On the other hand, of those who were likely to confide in their fathers, the boys were also inclined to turn to their mothers, and the girls were inclined to confide in their mothers and friends. Boys were more highly represented than girls in this 'loners' group. Interestingly, the tendency to confide in friends was related to fewer indices of well-being for young people and not all these links were positive. Like the 'loners', young people who turned exclusively to friends indicated low well being on a range of measures, but unlike the loners, those who tended to confide exclusively in friends indicated relatively high sociability. These trends can be interpreted in different ways.
Communication is a reciprocal process.
The ability for young people and their fathers to enjoy each other's company should be fostered by all levels of community, including work places, schools, other community services, and the media. A book about setting men free . The making of the modern father . Family Policy Bulletin , November, pp. Melbourne Vic 3000, Australia.