Hostname: page-component-76d6cb85b7-ntvhh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-07-15T15:24:15.703Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Do romantic relationships matter less to women than to men because men provide lower-quality emotional support?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2026

Johan C. Karremans Open the ORCID record for Johan C. Karremans [Opens in a new window] ,
Esther S. Kluwer  and
Sara B. Algoe
Johan C. Karremans*
Affiliation:
Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands johan.karremans@ru.nl Fakultas Psikologi, Universitas Padjadjaran, Hegarmanah, Jatinangor, Sumedang Regency, West Java, Indonesia
Esther S. Kluwer
Affiliation:
Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands johan.karremans@ru.nl Faculty of Social Sciences, Universiteit Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 1, Utrecht, The Netherlands e.s.kluwer@uu.nl
Sara B. Algoe
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina, NC, Chapel Hill, USA algoe@unc.edu https://www.ru.nl/en/people/karremans-j https://www.uu.nl/staff/ESKluwer https://www.saraalgoe.com/bio
*
*Corresponding author.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

We propose a more parsimonious and, arguably, more plausible interpretation of the gender differences described by the authors. Specifically, the central issue may not lie in men’s lower propensity to express their emotions, but rather in the generally lower quality of support that men tend to provide compared to women. This alternative interpretation calls for a different solution.

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 49 , 2026 , e106
Check for updates
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Algoe, S. B., Fredrickson, B. L., & Gable, S. L. ( 2013). The social functions of the emotion of gratitude via expression. Emotion, 13(4), 605–609.10.1037/a0032701CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Baez, S., Flichtentrei, D., Prats, M., Mastandueno, R., García, A. M., Cetkovich, M., & Ibáñez, A. ( 2017). Men, women… who cares? A population-based study on sex differences and gender roles in empathy and moral cognition. PloS one, 12(6), e0179336.10.1371/journal.pone.0179336CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Christov-Moore, L., Simpson, E. A., Coudé, G., Grigaityte, K., Iacoboni, M., & Ferrari, P. F. ( 2014). Empathy: Gender effects in brain and behavior. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 46, 604–627.10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.09.001CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hyde, J. S. ( 2014). Gender similarities and differences. Annual Review of Psychology, 65(1), 373–398.10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115057CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ickes, W., Gesn, P. R., & Graham, T. ( 2000). Gender differences in empathic accuracy: Differential ability or differential motivation?. Personal Relationships, 7(1), 95–109.10.1111/j.1475-6811.2000.tb00006.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Löffler, C. S., & Greitemeyer, T. ( 2023). Are women the more empathetic gender? The effects of gender role expectations. Current Psychology, 42(1), 220–231.10.1007/s12144-020-01260-8CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mosannenzadeh, F., Kouri, G., Luijten, M., Schoebi, D., & Karremans, J. C. ( 2025). Does romantic partner support buffer the effect of attachment insecurities on negative emotions? A systematic review. Collabra: Psychology, 11(1), 130079.10.1525/collabra.130079CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Neff, L. A., & Karney, B. R. ( 2005). Gender differences in social support: A question of skill or responsiveness?. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 88(1), 79–90.10.1037/0022-3514.88.1.79CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thomas, G., & Fletcher, G. J. ( 2003). Mind-reading accuracy in intimate relationships: Assessing the roles of the relationship, the target, and the judge. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85(6), 1079–1094.10.1037/0022-3514.85.6.1079CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed