The Effects of Support Providers’ Sex on the Association Between Friendship Standards and Support Provision

This study investigates how support providers' friendship standards influence their support provision when talking with friends experiencing stress and whether sex moderates those associations. Data from college students (N = 102) revealed through regression analysis that communion standards predict the provision of informational support for men and women. Notably, females' enjoyment standards were negatively correlated with the provision of distraction support. On the other hand, males' distraction support provision was positively related to their standards of enjoyment and similarity. These findings highlight the intricate dynamics of support provision in emerging adult friendships and emphasize the role of individual differences and relational standards in supportive interactions.