Welcome to another friendship roundup!
If you like friendship topics, you’ll enjoy my podcast, Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship
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Friendship Articles and More
I love doing these friendship roundups! I see so many friendship-related things, either because I find them myself or people send them to me. I’m going to keep sharing them on my site twice a month.
Articles About Friendship I’ve Liked Lately
— “The Opposite of Schadenfreude Is Freudenfreude. Here’s How to Cultivate It.” Juli Fraga in the NYT
The joy we derive from others’ success comes with many benefits.
— “Parting Ways With Grace” on Nedra Glover Tawwab’s Substack is a good read if you’re thinking about needing to end a relationship.
— “Americans Are Choosing to Be Alone” by Bryce Ward in the Washington Post
The article is about adults generally. But this statistic on teens was disturbing. Hard not to blame smartphones.
“Relative to 2010-2013, the average American teenager spent approximately 11 fewer hours with friends each week in 2021 (a 64 percent decline) and 12 additional hours alone (a 48 percent increase).”
It is too soon to know the long-term consequences of this shift, but it seems safe to assume that the decline of our social lives is a worrisome development. Spending less time with friends is not a best practice by most standards, and it might contribute to other troubling social trends — isolation, worsening mental health (particularly among adolescents), rising aggressive behavior and violent crime. Americans rate activities as more meaningful and joyful when friends are present. Friends and social connections build on themselves and produce memories and fellowship. They also boost health and lead to better economic outcomes.
“Why is it so Hard For Men to Make Close Friends?” Catherine Pearson, New York Times
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Latest posts by Nina Badzin (see all)
- Reviving Friendships That Drifted Apart (even decades later) - November 4, 2024
- Navigating Post-30s Friendship Struggles Through Social Prescribing - October 29, 2024
- Hobbies and Friendship: Preparing Early for the Empty Nest and Retirement - October 23, 2024
- Lose Track of Who Makes The Plans and 7 Other Friendship Tips from Dr. Ruth - October 16, 2024