Cross-sex friendships are a historical phenomenon, men and women's evolved mating strategies impinge on their friendship experiences.
Adult males reported more attraction to their friend than emerging adult females do, regardless of their current relationship status. Both emerging and middle-aged adult males and females nominated attraction to their cross-sex friend as a cost more often than as a benefit.
Younger and middle-aged women reported more attraction to a current cross-sex friend reported less satisfaction in their current romantic relationship.
Attraction in cross-sex friendship has both common and potential negative consequence for individuals long-term relationships.
