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HappinessKey takeaways:
Most people prefer to keep a small circle, with 65% having two to three close friends, and 17% having just one.
Some 59% wish they had a larger social circle, and 20% struggle with loneliness. However, many find it difficult to form new bonds in adulthood, with 36% unable to trust and 25% too busy.
Friendships are often stronger than romantic relationships, with 51% admitting that losing a friend has hurt them more than breaking up with any partner.
Often, those strong feelings can develop into something more. Some 39% say they’ve been romantically or sexually involved with a close friend. However, 25% say it was complicated or ended the friendship.
Someone to laugh with over jokes that nobody else finds funny, someone who will answer the phone no matter the time, and someone to dissect the latest series with episode by episode…
There's nothing like friendships, but making and maintaining them can get difficult with age. From trust issues to hectic schedules and romance gone wrong, connection can be complicated.
Headway app surveyed 2,000 people on how they meet new people, how those friendships fit into their lives, and why a budding social circle isn’t always easy.
Close circles: The makeup of modern friendship groups
Small circles are often preferred when it comes to friendships: 65% stick to two or three close friends, and 17% have only one.
But as old friendships fade, new ones form. Some 39% of people have made a new friend in the past year, and another 30% have made one in the past three years.
Breakroom bonds: Does the workplace foster friendships?
Shared goals, tight deadlines, and regular coffee breaks bring us together, with 42% of people having found their work bestie.
For many, these aren’t just superficial connections between people forced together by shared Zoom calls and team bonding exercises. In fact, many would struggle to get through the workday without their work bestie, with 66% admitting they would consider following their favorite colleague out the door should they take a role elsewhere.
Some 58% admitting they’ve stayed in a job for the people, rather than the role. Clearly, having someone to vent to and blow off steam with after a long week can make even the longest to-do lists and stress-inducing managers bearable.
Friendship barriers: The struggles of making new friends as an adult
Most close friendships begin at school (46%), through friends (18%), and at work (13%). Likewise, the modern world is providing new ways to connect, with 8% of best friends having met through social media and 3% through dating apps.
However, some are still waiting for that bond to form, with 8% admitting they haven’t met their best friend yet.
Suffering from loneliness, 20% wish they could grow their social circle.
However, for some, it's not a lack of opportunity to connect, but a lack of desire to. Some 35% are happy with their current friend group, and 6% simply prefer their own company.
The first true digital natives, Gen Zers are always texting and TikToking, but growing up online has brought fewer opportunities to build deep, in-person relationships. Often branded the loneliest generation, 30% say they wish they had more friends, compared to 17% of millennials.
What holds adults back from making new friends? Some 36% say they struggle to trust new people, 25% insist life is just too busy, and 24% don’t want to feel like they’re intruding on already established social circles.
Romance or friendship: Which bond is the strongest?
When it’s time to break big news or life takes a turn for the worse, 48% of people contact their partner first, while 27% turn to their best friend, and 22% reach out to family.
Yet, when it comes to sharing secrets, best friends hold the advantage. Some 43% say their closest friend knows more secrets about them than anyone else, more so than partners (40%) and family (16%).
However, trust shifts with age. While Gen Zers are more likely to share their deepest, darkest secrets with friends (47%), millennials turn to their significant others (43%).
Memes and life updates, or ‘I love you’s’ and shopping lists? Given the choice, 53% of people would rather share the private messages exchanged with their best friend than the ones between themselves and their partner.
The ultimate test of a friendship? Falling for an ex. While 32% would if enough time had passed, 56% insist that dating a friend’s ex is strictly off limits – no matter how much you’re into them.
What hurts more: Losing a friend or losing a lover?
You swore you would be best friends forever, but life or conflict can drive even the closest pairs apart. Romantic breakups hurt, sure, but 51% say losing a friend broke their heart more.
There’s always plenty more fish in the sea, but friends aren’t so easy to replace for Gen Z. Some 61% say that losing a friend has cut them far deeper than losing a romantic partner ever has.
Friends with benefits: When connection leads to companionship
Sometimes the relationship is so strong that the line between friendship and romance gets blurred – and even crossed. Some 39% say they’ve been romantically or sexually involved with a close friend.
Yet, while it strengthened the bond for 14%, 16% say it complicated the relationship, and 9% admit it led to a friendship breakup.
That isn’t the only time friendships cause breakups – 14% of people say they’ve ended things with a romantic partner not because of glaring red flags, but because their friend wouldn’t give the green light.
From inside jokes to group chat drama, shared secrets to one-night stands, friendships can get messy… but they’re among the strongest relationships, and good friends are worth holding on to.
Methodology: To create this study, researchers from Headway app surveyed 2,000 professionals of all genders, aged 18 and over.
About the Headway app
With over 50 million users in 170+ countries, the Headway app is the world's most downloaded book summary app. It offers 15-minute audio and text summaries of nonfiction bestsellers, as well as daily microlearning sessions and gamified challenges. The app is designed to help people achieve their self-development goals. Headway received the Editor's Choice award from the US App Store and constantly hits the App Store home screen as App of the Day.
