A new study from the University of California - Riverside suggests that couples who gossip together, whether positively or negatively, tend to have happier and higher-quality relationships. Researchers found that gossiping may serve as a form of emotional bonding, reinforcing the sense that partners are 'on the same team' and enhancing trust and connectedness. The study also revealed that same-sex couples, particularly woman-woman pairs, reported higher levels of happiness and engaged in more gossip than different-sex couples. Previous research dispelled myths about gossip, showing that men gossip as much as women, but women tend to be more supportive in their conversations. Scientists emphasize that gossip, when delivered with concern rather than malice, can make individuals appear more trustworthy and socially likeable.