The Benefits of Friendship

What do we really gain from making new friends, and does it matter who they are? Graduating public policy PhD student Gabriella Fleischman explored these questions, focusing on low-income women in rural Malawi who move to their husbands’ villages after marriage, often leaving behind their families and support networks. Her research shows that new friendships can be powerful, but the material and emotional benefits come from different types of people. These findings offer a new way to think about how our choices over who to build relationships with can influence our well-being.