Acceptance of the myths of romantic love
The results revealed a general acceptance of the myths of romantic love
(Table 2). Regarding emotional dependency, 50.7% reported feeling
anxious when their SO did not immediately respond to their messages,
45.6% affirmed that they could not stand the idea that their partners
did not love them as much as they did; 48.5% declared that they were
determined to do anything for their SO to forgive them, this statement
being more common between females (χ2(1, N =
66) = 15.705, p = .000; V = .488). Jealousy as a proof of
love was a shared idea, with 18.6% of the sample referring to jealousy
being normal in a relationship and necessary to prove love (32.9%).
This was consistent with the fact that 31.4% of the participants
reported that they could not bear to see their partners with other
people, of which 6% reported that they could not deal with their
partners loving other people (including their friends and relatives).
These statements were more often shared by males
(χ2(1, N = 70) = 4.242, p = .039;V = .246). Regarding exclusivity, 5.7% considered that when they
were in a relationship, they did not need anyone else. Participants
prioritized the needs and well-being of their SO above their own.
Fifty-eight percent agreed with the idea that sometimes they had to do
things that made them uncomfortable to make their SO happy. This was
significantly more common between females (χ2(1,N = 67) = 7.85, p = .005; V = .342). Regarding the
sacrifice of personal space, 69.7% believed that since sincerity was
essential, they had to share everything with their SO. Regarding sexist
beliefs, 22.9% subscribed to the idea that women prefer dominant men,
30% indicated that “when girls say no, they mean yes,” and 4.3%
considered that girls should not have the same sexual freedom as boys.