Many people experience changes in their friendship networks as they get older. During school and university years, the opportunity to meet the same people every day makes it easy to expand friendships, from classmates to members of organisations and communities.
When entering adulthood, this dynamic changes gradually. Commitments increase, where you live can change, work or education takes up time, and life priorities begin to shift. As a result, the wide circle of friends from before becomes more limited.
Research on the development of social networks shows that this change does not always reflect worse social relationships. As people age, they tend to become more selective in maintaining relationships, focusing on closer and more meaningful connections rather than more peripheral relationships.
According to Socioemotional Selectivity Theory, a shift in life goals is one reason why people become more selective. Adults often prioritise education, work, family, health or personal goals, so time for socialising decreases. Geographic distance and time constraints also lead people to prefer maintaining relationships with a few friends they consider close.
Research shows that the shrinking of social networks in adults occurs mainly in peripheral relationships, whilst the number of close relationships tends to remain more stable. Studies of online social networks found that smaller friendship groups among older people have a higher proportion of relationships considered true friendships compared with larger networks among younger age groups.
Research on changes in social networks throughout adulthood found that network shrinkage occurs mainly in less close relationships, whilst more meaningful relationships tend to be maintained. It is important to distinguish between a small circle of friends and social isolation. Having few friends does not automatically mean someone feels lonely, whilst having many friends does not guarantee someone feels close to them or supported.
