We have most friends at the age of 26 after having spent the first quarter of our lives building up our friendship circle, a new study has revealed. The report into friendship showed that our social circle peaks at 26 years and seven months, at which we typically have five close friends.

Women are most popular at 25 years and 10 months, with men hitting the friendship high point a little later at 27 years and three months.

The research, by greetings card firm Forever Friends, shows that a third of adults (36 percent) met their closest friends while at school with a fifth (22 percent) saying they met them at work. Social networks such as Facebook and Twitter now play a major role in nurturing new friendships.

The study found that 25 to 34-year-olds make 22 friends via Facebook, compared to 18 to 24-year-olds who make 12, and 35 to 44-year-olds who have made just four.

Forever Friends relationship coach Sam Owen said, “It is no coincidence that over a third of us meet our best friends at school.

“It is a key time in our lives where friendships are grown through sharing notes, giving gifts, seeing each other regularly and laughing a lot. As adults we can often forget how powerful these small things are and how the little things can make a difference. Small gestures are just as important as big ones.

“With growing external pressures being put on friendships these days, it’s important to nurture and make time for our friendships. If we could only do one additional thing a week to show we care and love our friends, it would create a stronger framework for the future.”

Later in life we find ourselves losing friends.

Over half (54 percent) of us have lost friendships through moving, while 36 percent say that over time they grew apart from close pals.

Having children has also caused 19 percent to drift away from childless friends.

一项新研究显示，人26岁时朋友最

多，因为已经花了人生四分之一的时间来建立朋友圈。这项关于友情的研究显示，我们的社交圈在26岁零7个月时达到顶峰，这时我们一般都有五个密友。女性在25岁零10个月的时候最受欢迎，而男性迟一些，在27岁零3个月的时候最受欢迎。

该研究由贺卡公司“永远的朋友”发

起。研究称，约三分之一（36%）的成人在学校结识了挚友，而约五分之一（22%）的人说，他们在工作后认识了最好的朋友。

现在，脸书和推特这样的社交网络也是人们结识新朋友的主要场所。

研究发现，25到34岁的成人通过脸书结识了22个朋友，18岁至24岁的人结识12个，35岁至44岁的，在脸书上仅仅结识了4个朋友。

山姆·欧文是“永远的朋友”公司的人际关系导师，他表示：“三分之一的人在学校遇见最好的朋友，这可不是巧合。”

“学生时代是我们建立友情的关键时

期，友情通过分享笔记、互赠礼物、时常见面和嬉笑打闹培养起来。”

“我们成人时常忘了这些小事有多大力量和影响。在友情中，小事和大事一样重要。”

“如今随着友情承受的外部压力越来越大，找时间培养友情显得越发重要。”

“仅仅是每周多做一件事向朋友表示关爱，也会为未来的友情建立更坚实的基础。”

随着年龄增长，我们发现自己在失去朋友。超过一半的人（54%）因为离开原来的地方失去朋友；36%的人说，随着时间的推移，他们和好友疏远了。19%的人有孩子后疏远了没孩子的朋友。

    Words to Learn 相关词汇

    【达到顶峰】dádào dǐngfēng peak reach or bring to a high, or the highest, point

    【培养】péiyǎng nurture promote the development of