Giulia Zoppolat
Biographic Data
| ID | 767271 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Giulia Zoppolat |
| GIVEN NAMES | Giulia |
| FAMILY NAME | Zoppolat |
| SIGNATURE | ZOPPOLAT G |
| AFFILIATIONS | Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-2338-4225 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 18 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 23 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 18 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2020 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Just Not That Into You
Theoretical work has proposed that people can have four different patterns of interpersonal evaluations: mostly positive, mostly negative, ambivalent (both positive and negative), and indifferent (neither positive nor negative). Notably, indifference has been largely overlooked by empirical research, despite growing evidence that indifferent feelings can occur in romantic relationships. To address this gap, we examined the associations of feeling…
Does Romantic Involvement Benefit Everyone? Testing a Foundational Tenet in Relationship Science Through the Case of Asexuality
It is established that romantic relationships can benefit well-being and buffer against loneliness. But is that true for everyone? We put this foundational tenet of relationship science to the test by examining whether asexual people (i.e., people who generally do not experience sexual attraction and desire) benefit from romantic involvement. Results from the BBC Loneliness Experiment showed that, unlike heterosexual ( N = 36,464) and other sexua…
The Perks of Pet Ownership? The Effects of Pet Ownership on Well-Being During the Covid-19 Pandemic
Pet ownership has often been lauded as a protective factor for well-being, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. We expanded this question to consider how pet (i.e., species, number) and owner (i.e., pet relationship quality, personality, attachment orientations) characteristics affected the association between pet ownership and well-being in a pre-registered mixed method analysis of 767 people assessed three times in May 2020. In our qualit…
Systematic review and development of a comprehensive conceptualization of social gender affirmation for trans and gender diverse people
Social gender affirmation (SGA) plays a pivotal role in the well-being of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people, yet research on the topic remains fragmented and inconsistent. This systematic scoping review examines 61 studies to provide a cohesive understanding of how SGA is conceptualized, operationalized, and experienced across different contexts. We categorize existing literature into three main areas: theoretical and applied frameworks…
Loves me, loves me not
Romantic relationships can be rewarding and costly at the same time, making it no surprise that partners can often feel ambivalent (simultaneously positive and negative) feelings toward one another. Although research has shown that the individual who experiences ambivalence toward their romantic partner is likely to endure aversive effects, not much is known about how this ambivalence affects their partner, who is the target of the ambivalent fee…
Investigating the social benefits of long-distance romantic relationships during the Covid-19 pandemic
Long-distance romantic relationships (LDRRs) are increasingly common, yet research directly comparing them to cohabitating romantic relationships (CRRs) remains limited. In this pre-registered study, we used a multinational, six-wave longitudinal dataset collected during the COVID-19 pandemic ( N observations = 1,772) and applied propensity score matching to compare LDRRs and CRRs on two core relational outcomes: conflict and passion. Drawing on …
A Systematic Study of Ambivalence and Well-Being in Romantic Relationships
People in close relationships can, and often do, experience ambivalence (i.e., mixed feelings) toward their romantic partner. Although ambivalence is common and consequential, research on this phenomenon is fragmented. The present work examines how four different types of ambivalence (i.e., objective, subjective, implicit-explicit, and implicit ambivalence) relate to well-being. In four intensive studies ( N = 1,134) and internal meta-analyses, a…
It’s complicated
People often feel mixed and conflicting feelings (i.e., ambivalence) toward their romantic partner. So far, research has primarily shown that ambivalence is linked to negative outcomes in relationships, but is this always true? Building off the affect, behavior, cognition model of ambivalence, the present work tests the idea that, when ambivalent, individuals can experience both positive and negative cognitive and behavioral responses toward thei…
Mixed signals
Ambivalence (i.e., "mixed feelings") is a common and consequential experience in romantic relationships, but not much is known about which aspects of relationships are likely to elicit it. We investigated whether romantic jealousy (experienced by the individual and perceived in one's partner) is associated with stronger ambivalence toward the partner. Four studies ( N = 1,466; participants from the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Nethe…
Did relationship quality during the Covid-19 pandemic vary across cultural contexts
We examined whether the impact of the pandemic on couple relationships varied across cultural contexts. Following from studies showing better outcomes (lower disease risk, greater well-being) within cultures higher in tightness (having strong norms promoting conformity) or collectivism (vs. individualism), we predicted that tighter and more collectivistic contexts would be associated with better relationship functioning. Preregistered analyses us…
Love in the Time of Covid
External stressors can erode relationship quality, though little is known about what can mitigate these effects. We examined whether COVID-related stressors were associated with lower relationship quality, and whether perceived partner responsiveness—the extent to which people believe their partner understands, validates, and cares for them—buffers these effects. When people in relationships reported more COVID-related stressors they reported poo…
Extraversion, social interactions, and well-being during the Covid-19 pandemic
A large body of research suggests that extraversion is positively related to well-being. However, it is unclear whether this association can be explained by social participation (i.e., more extraverted individuals engage in social interactions more frequently) or social reactivity (i.e., more extraverted individuals profit more from social interactions) processes. Here, we examined the role of social interactions for the extraversion-well-being r…
Security motives and negative affective experiences during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic
OBJECTIVE: Self-regulation can help individuals cope during stressful events, but little is known about why and when this might occur. We examined if being more focused on prevention was linked to negative affective experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also examined possible underlying mechanisms for this association, and whether social support buffered it. DESIGN: = 1269). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Regulatory focus and worry for health (T1)…
Mixed and conflicted
People in romantic relationships tend to have positive feelings toward their partner and want their relationship to last. However, maintaining a romantic relationship over time is challenging, and people can often experience mixed and conflicting feelings (i.e., ambivalence) toward their significant other. While research has identified the serious consequences that ambivalence can have for personal and relational well-being, very little is known …
Motives for security and sexual activity among single individuals at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic
Amidst a global pandemic, survival needs become salient and the ability of individuals to regulate feelings and actions might be particularly relevant to protecting themselves from harm. Drawing from Regulatory Focus Theory individuals who are more focused on prevention are also more likely to enact health-protective behaviours, including sexual health behaviours, because they are more aware of threats. Extending this reasoning to the COVID-19 pa…
Sexual Desire in the Time of Covid-19
Relationship difficulties and "technoference" during the Covid-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has touched many aspects of people's lives around the world, including their romantic relationships. While media outlets have reported that the pandemic is difficult for couples, empirical evidence is needed to test these claims and understand why this may be. In two highly powered studies ( N = 3271) using repeated measure and longitudinal approaches, we found that people who experienced COVID-19 related challenges (i.e., l…
A nice surprise
Romantic partners regularly encounter conflicts of interests and sacrifice their self-interest for their partner or the relationship. But is this relationship maintenance behavior always appreciated by the partner receiving the sacrifice? We examined whether expectations of sacrifices (i.e., beliefs that sacrifices are necessary, normal, and expected in relationships) predict people's appreciation for their partner and, ultimately, their relation…
A nice surprise
Romantic partners regularly encounter conflicts of interests and sacrifice their self-interest for their partner or the relationship. But is this relationship maintenance behavior always appreciated by the partner receiving the sacrifice? We examined whether expectations of sacrifices (i.e., beliefs that sacrifices are necessary, normal, and expected in relationships) predict people's appreciation for their partner and, ultimately, their relation…
Sexual Desire in the Time of Covid-19
Relationship difficulties and "technoference" during the Covid-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has touched many aspects of people's lives around the world, including their romantic relationships. While media outlets have reported that the pandemic is difficult for couples, empirical evidence is needed to test these claims and understand why this may be. In two highly powered studies ( N = 3271) using repeated measure and longitudinal approaches, we found that people who experienced COVID-19 related challenges (i.e., l…
Did relationship quality during the Covid-19 pandemic vary across cultural contexts
We examined whether the impact of the pandemic on couple relationships varied across cultural contexts. Following from studies showing better outcomes (lower disease risk, greater well-being) within cultures higher in tightness (having strong norms promoting conformity) or collectivism (vs. individualism), we predicted that tighter and more collectivistic contexts would be associated with better relationship functioning. Preregistered analyses us…
Investigating the social benefits of long-distance romantic relationships during the Covid-19 pandemic
Long-distance romantic relationships (LDRRs) are increasingly common, yet research directly comparing them to cohabitating romantic relationships (CRRs) remains limited. In this pre-registered study, we used a multinational, six-wave longitudinal dataset collected during the COVID-19 pandemic ( N observations = 1,772) and applied propensity score matching to compare LDRRs and CRRs on two core relational outcomes: conflict and passion. Drawing on …
Extraversion, social interactions, and well-being during the Covid-19 pandemic
A large body of research suggests that extraversion is positively related to well-being. However, it is unclear whether this association can be explained by social participation (i.e., more extraverted individuals engage in social interactions more frequently) or social reactivity (i.e., more extraverted individuals profit more from social interactions) processes. Here, we examined the role of social interactions for the extraversion-well-being r…
A nice surprise
Romantic partners regularly encounter conflicts of interests and sacrifice their self-interest for their partner or the relationship. But is this relationship maintenance behavior always appreciated by the partner receiving the sacrifice? We examined whether expectations of sacrifices (i.e., beliefs that sacrifices are necessary, normal, and expected in relationships) predict people's appreciation for their partner and, ultimately, their relation…
Security motives and negative affective experiences during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic
OBJECTIVE: Self-regulation can help individuals cope during stressful events, but little is known about why and when this might occur. We examined if being more focused on prevention was linked to negative affective experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also examined possible underlying mechanisms for this association, and whether social support buffered it. DESIGN: = 1269). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Regulatory focus and worry for health (T1)…
Mixed and conflicted
People in romantic relationships tend to have positive feelings toward their partner and want their relationship to last. However, maintaining a romantic relationship over time is challenging, and people can often experience mixed and conflicting feelings (i.e., ambivalence) toward their significant other. While research has identified the serious consequences that ambivalence can have for personal and relational well-being, very little is known …
Motives for security and sexual activity among single individuals at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic
Amidst a global pandemic, survival needs become salient and the ability of individuals to regulate feelings and actions might be particularly relevant to protecting themselves from harm. Drawing from Regulatory Focus Theory individuals who are more focused on prevention are also more likely to enact health-protective behaviours, including sexual health behaviours, because they are more aware of threats. Extending this reasoning to the COVID-19 pa…
Sexual Desire in the Time of Covid-19
Relationship difficulties and "technoference" during the Covid-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has touched many aspects of people's lives around the world, including their romantic relationships. While media outlets have reported that the pandemic is difficult for couples, empirical evidence is needed to test these claims and understand why this may be. In two highly powered studies ( N = 3271) using repeated measure and longitudinal approaches, we found that people who experienced COVID-19 related challenges (i.e., l…
Love in the Time of Covid
External stressors can erode relationship quality, though little is known about what can mitigate these effects. We examined whether COVID-related stressors were associated with lower relationship quality, and whether perceived partner responsiveness—the extent to which people believe their partner understands, validates, and cares for them—buffers these effects. When people in relationships reported more COVID-related stressors they reported poo…
Extraversion, social interactions, and well-being during the Covid-19 pandemic
A large body of research suggests that extraversion is positively related to well-being. However, it is unclear whether this association can be explained by social participation (i.e., more extraverted individuals engage in social interactions more frequently) or social reactivity (i.e., more extraverted individuals profit more from social interactions) processes. Here, we examined the role of social interactions for the extraversion-well-being r…
A Systematic Study of Ambivalence and Well-Being in Romantic Relationships
People in close relationships can, and often do, experience ambivalence (i.e., mixed feelings) toward their romantic partner. Although ambivalence is common and consequential, research on this phenomenon is fragmented. The present work examines how four different types of ambivalence (i.e., objective, subjective, implicit-explicit, and implicit ambivalence) relate to well-being. In four intensive studies ( N = 1,134) and internal meta-analyses, a…
It’s complicated
People often feel mixed and conflicting feelings (i.e., ambivalence) toward their romantic partner. So far, research has primarily shown that ambivalence is linked to negative outcomes in relationships, but is this always true? Building off the affect, behavior, cognition model of ambivalence, the present work tests the idea that, when ambivalent, individuals can experience both positive and negative cognitive and behavioral responses toward thei…
Mixed signals
Ambivalence (i.e., "mixed feelings") is a common and consequential experience in romantic relationships, but not much is known about which aspects of relationships are likely to elicit it. We investigated whether romantic jealousy (experienced by the individual and perceived in one's partner) is associated with stronger ambivalence toward the partner. Four studies ( N = 1,466; participants from the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Nethe…
Did relationship quality during the Covid-19 pandemic vary across cultural contexts
We examined whether the impact of the pandemic on couple relationships varied across cultural contexts. Following from studies showing better outcomes (lower disease risk, greater well-being) within cultures higher in tightness (having strong norms promoting conformity) or collectivism (vs. individualism), we predicted that tighter and more collectivistic contexts would be associated with better relationship functioning. Preregistered analyses us…
The Perks of Pet Ownership? The Effects of Pet Ownership on Well-Being During the Covid-19 Pandemic
Pet ownership has often been lauded as a protective factor for well-being, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. We expanded this question to consider how pet (i.e., species, number) and owner (i.e., pet relationship quality, personality, attachment orientations) characteristics affected the association between pet ownership and well-being in a pre-registered mixed method analysis of 767 people assessed three times in May 2020. In our qualit…
Systematic review and development of a comprehensive conceptualization of social gender affirmation for trans and gender diverse people
Social gender affirmation (SGA) plays a pivotal role in the well-being of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people, yet research on the topic remains fragmented and inconsistent. This systematic scoping review examines 61 studies to provide a cohesive understanding of how SGA is conceptualized, operationalized, and experienced across different contexts. We categorize existing literature into three main areas: theoretical and applied frameworks…
Loves me, loves me not
Romantic relationships can be rewarding and costly at the same time, making it no surprise that partners can often feel ambivalent (simultaneously positive and negative) feelings toward one another. Although research has shown that the individual who experiences ambivalence toward their romantic partner is likely to endure aversive effects, not much is known about how this ambivalence affects their partner, who is the target of the ambivalent fee…
Investigating the social benefits of long-distance romantic relationships during the Covid-19 pandemic
Long-distance romantic relationships (LDRRs) are increasingly common, yet research directly comparing them to cohabitating romantic relationships (CRRs) remains limited. In this pre-registered study, we used a multinational, six-wave longitudinal dataset collected during the COVID-19 pandemic ( N observations = 1,772) and applied propensity score matching to compare LDRRs and CRRs on two core relational outcomes: conflict and passion. Drawing on …
Just Not That Into You
Theoretical work has proposed that people can have four different patterns of interpersonal evaluations: mostly positive, mostly negative, ambivalent (both positive and negative), and indifferent (neither positive nor negative). Notably, indifference has been largely overlooked by empirical research, despite growing evidence that indifferent feelings can occur in romantic relationships. To address this gap, we examined the associations of feeling…
Does Romantic Involvement Benefit Everyone? Testing a Foundational Tenet in Relationship Science Through the Case of Asexuality
It is established that romantic relationships can benefit well-being and buffer against loneliness. But is that true for everyone? We put this foundational tenet of relationship science to the test by examining whether asexual people (i.e., people who generally do not experience sexual attraction and desire) benefit from romantic involvement. Results from the BBC Loneliness Experiment showed that, unlike heterosexual ( N = 36,464) and other sexua…
Psychology (15 works) · Social Psychology (15 works) · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics (13 works) · Developmental psychology (11 works) · Romance (9 works) · Social Psychology (8 works) · Pandemic (7 works) · Ambivalence (6 works) · Feeling (6 works) · Medicine (6 works)