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Same-gender couples have higher-quality interactions with one another than heterosexual couples in Southern California, a new UC Riverside study finds. The study also holds that couples with two men have the smallest social networks. Researcher Megan Robbins says the recently published study is the first to compare same- and different-sex...

A first-of-its-kind UC Riverside study asserts that women don’t gossip negatively more often than men, lower income people don’t gossip more than more wealthy people, and younger people are more likely to gossip negatively than their older counterparts.

We’re often told we are responsible for our own happiness. But in challenging situations, a UC Riverside study not only demonstrates the benefits of positive reframing – finding a “silver lining” – but also suggests our partners can be more adept at finding that silver lining than we are. A...

A healthy relationship starts with the word “we.” Past research by UC Riverside psychologist Megan Robbins has emphasized the power of first-person personal pronouns such as “we” and “us” in relationships. “We-talk” is an indicator of interdependence, meaning partners affect one another’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This is a shift...

Substantive dialogue may help, but emotional exchanges likely don't. Research finds that substantive conversation – conversation about news and ideas – is reflective of greater well-being among breast cancer patients.