The psychology behind why uni friends are often mates for life, while others fall away - Professor Kirsty Ross

Opinion byProfessor Kirsty RossNZ Herald·30 Jul, 2026 02:24 AM5 mins to readProfessor Kirsty Ross is a clinical psychologist and Massey University’s head of the School of Psychology.Our late teens and 20s represent a unique life stage, which is why friendships from that era often last.On International Friendship Day, Massey University Professor Kirsty Ross offers insight into why friendships from certain periods of our lives endure. There is something special about the friendships many of us make during our late teens and early 20s. They’re often the people who stand beside us at our