When it comes to romantic relationships, most people probably believe that individuals alone determine who they date, the quality of the relationship and how long it will last. However, a recent study suggests that these choices are affected significantly by the level of support the couple perceives from family and friends. The study, recently presented at a conference, was conducted by Susan Sprecher, an associate professor of sociology at Illinois State University, and Diane Felmlee, an associate professor of sociology at UC Davis. Survey responses gathered from about 100 couples over one and a half years indicated that the more an individual perceived approval from his or her family and friends at a particular point in time, the higher the level of feelings of love, satisfaction and commitment were at that same time. The study found no evidence for the so-called "Romeo and Juliet" effect, the idea that parental opposition to a romantic relationship intensifies the resolve of the couple to stay together. Why social networks may affect relationships is unclear, Felmlee says, but "in part, it may be because the social network influences us, and in part because our social network is better at predicting what's good for us than we are sometimes."