Manifesting Closeness in the Interactions of Peers: A Look at Siblings and Friends

The present study examines the manifestation of relational closeness in the interactions of friends and siblings. Two hundred thirty-three volunteers reported on three interactions with a target other during the two-week period of study. For each interaction, respondents indicated the extent to which disclosive behaviors and shared activities contributed to their overall relational closeness. Analyses by gender and relationship type revealed that verbal behaviors were more important to the closeness of women's relationships than men's, but that shared activities were not more important to men than to women. Verbal behaviors were also more important to the closeness of friendships than they were to sibling relationships. The results are discussed as they relate to current theory and practice in the study of relational closeness.