Experts outline practical strategies to make and keep adult friendships

Researchers and friendship experts say making and maintaining friendships in adulthood in the United States is difficult, and they offered practical strategies for building stronger platonic bonds.

The article notes a bleak backdrop: around one in six Americans report feeling lonely or isolated much of the time, and the share of people reporting no close friends rose from 3 percent in 1990 to 12 percent three decades later. Experts cited factors such as the disappearance of “third places” and social fallout from the pandemic as contributors to the problem.

The experts suggested several concrete approaches. That advice includes practicing so-called “aggressive friendship” — repeatedly initiating contact and scheduling meetups — and tailoring plans to what friends actually enjoy and can sustain, even using short surveys. Other recommendations include asking for help or showing vulnerability, fitting friendship into existing routines (for example school pickup or quick errands), joining groups that align with life-stage or identity shifts, and preparing for interactions by thinking ahead about topics and follow-ups.

Experts told the outlet they believe that with effort and a bit of strategy it is possible to foster close friendships, while also acknowledging that particular tactics may not work for everyone and that timing and context matter when joining groups or clubs.