DOES MY FRIEND LIKE MY ROMANTIC PARTNER? LINKS AMONG RELATIONSHIP WORK WITH PARTNERS AND FRIENDS AND PHYSIOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

Informed by the theoretical foundation of social exchange theory and polyvagal theory, we examined romantic, social, and psychophysiological functioning among a sample of 284 heterosexual, emerging adult romantic partners and their friends. Final APIM model results revealed that females who spoke frequently with their partner about romantic challenges also reported greater romantic adjustment. Additionally, males were found to have more favorable psychophysiological functioning, as captured by heart rate variability (HRV) during conversations with their partner, when males spoke frequently to friends about romantic challenges. Also, males' HRV scores when talking to partners and to friends were more favorable if males perceived that friends' approval of their relationship was high. Conversely, poorer HRV was found for male partners if their friends did not actually approve of the romantic relationship. Social, romantic, and psychophysiological implications for emerging adult partners are discussed.