How does friendship change over the course of adulthood?

As adults progress through the twenties and take on adult roles, they tend to see their friends less. Young adults who are single tend to rely more heavily on friendships to fulfill needs for social support and acceptance than do married young adults. The more that friendships are characterized by social support and self-disclosure, the more satisfaction single young adults report, and the longer the relationships last. As adults establish careers, they often have less time to spend with friends, yet friendship remains an important source of social support and is associated with well-being, positive affect, and self-esteem throughout life.