A team of researchers from the University of California, Riverside, has uncovered an unexpected benefit of gossip. It turns out that gossip can actually enhance between partners.
Do you and your partner discuss guests when you return home from a dinner party? Do you gossip about a colleague’s potential mismatched marriage? According to a new study, if you do, your relationship may be happier than those who chat about their plans for the week.
It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t indulge in . “Whether we want to admit it or not, everyone gossips,” said lead researcher Chandler Sparr.
What Did the Scientists Discover?
The university team asked 76 couples to wear a portable device that recorded their daily . The analysis revealed that participants spent an average of 29 minutes a day gossiping with their significant other.
Moreover, gossip didn’t necessarily have to be negative. The researchers considered any conversations about someone who wasn’t present.
The team found that who gossiped more were happier and had higher-quality relationships. The researchers suggested that discussing others might serve as a form of emotional bonding. In an article published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, the scientists wrote: “Gossip can strengthen the sense that partners are on the same team, enhance feelings of unity, trust, and other positive qualities of relationships, and contribute to overall well-being.”
The authors also proposed that gossip serves as a “social regulation tool.” It helps shape expectations and behaviors that foster harmonious relationships, as reported by Daily Mail.
What Have Scientists Said About Gossip in the Past?
This new study builds on research from 2019 that debunked some myths about gossip.
It found, for instance, that women are not more prone to gossip than men, and that people with lower incomes do not gossip more frequently than their wealthier counterparts. It also revealed that younger individuals tend to spread negative gossip more often than older adults.
Meanwhile, another study indicated that an excessive tendency to gossip could backfire, potentially damaging the gossiper’s reputation.
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