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Colorado State University-led research explored the nuanced dynamics of identifying a romantic partner as a best friend and its implications for well-being. Only 14.4% of partnered U.S. adults call their romantic partner a best friend, according to the study, a choice linked with more companionship yet less perceived social support than keeping a separate best friend.

Views have shifted public focus from marriage as life's central milestone to friendships as key to fulfillment. Polling data from the Pew Research Center reveals that 61% of Americans consider close friendships as "very" or "extremely" important for a fulfilling life, compared to just 23% who hold the same view of marriage.

In the study, "What's in a label? Exploring the intersection of relationships with best friends and romantic partners with well-being," in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, researchers surveyed a representative panel to examine how naming a partner as best friend relates to relationship quality and mental-health outcomes.

Researchers surveyed 940 adults in the United States, all of whom were in a romantic relationship and identified at least one best friend. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 85, with a median age of 41.

Participants completed a survey that assessed relationship quality and well-being through measures of emotional closeness, routine interaction, companionship, perceived social support, stress, and loneliness. Respondents listed up to seven friends, labeling each as a "friend," "best friend," "romantic partner," or a combination.

Surveys measured two relationship-quality facets, emotional closeness and routine interactions, via 7-point scales. Seven well-being dimensions, including life satisfaction, companionship, loneliness, perceived stress and social support, also appeared.

Logistic regression assessed which personal or situational factors predicted the best-friend label, while linear models compared relationship quality and well-being between those whose partner was a best friend versus those who kept those roles separate.

Only 36.4% of respondents included their partner among named friends, and a mere 14.4% labeled that partner a best friend. Odds of calling one's partner a best friend rose with older age and dating status, yet fell as income increased.

Participants who named their partner a best friend reported higher companionship but lower social support from non-partner friends, potentially reflecting a narrowing of the social network. Best-friend partners scored higher on emotional closeness and routines than non-partner best friends.

Companionship levels proved higher among those who fused partnership and best-friend roles, whereas perceived social support leaned stronger when best friends remained separate from romantic partners.

Findings suggest that romantic partners can serve everyday companionship needs, yet maintaining a distinct best friend may broaden one's support network. Couples and counselors might therefore encourage both partnership intimacy and independent friendships to foster richer social resources for well-being.