Social support among emerging adult friends: Dyadic and longitudinal associations between support gaps and relational quality

Building upon the emerging theory of support gaps, the present study explores dyadic associations of surpluses and deficits in various types of support with immediate and longitudinal relationship quality between friends. Emerging adult friends ( N = 212 dyads) completed an initial questionnaire reporting desired support, received support, and relationship quality pertaining to a friend, and a follow-up questionnaire one-month later reporting relationship quality pertaining to the same friend. Results showed that friends reported significant surpluses and deficits in support of all types, which both positively and negatively related to both their own and their friend’s relationship quality, depending on the type of support gap and the way in which support gaps were analyzed. Overall, the findings demonstrate the complex and multidimensional role of support gaps in emerging adult friendships, while suggesting potential future research directions to continue developing the theory of support gaps.