Cross-Sex Best Friendships and the Experience and Expression of Jealousy within Romantic Relationships

Abstract

This study investigated cross-sex best friendships in the experience and expression of jealousy within romantic relationships. Survey data (N = 346) revealed engaged-to-be-married individuals, compared to single, dating and married individuals, have the most negative attitudes regarding cross-sex best friendships. Results further indicated preventive jealousy experience is a predictor of rival-focused jealousy expression, and reactive jealousy experience is a predictor of both constructive and destructive jealousy expressions. Findings also suggest attitudes toward cross-sex best friendships can mediate the relationship between how jealousy is experienced and expressed in relation to reactive jealousy experience and destructive jealousy expression. Implications are discussed regarding how cross-sex best friendships can adversely affect romantic relationships.

Just friends? Jealousy of extramarital friendships.

“…Unsurprisingly, sexual attributions of jealousy, and overall jealousy scores, were higher when the spouse’s friend was the same sex as the participant, indicating a potential intrasexual rival (Buunk et al, 2010; Campbell, 2004; Gilchrist-Petty & Bennett, 2019; Luxen & Van De Vijver, 2006). This pattern, however, did not appear for emotional attributions of jealousy.…”

“…Diversion of resources to a rival is extremely costly, but it is not the only outlet to which a mate’s time, energy, and resources could be diverted: Platonic friendships can also threaten romantic relationships because they require maintenance and commitment (Gilchrist-Petty & Bennett, 2019; Krems et al, 2021). Given finite investment potential, individuals must necessarily divide up time, effort, and resources between romantic partners and friends.…”

“…In the modern world, cross-sex friendships are much more common than they were ancestrally or even 20 years ago (Salkicevic, 2017). Although extant research has thus far focused on jealousy regarding real or imagined partner infidelity, less research has focused on how men and women might experience jealousy in response to a mate’s purportedly platonic relationships (though see Gilchrist-Petty & Bennett, 2019). Based on what we know about human mating psychology, these jealousy levels might differ by sex: Even though jealousy is experienced by both men and women, it seems to have evolved to solve sex-differentiated adaptive problems in the context of mate retention (Buss et al, 1992; White, 1981).…”

Measurement Invariance of the Multidimensional Jealousy Scale and Quality of Relationships Inventory (Friend)

“…Cognitive jealousy typically involves persistent thoughts, worries, or irrational suspicions regarding a partner's actions, intentions, or interactions with others [24]. Conflict is identified as a contributing factor to cognitive jealousy through several mechanisms, namely, trust issues (compromised trust can render individuals more susceptible to cognitive jealousy, evoking feelings of insecurity, fear of rejection, abandonment, or inadequacy) [54]; communication breakdown (lack of clear communication or misunderstandings during conflicts may lead individuals to misinterpret their partner's actions, thereby contributing to cognitive jealousy) [55]; resurfacing of past issues (previous experiences of betrayal or hurt may resurface during conflicts, intensifying cognitive jealousy as individuals project past experiences onto current situations) [1]; emotional turmoil (emotional distress during conflicts may result in heightened vigilance, suspicion, or irrational thoughts associated with cognitive jealousy) [56]; and perceived threats (conflict may trigger cognitive jealousy by making individuals hyper-aware of potential threats to their emotional connection, further fueling suspicions and concerns) [57].…”