Elinkowski, KristinRomney, Madison2023-05-222023-05-222020-08-012020-07-28https://repository.upenn.edu/handle/20.500.14332/38825Research has long shown the benefits of social connection for individual well-being. Positive Psychology offers several theories for fostering social connection and yet, throughout our lives we aren’t formally taught how to sustain connections, particularly our cherished friendships. Once you form a friendship, how do you make it last? In this paper, we examine friendship through existing literature and qualitative research leveraging exemplar methodology. Because a pursuit of well-being often includes a pursuit of friendship, we offer research-supported, real-world strategies for maintaining and strengthening friendships in adulthood.Thesisfriendshipfriendship maintenancefriendship strengtheningsocial connectionlonelinesspositive psychologywell-beingbelongingPsychologySocial PsychologyDissertation/Thesis