Vriendschappen in de Jongvolwassenheid
Summary
Friendships play a very important role in the lives of the emerging adult. In this research, three different aspects of the gender identity (typical gender identity, positive evaluation of the gender identity and gender centrality) in emerging adults are examined in relation to the gender composition of the group of friends. In addition, this study has researched whether gender moderated these associations. An online survey with questionnaires about gender identity and the group of friends was filled in by Dutch students aged 18 until 25 years old from different educational levels. This age group has been little investigated. Multiple regression analyses showed that a high level of the three aspects of gender identity was associated with a high number of same-sex friends. Women had more same sex friends. A high level of typical gender identity and gender centrality was associated with a high number of other-sex friends. Men had more other-sex friends. The association between a positive evaluation of the gender identity and number of same-sex friends was stronger for men than for women.