'Birds of a feather' - forever? Homogeneity in adult friendship networks through the life course. (September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Völker, Beate
• Is Part Of: Advances in life course research. Volume 53(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-09
• Subjects: Friendships through the life course -- Social networks through time -- Longitudinal networks -- Adult friendships; Aging -- Periodicals; Life cycle, Human -- Periodicals; 305.2605
• DOI: 10.1016/j.alcr.2022.100498
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1569-4909

Abstract

Abstract: This paper studies the changes in the homogeneity of friendship networks in terms of gender, age, and educational diversity. It is argued that through the life course, both an individual's demand and the structural supply of similar others change. This should be reflected in the composition of friendship relations in personal networks. Rich network panel data that cover a period of 19 years are employed (The Social Survey of the Dutch, SSND). Results show that gender and educational homogeneity in friendships increases when people age, while age homogeneity remains unchanged. Notably, friendship as a relational category remains important throughout a person's life and only few respondents report that they have no friends. Highlights: Homogeneity in friendship networks increases with age, but only for, gender and educational homogeneity. Age homogeneity remains unchanged. There are group differences in homogeneity. Especially the youngest birth cohort increased friendship homogeneity in terms of gender and education.