Answer to Question 1
Answer: Throughout life, women have more intimate same-sex friendships than men. Extending a pattern evident in childhood and adolescence, female friends often say they prefer to just talk, whereas male friends say they like to do something such as play sports. Barriers to intimacy between male friends include competitiveness, which may make men unwilling to disclose weaknesses. Because of greater intimacy and give-and-take, women generally evaluate their same-sex friendships more positively than men do. But they also have higher expectations of friends. Thus, they are more disapproving if friends do not meet their expectations. Of course, individual differences exist in friendship quality. The longer-lasting mens friendships are, the closer they become and the more they include disclosure of personal information. Furthermore, involvement in family roles affects reliance on friends. For single adults, friends are the preferred companions and confidants. The more intimate young adults same-sex friendships are in terms of warmth, social support, and self-disclosure, the more satisfying and longer-lasting the relationship and the greater its contribution to psychological well-being. Gay and lesbian romantic relationships often develop out of close same-sex friendships, with lesbians, especially, forging compatible friendships before becoming involved romantically. As they develop romantic ties and marry, young adultsespecially mendirect more of their disclosures toward their partners.
Answer to Question 2
Answer: Couples groups led by counselors are effective in easing the transition to parenthood. Therapists report that many couples know little about caring for infants, perhaps because they grew up in small families where they had few sibling caregiving responsibilities. They are also unaware of the potential impact of a new baby on their relationship. High-risk parents struggling with poverty or the birth of a child with disabilities need more intensive interventions aimed at enhancing social support and parenting skills. Many low-income single mothers benefit from programs that focus on sustaining the fathers involvement. Generous, paid employment leavewidely available in industrialized nations but not in the United Statesis crucial for parents of newborns. Financial pressures mean that many new mothers who are eligible for unpaid work leave take far less than they are guaranteed, while new fathers take little or none. When favorable workplace policies exist and parents take advantage of them, couples are more likely to support each other and experience family life as gratifying. As a result, the stress caused by the birth of a baby stays at manageable levels.
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