TY  - EJOU
AU  - Zhao, Xiaoyue 
AU  - Wang, Ting 
AU  - Yang, Baoyan 
AU  - Zang, Hongyu 
AU  - Gao, Qifeng 
AU  - Zhang, Zhongyuan 
AU  - Xing, Birong 

TI  - When friendship meets love: A short-term prospective study of opposite-sex friends need fulfillment effects on romantic relationship quality
T2  - Journal of Psychology in Africa

PY  - 2025
VL  - 35
IS  - 5
SN  - 1815-5626

AB  - This study explored the relationship between need fulfillment given by opposite-sex friends and romantic relationship quality, as well as the potential underlying mechanisms, including perceived quality of opposite-sex friend relationships, need fulfillment given by romantic partners and romantic desire towards opposite-sex friends. A total of 98 unmarried Chinese young adults in romantic relationships were participants (females = 45.9%; <i>M</i> = 22.71, <i>SD</i> = 2.81). The findings from regression, mediation, and moderation analyses indicated need fulfillment given by opposite-sex friends was associated with lower romantic relationship quality. Perceived quality of opposite-sex friend relationships mediated the relationship between need fulfillment given by opposite-sex friends and romantic relationship quality to be higher. The association between need fulfillment given by opposite-sex friends and both romantic relationship quality and perceived quality of opposite-sex friend relationships was moderated by need fulfillment given by romantic partners to be lower as need fulfillment given by romantic partners increased. Romantic desire towards opposite-sex friends moderated the association between perceived quality of opposite-sex friend relationships and romantic relationship quality to be lower as individuals’ romantic desire for opposite-sex friends decreased. These findings suggest that higher need fulfillment by romantic partners in opposite-sex friend relationships may lower romantic relationship quality. Based on these findings, there is need to balance opposite-sex friendships for safety in romantic relationships.
KW  - opposite-sex friends; romantic partners; need fulfillment; relationship quality; romantic desire

DO  - 10.32604/jpa.2025.067155