Making, Keeping Friends

[From article]
They say friends are forever, but as it turns out, that old adage is actually not quite true.
More than two thirds of Americans say they have lost at least 90 per cent of the friends they had 10 years ago.
[. . .]
The poll also shows that you lose more friends when entering into a romantic relationship than when leaving one.
In fact, entering a relationship is the third biggest cause of losing friends – the top two being moving away to a new city and simply drifting apart.
[. . .]
Americans estimate that they have an average of four close friends. Sadly, eight per cent say that they have no close friends at all.
But, surprisingly, people age 55 and up are nearly twice as likely to have over 15 close friends than those between the ages of 18 and 24.
Half of us have fewer close friends than we did a decade ago, and a third think that it’s harder to make friends as you age.
Respondents voted that the hardest part of making new friends is not having enough time, followed by finding people with similar political, religious, cultural and other views, as well as social awkwardness.
[. . .]
'Friendships are important and precious, but the older we get, making and keeping friends becomes more difficult as we juggle competing priorities,' said Nicole Kryda, a spokesperson for Not 4 Dating, which helps people make platonic friends.
'But it’s comforting to know that most of us feel like we are in the same boat. And, in our experience, making new friends is actually easier than you may think,' added Nicole.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3379362/New-study-reveals-two-thirds-Americans-lost-90-cent-pals-course-decade-romantic-relationships-blame.html

Best friends for never: More than two-thirds of Americans have lost 90 per cent of their pals over the course of a decade - and romantic relationships are to blame
The survey of 1,000 people across the country also found that 55% of people have kept the same best friend for 10 years or more
8% of Americans admit to having no close friends at all
The top causes of ending friendships are moving to new cities, drifting apart, and entering into a romantic relationship
By Dailymail.com Reporter
Published: 16:44 EST, 30 December 2015 | Updated: 17:02 EST, 30 December 2015

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