- Avarna Jain,
Chairperson RPSG Lifestyle Media
The Secret to Happier Couples? A Little Gossip (Yes, Really!)
A little gossip could be the ultimate couple’s bonding ritual; science says it might just keep the romance flowing.
A little gossip, a lot of connection—science says it’s couple magic.Getty
Have you ever come back home from work or a party and sat with your partner to gossip all about it? While to many, it may feel like a guilty pleasure, those little whispered updates about who wore what at a party or who did what in the office are very important. Science now suggests that gossiping with your partner is just what you need to keep that spark alive. A secret ingredient to romance, gossip is studied to bring couples closer.
A new study in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships says gossip can help keep the romance alive in your relationship and maintain a good overall couple well-being. However, this is not about the mean-spirited rumours, but the relationship glue.
A first study to investigate the impact of gossip on romantic relationships, the paper highlights that sharing small tidbits about others can contribute to building trust and intimacy between partners and create a feeling that you and your partner are on the same team.
Gossip: The Secret Ingredient
According to the research, gossip among partners can lead to forming deeper connections. The couples who gossip together are found to be happier and more connected than those who don’t.
"Gossip is ubiquitous. Whether or not we want to admit it, everyone gossips," Chandler Spahr, first author of the study, noted.
The study conducted by the researchers at the University of California, Riverside, carried out a test on 76 participants to find the role of gossip in producing positive outcomes in couples-same gender and different gender couples. The participants wore a portable gadget called the Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR), and on average, couples spent 38 minutes a day gossiping, with roughly 29 minutes of that time spent together, and about 14 per cent of their daily conversation being recorded and analysed. The study found that woman-woman couples shared the greatest amount of gossip.
Why Does It Work?
When you know the inside scoop, you also know you’ve got each other’s back.unsplash
According to the researchers, 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. They revealed that swapping stories can strengthen your bond in subtle ways.
"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," the authors of the study noted.
Ultimately, the study noted that gossiping is a form of self-regulation that may help shape expectations and behaviours, setting unspoken rules for a good relationship and keeping your relationship rhythm in sync with your partner’s.
So, the next time your partner pulls you into a corner at a wedding function for a little behind-the-scenes scoop, know that it will help your relationship grow.
Where we give you a fast-paced look into everything you should wish list when you start to think about marriage. What to buy and how to dress, along with modern mithai and the homegrown fragrance makers to bookmark. Make special note of the feature on alta.
It has everything you need to make your wedding special. From the big comeback of red and pink in bridal wear to how the cool kids are wearing corsets to the celebration, there is only one way to get ready for a wedding —with enjoyment.
This section is a building block, a step to a better life. A place where we have all the answers. Or at least the beginning of a great conversation.
This needs very little description. It has travel with a special focus on incredible India, and a collection of wedding albums, sourced randomly, but collected with abundance because happiness has no limits.
