ABSTRACT
The data were taken from the Adult Questionnaire, which was mailed to all subjects in 1982 when their mean age was 26 years and 10 months. The female subjects’ family lives at age 26 seemed to reflect a strong interpersonal orientation. Seventy-one percent were either married or living with a man, although only 46% had given birth to a child. The majority of adult women also appeared to maintain close ties with their parents. In addition to their family contacts, the women participated in a variety of social networks composed of colleagues at school or work, neighbors, and/or other friends. Thirty-three percent associated frequently with their neighbors, and 52% often met with their colleagues from work or school. However, the most commonly reported social category was that of “other friends.” The picture changed somewhat when relationships were assessed at a deeper level.
