relationships (Davidson & Packard, 1981). Even children tend to establish friendships with those that are similar to them in terms of sex, race, and academic achievement (Tuma & Hallinan, 1979).…”

“…Women place great emphasis on self-disclosure, empathic understanding, and connectedness in their friendships (Parker & deVries, Fox, Gibbs, & Auerbach, 1985;. Davidson and Packard (1981) asked women to explain what aspects of their friendships were beneficial to them by contributing to personal growth, support, or change. Factors such as reciprocal expression of feelings, altruism, and communion were rated as highly therapeutic.…”

Friendship between women : the influence of incest

“…In a study of 42 female college students by Davidson & Packard (1981), the results indicated that there is therapeutic value for women in both best and slight same-sex friendships with best friendships seen as having more therapeutic value than slight friendships. This is borne out by Armstrong's study (1969) which finds that "intimate friendships are potentially therapeutic," and concludes that friendship creates a stabilizing effect on an individual's mental health.…”

“…According to Herman's (1981) Before this activity within the women's movement, the focus of friendship had been primarily on the male experience, rather than the female (Davidson & Packard, 1981: Rubin, 1985: Acker, Barry, & Esseveld, 1981. In their article on feminism and female friends, Acker, Berry, and Esseveld (1981) discussed the failure of current literature and research to detail the importance of female-female friendships,…”

“…Given the importance of being able to form supportive friendships (Gold & Yanof, 1985: Rubin, 1985: Davidson & Packard, 1981: Armstrong, 1969, this study will examine the impact of impaired mother/daughter relationships on women's ability to provide a healthy and supportive friendship system for themselves. If father/daughter 15 relationships that are betrayed, as in sexual exploitation, lead to a distrust of men, do mother/daughter relationships that are betrayed, as in lack of nurturance and protection, lead to a distrust of women?…”