Study finds women build strong workplace friendships than men
Women are more likely to form close-knit friendship groups at work, a Durham University Business School study suggests. The findings are published in the journal Social Networks.
A new study published in the journal Social Networks reveals that women tend to form stronger, more interconnected workplace friendships compared to men. Led by Andrew Parker from Durham University Business School, the research examined the development of workplace friendships among nearly 150 employees over their first 10 months in a new organization.
The findings suggest that women are more likely to build friendships through existing social connections, leading to larger networks. These friendships often involve other women. In contrast, men tend to develop fewer, more selective one-to-one friendships, particularly with other men, and these relationships are often goal-oriented.
The study indicates that women's friendship networks contribute more to organizational stability, while men's friendships are more focused on individual benefit. This could have implications for workplace equality, potentially impacting the gender pay gap, as women's networks may offer fewer opportunities for influential contacts, resources, and career-enhancing connections.
The researchers recommend organizations create more opportunities for staff to build connections across the workplace to harness the benefits of both personal support and professional advantages from strong workplace friendships.
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