Romantic relationships are celebrated far more than friendships. Society showers couples with engagement parties, weddings, and anniversary celebrations, while long-term friendships rarely get the same recognition. People often ask about romantic partners but seldom inquire about close friends—sometimes even dismissing them with, “Oh, we’re just friends.”
Many assume romance is better for mental health. A common belief is that romantic relationships protect against depression more than friendships do. But is this really true?
New research challenges this idea. A study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships (June 2025) by Michigan State University’s Junwen M. Hu analyzed nearly 3,000 people at ages 15, 16, 28, and 38. Participants reported their relationship status (single, partnered, or friendless) and their levels of depression.
Key Findings:
Romantic relationships often increased depression.
Singles who entered a romantic relationship became more depressed at every age studied (15, 16, 28, and 38).
Friendship acted as a shield against depression.
Adults (28 and 38) who gained a close friend became less depressed.
At every age, those with close friends were less depressed than those without—though the effect was weaker in teens.
Romance only helped at one stage—age 38.
Only 38-year-olds in relationships were less depressed than singles.
At 15, partnered teens were more depressed than single peers.
Why Romance Isn’t Always the Answer
Popular culture often claims marriage or romance leads to happiness. But comparing married and single people at one moment doesn’t prove cause and effect—happier people may simply be more likely to marry.
If romance truly boosted happiness, newly partnered people should feel better. Instead, they often feel worse.
The Overlooked Power of Friendship
Single people are stereotyped as lonely, but research shows they often maintain stronger social ties. Married couples, meanwhile, tend to become more isolated.
A study across 32 European countries found singles spend more time with friends and derive more joy from those relationships.
U.S. research showed older adults with reliable friends or family were better protected from loneliness and stress than those in romantic relationships.
People who thrive while single—those “single at heart”—often have deep friendships and the freedom to nurture them.
The Bottom Line
Friendships may protect mental health better than romance. While society prioritizes romantic love, science suggests close friendships offer more consistent emotional support—without the risks of increased depression that often come with new relationships.
Final Thought: Perhaps it’s time we celebrate friendships as much as we do romance.
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