Perceptions of one’s own and romantic partner’s opposite-sex friendships

The present study sought to explore whether factors such as employment, gender, children, education and attachment style affect the formation and/or maintenance of opposite-sex friendships for individuals who are simultaneously involved in a long-term romantic relationship. In addition, the present study aimed to explore factors which may increase the risk for romantic relational conflict in individuals who do have opposite-sex friendships. This was achieved by examining whether avoidance and anxiety dimensions, beliefs about whether opposite-sex friendships are possible and friendship closeness contributed to participants feeling threatened by their romantic partner’s opposite-sex friendship; as well as participants’ comfort level with their own opposite-sex friend. Finally, the present study explored correlates between the participant’s level of attraction to their own opposite-sex friend and other variables such as gender, attachment style and friendship closeness. The 64 males and 238 females who were involved in a long-term romantic relationship completed an online questionnaire. Overall, the findings suggested that although structural opportunity factors may not affect the formation and/or maintenance of opposite-sex friendships in individuals, attachment dimensions and general beliefs about opposite-sex friendships were the most important contributors to participants’ increased feeling of threat by their partner’s opposite-sex friendships and feelings of comfort with their own opposite-sex friend. The implications of the present findings and future directions were discussed.