<jats:p>
This study examined how older women’s friendships were intertwined with their opposite-sex romantic partners, and their friendships, via interviews using a constructivist, grounded theory approach. Participants (
<jats:italic toggle="yes">N</jats:italic>
= 19) were women from the Northeastern United States, had at least some college, and all were non-Hispanic White. Theoretical coding led to two main themes:
<jats:italic toggle="yes">Friendship Level: Couple Versus Individual</jats:italic>
and
<jats:italic toggle="yes">Conflicts and Differences: Gendered Dynamics.</jats:italic>
Within
<jats:italic toggle="yes">Friendship Level</jats:italic>
, couple activities such as vacations and dinners were mentioned as key activities, along with the women’s role in crafting couples’ friendships. Reasons why friendships remained separate were also discussed. For
<jats:italic toggle="yes">Conflicts and Differences,</jats:italic>
women talked about how they had more friends than their romantic partners and that their romantic partners’ friendships were largely work-based. Women also discussed instances in which a romantic partner misbehaved. These findings have implications for how romantic partners navigate friendships together.
</jats:p>
Make this part of your paper trail
Save this paper to a shelf, write a review, and keep your own notes.