Scientists Say: Don't Be Friends With Your Man's Friends

Written by Natalie Gontcharova for YourTango.com

A recent study published in the American Journal of Sociology has found a link between erectile dysfunction in older men and friendships between their partners and male friends. The research was conducted at the University of Chicago on 3,005 men, ages 57 to 85.

Described as “partner betweenness,” this phenomenon occurs when the female partner has stronger relationships with her hubby’s friends than he does, effectively coming between him and his friends. This undermines the man’s feelings of autonomy and privacy, which researchers say are central to traditional concepts of masculinity.

“Men who experience partner betweenness in their joint relationships are more likely to have trouble getting or maintaining an erection and are also more likely to experience difficulty achieving orgasm during sex,” the researchers say.

Says Edward Laumann, a sociology prof at the U of C and one of the study’s architects: ”The results point to the importance of social network factors that are rarely considered in medical research — network structure and the individual’s position within it.”

Maybe this means that men get more anti-social as they age, while women continue to be social butterflies? It’s interesting that the perceived threat/turn-off here is that the woman will come between the man and his friends — not that she will cheat on her partner. Would it be safe to assume that’s what the surveyed men are really afraid of?

Cry me a river, older men. It could be worse!

What do you think about this study? Does it ring true?

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Silvija V.

3:22PM PDT on Apr 19, 2012

ok...

send a green star

ii q.

9:57AM PDT on Apr 18, 2012

depends on the people

Teresa W.

7:51AM PDT on Apr 18, 2012

Stupid. Will this guy win an Ig-Nobel prize?

Shan D.

12:02PM PST on Dec 19, 2011

Scientists can go chase themselves. I'll be friends with whoever I want. If my SO doesn't trust me, he won't be my SO any longer.

Diana W.

7:25PM PST on Nov 24, 2011

....Huh...????!?

Berny P.

6:30AM PST on Nov 24, 2011

Somebody actualy payed for this????

Robert H.

11:22PM PST on Nov 18, 2011

Maybe for guys in Chicago this is true. I don't know about other people.

Neda E.

8:02PM PST on Nov 9, 2011

In other news, there is also a very strong correlation between age and erectile dysfunction. Note to readers, the age range in this study was 57-85. Nature did not intend for men to procreate past a certain age! Think about it!

Serena A.

1:00PM PDT on Oct 10, 2011

lol