Communication skills and social support messages across friendship levels

Abstract

This study explored how the perceived value of communication skills and social support varies among friendship levels. Results of a study of 160 undergraduate students indicated that affectively‐oriented skills are rated as being more important by a best friend than by a casual friend or an acquaintance, that a best friend provides more social support than a casual friend or an acquaintance, and that women rate the skills of conflict management, ego support, and comforting, as well as social support, as being more important than men.