"I Think It's a Communal Thing": Men's Friendships in Later Life. Issue 1 (January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shaw, Rhonda; Gullifer, Judith; Shaw, Rebecca
• Is Part Of: Journal of men's studies. Volume 22:Issue 1(2014)
• Page Start: 34
• Page End: 52
• Publication Date: 2014-01
• Subjects: older men -- friends -- friendship -- social support; Men's studies -- Periodicals; Men -- Periodicals; Men's movement -- Periodicals; Masculinity -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 155.332
• DOI: 10.3149/jms.2201.34
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1060-8265

Abstract

Men's friendships have traditionally been described as being activity-based but little research has examined older men's friendships. The current study aimed to explore meanings of friendship with older men who belonged to formal men's groups or not. A thematic analysis of focus group data identified three manifest themes ( constructing friendship: friends, mates or acquaintances; the dynamic nature of friendship ; and the importance or beneficence of friendship ) and one latent theme ( community of men ). Friendship was constructed as a multifaceted concept contingent on context. The importance of maintaining friendships were discussed as either self-driven or the responsibility of the other. Talking to like-minded men, regardless of group membership, was valued not just for doing activities but for the emotional support it provided.