FRIENDSHIPS AND ADAPTATION IN THE LIFE-COURSE

To consider friendships and their significance through the life course requires, first, differentiation of deep structure (i.e., reciprocity ) from surface structure (i.e., the social exchange) and, second, asse ssment within a multifaceted framework that simultaneously emphasizes having friends, the identity of one's friends, and relationship qualit y. Having friends is correlated with a sense of wellbeing across the l ife span, but developmental outcome also depends on the identity of on e's friends as well as the quality of one's relationships with them. G reater attention needs to be given to the manner in which friendships differ from one another, continuities and changes across major develop mental transitions, and differentiation of developmental pathways thro ugh which friendship experience contributes to individual outcome.