A new UC Riverside study reveals that couples who gossip together experience significantly higher relationship satisfaction, challenging decades of assumptions about this supposedly “toxic” communication habit.

Story Highlights

• UC Riverside researchers tracked 76 couples and found those who gossip together report greater happiness and relationship quality
• Participants gossiped an average of 38 minutes daily, with 29 minutes spent gossiping with their romantic partner
• Same-sex couples, particularly woman-woman partnerships, showed the highest well-being scores when engaging in shared gossip
• The study used innovative EAR technology to passively record real conversations, capturing authentic relationship dynamics

Research Methodology Captures Real Relationship Dynamics

UC Riverside psychology researchers employed the Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR) to monitor 76 romantic couples from Southern California over extended periods. This cutting-edge technology captured approximately 14 percent of participants’ daily speech without intrusive observation methods. Lead researcher Megan Robbins and first author Chandler Spahr designed the study to examine both same-gender and different-gender couples, providing comprehensive insights into modern relationship communication patterns across diverse partnerships.

Couples who bond over this nasty habit are happier, study reveals: ‘Partners are on the same team’ https://t.co/hdtdlSRPUe pic.twitter.com/hQycyrwj8M

— New York Post (@nypost) August 12, 2025

Gossip Functions as Relationship Bonding Mechanism

The findings directly contradict traditional negative stereotypes surrounding gossip in romantic relationships. Participants who engaged in regular gossip sessions with their partners demonstrated measurably higher levels of emotional intimacy and relationship satisfaction. Robbins emphasized that gossip serves as a bonding mechanism, stating that “gossip is ubiquitous” and functions as a tool for social regulation. The research showed couples use gossip to align perspectives after social events, reinforcing their sense of being “on the same team” through shared observations and judgments about their social environment.

Same-Sex Couples Show Strongest Positive Results

Woman-woman couples exhibited the highest well-being scores among all relationship types studied, suggesting unique communication advantages in same-gender partnerships. The data indicates these couples may benefit from enhanced emotional alignment and shared social perspectives that gossip facilitates. This finding challenges assumptions about relationship communication dynamics and highlights how different partnership configurations may optimize bonding through various communication styles. The researchers noted that regardless of whether gossip content was positive, negative, or neutral, the act itself strengthened relationship bonds.

Study Builds on Foundation Challenging Gossip Myths

This 2025 research builds directly on Robbins’ groundbreaking 2019 study that debunked persistent myths about gossip behavior. Her previous work demonstrated that gossip is not inherently negative, nor is it more prevalent among women or lower-income demographics as commonly assumed. The current study advances this understanding by examining gossip’s specific role within romantic partnerships, providing evidence-based insights that could influence relationship counseling practices and public attitudes toward everyday communication patterns.

Traditional Values Support Healthy Communication Patterns

The research validates traditional relationship values by demonstrating how couples who openly discuss their social observations strengthen their partnership foundation. Rather than promoting harmful behaviors, the study reveals how honest communication—even about others—can reinforce the trust and alignment essential for lasting marriages. This evidence-based approach to relationship health supports family stability and counters modern trends that often undermine traditional partnership values through artificial communication restrictions.

Sources:

UC Riverside News – Gossip Good for Romance Study Finds
iHeart Radio – The Couple That Gossips Together Stays Together
KDWB iHeart – Gossiping With Your Spouse Can Improve Your Relationship