Which Comes First: Poor Psychological Well-Being or Decreased Friendship Activity?

Abstract

Research has shown there is a positive relationship between friendship activity and psychological well-being. The common interpretation of this correlation is that an increase in friendship activity improves psychological well-being. This article shows any of the following three interpretations are more plausible: (1) good psychological well-being causes an increase in friendship activity, (2) the relationship is spurious, or (3) the system is nonrecursive. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed. This article is based on a 1981-1984 longitudinal study of white, nonmarried, elderly women who lived in a middle-class suburb of Chicago. Cross-lagged panel analysis is used to interpret the relationships between aggregate measures of friendship activity and Bradburn's affect balance scale.

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