Latest news with #ElectronicallyActivatedRecorder
New York Post
12-08-2025
- General
- New York Post
Couples who bond over this nasty habit are happier, study reveals: ‘Partners are on the same team'
Did you hear? Couples that gossip together stay together. A new study from UC Riverside, titled 'Spill the Tea, Honey: Gossiping Predicts Well-Being in Same- and Different-Gender Couples,' revealed that couples who gossip together are not only bonded more deeply but also happier and more satisfied in their romance. 4 Gossiping with your partner can benefit your relationship, experts say. alfa27 – 'Whether or not we want to admit it, everyone gossips,' Chandler Spahr, first author of the study, told UC Riverside. 'Gossip is ubiquitous.' And that might not be such a bad thing. A team of researchers tracked 76 romantic couples — both same-gender and different-gender — using a portable listening device called the Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR). This device passively recorded snippets of daily conversation. However, it is worth noting that the device captured only about 14% of participants' daily speech, and all the couples recorded were from Southern California. According to the results, participants gossiped for an average of 38 minutes per day — with nearly 29 of those minutes spent gossiping with their partner. 4 'Whether or not we want to admit it, everyone gossips,' Chandler Spahr, first author of the study, told UC Riverside. 'Gossip is ubiquitous.' Wisky – And everyone was better off for it. Across the board, couples who gossiped more frequently reported higher levels of personal happiness. Gossip was also linked to better relationship quality, although the effect was slightly less pronounced. Same-sex couples overall reported higher well-being than their different-sex counterparts — especially woman-woman couples. Senior author Megan Robbins explained that gossiping may function as a tool of emotional intimacy. For example, she noted that often after leaving social gatherings together, couples will rehash what they learned from and thought of everybody else in the room. This kind of post-event gossip — whether playfully catty or positively reflective — helps reinforce emotional alignment and feelings of closeness, trust and solidarity. 'Negatively gossiping with one's romantic partner on the way home from a party could signal that the couple's bond is stronger than with their friends at the party, while positively gossiping could prolong the fun experiences,' the study authors wrote. 4 According to the results, participants gossiped for an average of 38 minutes daily — with nearly 29 of those minutes spent gossiping with their partner. – 'It may reinforce the perception that partners are 'on the same team,' enhancing feelings of connectedness, trust and other positive relationship qualities, as well as contributing to overall well-being.' This research builds on Robbins' earlier 2019 study, which debunked popular myths about gossip — like the belief that women gossip more maliciously or that poorer people gossip more often. That study found the truth to be more nuanced, suggesting gossip is neither inherently bad nor limited to any one demographic. 4 Across the board, couples who gossiped more frequently reported higher levels of personal happiness. Gossip was also linked to better relationship quality, although the effect was slightly less pronounced. Svyatoslav Lypynskyy – Meanwhile, in the new study, researchers didn't distinguish between positive, negative or neutral gossip, proving that it's the act of sharing perspectives that counts. So, if you're one of the many Americans who say they're too stressed about money to have sex, maybe try spilling some tea to feel connected to your partner.
NDTV
10-08-2025
- Science
- NDTV
Gossip Might Be Secret Ingredient For Romance, Bring Couples Closer, Study Finds
A new study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships revealed that gossip might be the secret ingredient for romance in relationships between couples and their overall well-being. The study is the first to examine how gossip can improve well-being within romantic partnerships. Gossip isn't just about spreading rumours or negativity; it can also be a way to build intimacy and trust with your partner. Sharing small tidbits about others can contribute to happiness among romantic partners, leading to deeper connections and bonding. The couples who gossip together are happier and more connected than those who don't, the study found. "Whether or not we want to admit it, everyone gossips," Chandler Spahr, first author of the study, as quoted by "Gossip is ubiquitous." Offline romance and in-person interactions also play a significant role in building connections. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of California, Riverside, to find the role of gossip in producing positive outcomes in both same-gender and different-gender couples. A total of 76 people participated. They wore a portable listening device called the Electronically Activated Recorder (or EAR). About 14 per cent of their daily conversation was recorded and analysed. The findings revealed that the participants who spent about 38 minutes per day gossiping, with about 29 of those minutes gossiping with their romantic partners. The study also noted that woman-woman couples produced the greatest amount of gossip. "Negatively gossiping with one's romantic partner on the way home from a party could signal that the couple's bond is stronger than with their friends at the party, while positively gossiping could prolong the fun experiences," the study authors wrote. "It may reinforce the perception that partners are 'on the same team,' enhancing feelings of connectedness, trust, and other positive relationship qualities, as well as contributing to overall well-being." As per the study, the gossip may help in establishing and expectations and behaviours for a good relationship. It can function as a "social regulation tool".
