UNLOCKING ADULT FRIENDSHIPS: MASTER THESE 5 SOCIAL SKILLS TO EXPAND YOUR CIRCLE

IN TODAY'S age of individuality and “cutting people off for peace”, many adults find themselves yearning for meaningful friendships. Scroll through social media, and you'll find countless posts from people lamenting how difficult it is to make friends as an adult.

- VUYILE MADWANTSI

But here’s the thing: building adult friendships isn’t impossible; it just requires effort, growth and a willingness to adapt.

While adulting often comes with competing responsibilities and a more selective nature about who we spend time with, the truth is that forging new connections starts with self-awareness and intentionality.

Psychologist Linda Baggett highlights in an article with the LA Times, social interactions in our younger years were often facilitated by structured environments, like college or early job roles, which offered a ready-made cohort of peers.

Unfortunately, as we age, these natural opportunities for meeting new people dwindle and we are left with the reality that it’s up to us to forge connections deliberately.

A 2024 study found that 42% of adults feel they're not as close to their friends as theyd like to be, while a 2025 survey by the American Psychiatric Association revealed that one in three adults feels lonely at least once a week.

Here are five social skills to master if youre ready to build stronger, lasting friendships as an adult, according to experts:

1. Check your assumptions

What you believe about yourself and others can heavily influence how you interact. For instance, if you assume people think you're boring or awkward, you may misinterpret a neutral response like someone not laughing at your joke as confirmation of that belief.