Gender Differences in the Expression of Sadness in Romantic vs. Platonic Relationships

Priyanshi Sanjay Patel; Aarini Madan Gupta

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i06.63256

Gender Differences in the Expression of Sadness in Romantic vs. Platonic Relationships

Author(s)	Ms. Priyanshi Sanjay Patel, Ms. Aarini Madan Gupta
Country	India
Abstract	This study explores how men and women articulate sadness differently in romantic and same-sex friendships, examining both verbal and nonverbal forms of expression. Earlier research affirms that women are more emotionally expressive than men, but they have not examined the extent to which relationship context shapes this gendered emotional expression. Relying on theory in emotional regulation and gender role socialization models, this study uses a mixed-methods design. This mixed-methods investigation examined gender differences in nonverbal expression of sadness in romantic and platonic relationships. The qualitative component was semi-structured interviews of 20 participants (10 males, 10 females; 18-40 years old) that revealed that women had more obvious nonverbal cues (e.g., tearfulness, expressive movements) especially in romantic relationships compared to men who inhibited them, especially in platonic relationships. The quantitative component included 50 participants (ages 18–50) who completed the Emotional Expressivity Scale (EES) and Berkeley Expressivity Questionnaire (BEQ). Women scored significantly higher than men on both the EES (M = 4.2 vs. M = 2.8) and BEQ Negative Expressivity (M = 5.1 vs. M = 3.4). A significant interaction effect showed that women in romantic relationships had the highest nonverbal expressivity (M = 5.4), while men in platonic contexts had the lowest (M = 3.2). Women also reported higher Impulse Strength (M = 4.7 vs. M = 3.9), with the highest scores among romantic females (M = 4.8). Results emphasize the importance of gender socialization and relational circumstances in expressing emotions and the importance of using both qualitative and quantitative methods of interpreting complex emotional behaviors.
Keywords	Gender differences, sadness expression, romantic relationships, platonic friendships, non-verbal communication, emotional expressivity, mixed-methods, gender roles
Field	Sociology > Philosophy / Psychology / Religion
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 6, November-December 2025
Published On	2025-12-12
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i06.63256

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Gender Differences in the Expression of Sadness in Romantic vs. Platonic Relationships

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