FRIENDSHIP FORMATION AND MAINTENANCE: EXAMINING FRIENDSHIP PATTERNS OF HOMOSEXUAL MEN AND HETEROSEXUAL WOMEN IN CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS

The study of friendship has focused on various types of relationships involving same-sex and cross-sex fiiends. Heterosexuality has usually been assumed in these relationships, although recently research has been done involving homosexual friendships. The present study provides a quantitative analysis of personal-social characteristics and relational expectations, and a qualitative analysis of friendship formation, maintenance strategies, and relational importance of homosexual men and heterosexual women in close relationships with each other. These analyses help in understanding why and how close friendships between homosexual men and heterosexual women are formed and maintained. A questionnaire combining elements of one developed by Savin-Williams (1 990) to measure personal-social characteristics, and portions of one used by Nardi and Sherrod (1 994) to measure relational expectations was modified for present use. In addition to the questionnaire, interviews were conducted to measure maintenance strategies and the importance of the relationship. Responses from homosexual men and heterosexual women in close relationships were compared to responses from homosexual men an