The Role of Communication in Same-Sex Friendships: A Comparison among African Americans, Asian Americans, and European Americans

Abstract

This study explored whether affectively oriented forms of communication are accorded the same significance in the friendships of Asian and African Americans as they are in the friendships of European Americans. Participants (72 Asian American men and women; 50 African American men and women; and 55 European American men and women) indicated the importance of affectively versus instrumentally oriented communication skills using a revised version of the authors' Communication Functions Questionnaire. Results indicated a complex pattern of differences due to ethnicity, sex, and type of communication skill. In particular, European American women viewed the affectively oriented skills of their same-sex friends as more important than did African American women. These and related findings are discussed in terms of the role communication plays in friendships, and how this role is moderated by ethnicity and sex.

Gender differences in the communication values of mature adults

“…With regard to communication, Burleson and colleagues (e.g., Burleson, Kunkel, Samter, & Werking, 1996) have demonstrated that men and women differ very little in their communication values-evaluations of the importance of various affective and instrumental communication skills in close relationships. Although women place somewhat more value on some affective skills (e.g., conflict management and comforting skills) than do men, and men place somewhat more value on some instrumental skills (e.g., persuasive skills) than do women, both men and women place higher value on affective than instrumental skills..This pattern of findings is consistent across studies that have focused on communication values in same-sex friendships of varying intimacy (Burleson et al, 1996, Study 1;Griffiths & Burleson, 1995;Hollingsworth & Powers, 2002;Samter & Burleson, 1998;Westmyer & Myers, 1996), cross-sex friendships (Griffiths & Burleson, 1995), and cross-sex romantic relationships (Burleson et al, 1996, Study 2). This work represents a strong challenge to the different cultures perspective (see Burleson, 1997;Kunkel & Burleson, 1998).…”

“…These findings from a mature adult sample are broadly consistent with studies of college students' communication values, but the sex differences are even fewer and smaller than have been reported in some of those studies. For example, in Burleson et al (1996; Study 1), significant sex differences were observed for 6 of the 8 skills, while in Samter and Burleson (1998), sex differences were observed for 4 of the 8 skills. Further, both of these studies found that men's average value for instrumental skills exceeded that of women.…”

“…Thus, socioeconomic and ethnic characteristics may have influenced the size of the sex differences observed. Interestingly, Samter and Burleson (1998) found that sex differences in communication values were greater for Euro-Americans than for Asian-Americans or African-Americans. Future studies should continue to examine cultural influences on communication values, as well as socio-economic and other factors.…”

“…Although several studies of gender differences in communication values have been reported since Burleson et al's 1996research (Hollingsworth & Powers, 2002Samter & Burleson, 1998;Westmyer & Myers, 1996), none have addressed Wood's criticisms. Accordingly, the current research was designed to examine gender differences in the communication values of mature adults and to examine the influence of psychological gender on these values.…”

When Should Advice Be Given? Assessing the Role of Sequential Placement of Advice in Supportive Interactions in Two Cultures

“…It also provides further empirical evidence supporting the proposition that the provision of emotional support is an important component of supportive interactions, and is a desirable initial response to a person's problem (e.g., Acitelli, 1996;Burleson et al, 1996;Samter, 1994). The fact that this finding was observed for both American and Chinese samples suggests that people across cultures have similar emotional needs when coping with stressful situations (Burleson & Mortenson, 2003;Samter & Burleson, 2005;Samter, Whaley, Mortenson, & Burleson, 1997). While Feng (2009) did not observe evidence in support of the proposition that advice offered after problem inquiry and analysis would be more effective than advice offered without problem inquiry and analysis, the present study found evidence in support of this proposition.…”