Maintaining Romantic Relationship Homophily – An Analysis on the Notre Dame Student Population

• In Event: 41021 - Student Forum Refereed Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Roundtable 17: Higher Education

Abstract

Drawing on multi-year longitudinal data from the NetHealth survey conducted at the University of Notre Dame, this paper examines the existence and maintenance of romantic relationship homophily among university students. Using the EI index and linear regression models, this study first establishes the presence of romantic homophily within student networks, demonstrating that single individuals are more likely to have single friends, while those in romantic relationships tend to associate with others who are also in relationships. Building on these findings, logistic regression models were employed to investigate how students adjust or maintain their romantic statuses to align with their social networks The independent variable, the proportion of an individual’s ego network being single in spring 2016, was used to predict single status in 2017. The results reveal a positive correlation between maintaining single status and having a higher proportion of single friends, as well as a negative correlation between maintaining single status and having friends in romantic relationships. These findings underscore the significant influence of broader social networks on romantic behaviors, extending beyond dyadic relationships and addressing a critical gap in the literature on dating homophily (McMillan, Kreager, and Veenstra 2022). By highlighting the role of social networks in shaping romantic dynamics, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of how homophily operates within university settings and offers valuable insights for future research on relationship formation and maintenance.

Author

• Lisa Luo, University of Notre Dame