The effect of peers on marital beliefs and expectations

The current study examined the effect peers have upon young adults\u27 romantic beliefs, controlling for other factors known to impact romantic beliefs, such as interparental conflict. Friendship intimacy was found to be strongly associated with peers\u27 level of influence on romance. Young adults perceived that their friends\u27 romantic beliefs were similar to their own. Differences in beliefs were not related to friendship closeness. The relationship between closeness and influence was not moderated by romantic experience, nor was the relationship between differences in belief and closeness. The relationship between friendship intimacy and influence might vary by gender. Men perceived equal influence from their male and female friends. Women sought advice more frequently from female friends than male friends. Much of this gender effect disappeared once friendship intimacy was accounted for. Opposite gender peers did not significantly influence the realism of romantic beliefs. This research suggests that friends play a strong role in young adults\u27 romantic beliefs, although this impact may vary based upon intimacy and gender