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

Wendy Samter, Bryant University
Brant Raney Burleson, Purdue University

Document Type Article

Published by Eastern Communication Association in Communication Quarterly Volume 53, Issue 3, pages 265-283.

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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. ...