The experience of friendship between male and female college students

Author

Sara D. Shepherd

Date of Award

12-1991

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Education

Major Professor

Robert Williams

Committee Members

Howard Pollio, William Poppen, Karen Swander, Marianne Woodside

Abstract

Relationships with others provide social support and contribute to health and well-being. Friendship is one important form of social support for college students, and cross-gender friendships (or friendships between men and women) are one type of relationship for young adults. This study sought to examine and describe the experience of friendships between male and female college students. This study used phenomenological research methodology to explore the experience of friendships. Twelve interviews with single, undergraduate students were done to gather descriptions of the experience of friendship. Significant themes were extracted from the interview transcripts and validated to provide a fundamental description of the phenomenon. An interpretive group assisted in the transcript analysis and trained judges confirmed the classification of statements into themes. Second and third contacts with the co-participants determined that the research results accurately described their experiences. The major themes established were the experiences of boundaries, sharing, and change in friendships. The experience of boundaries included aspects of closeness and distance, depth and superficiality, trust, equality, and comfort. The experience of sharing represented the activities that friends engaged in together, such as talking, helping, and playing sports. Change was experienced in the co-participant, in the friends they described, and in their relationship. Themes for friendships between persons of the same sex were compared with themes for friendships between persons of the opposite sex. No differences were established in the major themes between the two types of friendships. This study did identify some subtle differences in the way the themes played out for men and women, such as emphasis on talking with women and emphasis on engaging in shared activities with men.

Recommended Citation

Shepherd, Sara D., "The experience of friendship between male and female college students. " PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 1991.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/11218