With a Little Help From My Friends: Social Approval and Relationship Quality in Intercultural Romantic Relationships

Despite their growing prevalence, intercultural couples continue to experience social disapproval and discrimination from their social networks. In this study ( N = 757), we examined how social approval from different sources (i.e., family, friends, and society) predicts relationship quality and whether these effects vary by individual (i.e., cultural background and gender) and couple-level (i.e., cultural pairing and relationship length) characteristics. Friend approval emerged as the most robust predictor of relationship quality, especially for couples in which both partners belonged to minority cultures. In contrast, family approval was only important for Latinx and Middle Eastern partners, and those in the earlier stages in relationships. These findings suggest that different sources of social approval can buffer or exacerbate relationship quality, depending on partners’ cultural backgrounds and relationship length. By identifying which sources of approval matter most and for whom, these findings can inform culturally sensitive interventions and support systems for intercultural couples.