In an exploratory study by Blyth, Hill and Thiel (1982), over 2800 seventh- through tenth-grade subjects were asked to list all people they considered significant in their lives. The sample was largely from a middle class background, and from mostly college-educated, intact families. According to the data, female subjects listed peers ("nonrelated young people") as significant more than males (7.24 versus 5.52) (Blyth et al., 1982). Similarly, O'Koon (1997) found that, compared to males, the female high school students in his cross-sectional study (n=167) had significantly higher levels of attachment to peers. This sample was predominantly Caucasian and from middle- or upper middle-class families. Data from the longitudinal study by Rice and Mulkeen (1995) indicate that until young adulthood, girls are significantly closer to best friends than boys. In young adulthood, the level of intimacy reported by each gender is finally comparable, with the females' reports nevertheless remaining slightly higher.