One study from 2016 found that those with at least six friends have better health throughout their lives, and a study from 2020 found that middle-aged women who have at least three friends typically had higher levels of overall satisfaction with their lives.
While she and other friendship researchers admit there aren't many studies that have specifically tackled the question of how many friends people should aim for, those that have been done offer a range — and somewhere between three and six close friends may be the sweet spot.
The study suggests we benefit from "feeling a sense of belonging within one's social network" and, really, that could be achieved with any number of buddies. The ideal number is three to five, but it's of course possible to have fewer than that (or more) and be living your best life.
Article content. In your 30s and 40s, a small, tight-knit group is optimal. Having three to five close friends allows for paired activities (tandem biking, charades), as well as intimate group outings (movie nights, wine tastings, group discount rates).
Soon after your mid-20s, your social circle shrinks, according to a recent study by scientists from Aalto University in Finland and the University of Oxford in England.
The Times article also suggests that you need about 3-5 very close tight friends for “optimal wellbeing”. It is interesting that the amount is 3-5 very close tight friends, and not just one best friend. Within a group of 3-5 friends, there is always the chance of unbalanced triangles coming up.
Despite the high volume of #squadgoals grams posted by acquaintances you don't actually go out with, it's actually perfectly normal to have just a few close friends. So whether you've grown apart from your high school or college friend group, or never had one to begin with, here's why—and why it's OK!
However, introverts don't need a wide circle of friends. They prefer one or two close friends, even though they may know many people and have many acquaintances. Despite this preference, introverts are often criticized for not attempting to make more friends, and are often viewed as lacking social skills.
The bottom line. At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter how many friends you have. If you don't feel the need to make more friends, trust your instincts without letting the opinions of others sway you. That said, loneliness can contribute to mental health symptoms, including anxiety and depression.
What is this? In general, having no friends is relatively normal. A February 2021 report found that 36% of Americans felt serious loneliness and a 2019 report showed that 1 in 5 people had no friends. If you have no friends, you are not alone.
Experts suggest seeing your friends at least once a week, if not more! Having good friends not only increases life expectancy but it also reduces stress and depression and can have a good influence on your health too.
According to research conducted by the University of Oxford, you should probably plan to hang with your pals twice a week—it's good for your mental and physical health.
Fully 98% of teens say they have one or more close friends: 78% say they have between one and five close friends, while 20% have six or more close friends.
The average human has (or should have) five close friends with whom he can connect with on a regular basis. It can vary by one or two, but five seems to be that sweet spot. This is especially true if your various friends fulfill different roles in your life.
While introverts make up an estimated 25% to 40% of the population, there are still many misconceptions about this personality type. It is also important to note that being an introvert does not mean that you are socially anxious or shy.
Mona Chalabi: According to Dunbar, our apple basket of relationships has an average of 150 people in it. This 150 figure is referred to as “Dunbar's number“. Now it might seem high, but what Dunbar is looking at is the number of relationships the brain can handle at one time.
True introverts are rare.
“The vast majority of the population is neither an introvert or extrovert. They are ambiverts,” said Smith. Ambiverts display characteristics of both introversion and extraversion and Smith suspects that most people fall into this category.
Having less conflict
A few friends who really appreciate yourself and have similar personality will make our life easier. No drama and conflict in our inner circle. Hanging out with fewer people whom we believe is better than having lots of friends yet a backstabbing.
The average American has three friends for life, five people they really like and would hang out with one-on-one, and eight people they like but don't spend time with one-on-one or seek out. Most people have remained close with friends they met when they were younger.
There are a few reasons for feeling lonely even when surrounded by friends and family: You hide your true self. You have a history of being misunderstood or judged. Perhaps you feel insecure about certain aspects of your personality.
Summary: An individual human can maintain stable social relationships with about 150 people, not more. This is the proposition known as 'Dunbar's number' - that the architecture of the human brain sets an upper limit on our social lives.
You or the person you want to add have reached the friend limit. You can have up to 5,000 friends on Facebook.
A small group requires a minimum of three people (because two people would be a pair or dyad), but the upper range of group size is contingent on the purpose of the group. When groups grow beyond fifteen to twenty members, it becomes difficult to consider them a small group based on the previous definition.
Studies have shown that, when people reach their 30's, they start to value quality friendships over quantity. Once their social circles dwindle, people settle for fewer friendships. As an outsider to those social circles, you may find it more intimidating to “break in” to an already established social circle.