Genuine friendship, regardless of age, brings about so many wonderful things to people. For one, there is an opportunity for people who have intergenerational friendships to share their knowledge.
The truth is that a friendship of different ages can bring unexpected and welcome rewards for both people… younger and older. A friend of a different age can expand our horizons in much the same way as a friend with a different cultural background.
"Befriending somebody who's younger and helping them walk through a life stage or experience that you have already gone through can foster closeness and that can feel really good," says therapist and friendship expert Miriam Kirmayer.
And as you age, those friendships may become even more important. If you're in your sixties or beyond, friendships aren't just the social glue and glitz of life: As you get older, good friendships can dispel loneliness, improve your health, boost your sense of well-being, and even add to your years.
As you take on more responsibilities, you have less time to go places and meet people who might be potential friends. For this reason, you typically make fewer new friends in later adulthood compared to your teens and early 20s. Instead, you often maintain friendships with people you have known for a long time.
While there's nothing inherently wrong or illegal about having a friend that is older (such as your forty-two year old friend), many people are also wary of these relationships due to the power imbalance that often exists between people of such different ages.
The 20s, typically a time of important first experiences, are prime years for meeting your closest lifelong confidantes, researchers say.
"As we become adults, we have less and less environments where those ingredients are at play." Adults with jobs, kids, and a collection of other responsibilities also simply have less time available for making friends.
Why Is it Actually Hard to Make Friends in Adulthood? Research shows that the most common reason why people struggle to connect with others is due to a lack of trust. It's harder than ever for people to find friends that they can fully invest in emotionally and mentally.
Obviously, most people don't meet all of their friends during childhood and, unfortunately, not all friendships last forever. The poll found that the average friendship lasts for 17 years, however, 17 percent say they've had the same best friend for over 30 years!
Although it's more common to have friends who are around your age, an AARP study finds that four in ten adults have a friend who's at least 15 years older or younger than they are. “Intergenerational friendships can be mutually rewarding,” says Irene S. Levine, Ph.
She continued, “friendships with older and younger people help broaden your perspective, which in turn allows you to have compassion and empathy in your day-to-day life.” And, there's no reason why age gap friendships cannot be as close as those with friendships of similar ages.
Research tells us that, for both men and women, the age of 25 is when most of us start losing friends. “Suddenly, your friends disappear, or you all start taking new life directions as you graduate from college,” Jackson says. “You adopt new values.
Having younger friends can help broaden and freshen your perspective. Learning about new ideas, new music, technology, and more can really keep you young and happy. Boosts Energy: Whether it is toddler grandkids, teens, or someone in middle age, the young are generally active and engaged.
Yes, absolutely! It's never too late to make friends – no matter your age. With technology making it easier than ever to connect with people from all walks of life, there are many ways to make new friends and expand your social circle in your 30s.
Careers and family schedules often become the center of our lives, making it difficult to cultivate new relationships and grow social circles in adulthood. But just because it's difficult to make friends after 30 doesn't mean it's impossible.
Lack of time
When we're in our 40s or older, we often have little time to meet others. You might have a long list of responsibilities such as work, raising children or teenagers, and spending time with partners and family members. Even if you still have the energy to meet new people, other people your age might not.
The most common reason isn't tension; it's just that friendships fizzle out, both experts say. Friends move, get a new job, start a family and may just gradually stop talking to each other. One study found we lose about half our friends every seven years, Franco says.
In short, after the age of 25, your personality and friendships are more or less consolidated. So if you are suddenly thrust into a new environment, it's normal to feel like it's difficult for you to fit in, even if you meet people who share similar interests.
In general, based on 2021 survey data, the average person in America has between 3 and 5 close friends. According to this survey: almost half (49%) report having 3 or fewer close friends. over one-third (36%) report having between 4 and 9 close friends.
While it is sad to think about losing friends as we get older, losing friends in your 20s, 30s, 40s, and even 50s is perfectly normal. In fact, it's even regarded as healthy and shows that you're maturing.