Final answer:
The number of friends tends to decrease as people enter middle adulthood due to focus on family, career goals, and shifts in social priorities, although remaining relationships may deepen.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Middle-aged people tend to have fewer friends than young adults do' could be True or False depending on various factors including individual lifestyles, cultural contexts, and personal circumstances. However, research generally indicates that social circles tend to shrink as people age, partly because they prioritize different types of relationships and life circumstances change.
Middle adulthood is a stage of life lasting from about the mid-30s to the mid-60s, where many adults are focused on raising a family and attaining career goals, possibly leaving less time for maintaining a wide circle of friends. During this stage, they might start to show physical signs of aging and experience declines in health, such as the onset of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes. Moreover, the cultivation of intimate relationships and family ties might take precedence over broader social interactions.
As a comparison, younger adults, who are in the stage of establishing their social and professional networks might have a larger number of friends but potentially shallower relationships. Thus, while the number of friends might be fewer in middle-aged adults, the depth of those relationships might be more significant. The maturity and social experience gained over the years can also lead to more meaningful and supportive friendships, even if they are fewer in number.