The purpose of this study was to examine specific interactions between
older women and multiple members of their close friend network. Ninet
y-four women, 65 years of age and older, described their interactions
with 182 close friends. The women reported substantial social and emot
ional involvement with their close friends. Almost all of the women re
ported getting together with their close friends ''just to talk.'' For
women with multiple close friends, the topics of these conversations
differed depending on which friends the women described. Perceptions o
f equity and inequity in their relationships influenced the way in whi
ch the women described their friends and the feelings they expressed a
bout their friendships.