Girlfriends are a woman's worst enemy when it comes to romance.

Confiding in your best friend during a rough patch in a relationship is more likely to hinder than help, according to a new study.

The researchers blamed jealousy on dissatisfied confidantes taking out their own relationship problems on other couples.

Rather than be a shoulder-to-cry-on, members of the same sex can add to the problems with their meddling.

Women who poured their heart out to a girlfriend, instead of to a partner, were a third more likely to break-up.

Rather than be a shoulder-to-cry-on, members of the same sex can add to the problems with their meddling. Women who poured their heart out to a girlfriend, instead of to a partner, were a third more likely to break-up. Stock image

The report, whose lead author is family therapist Dr Jakob Jensen, of East Carolina University, said: 'Maintaining romantic relationships over time is a critical part of successful romantic encounters.

'Unfortunately, our findings suggest that turning away from the partner to a friend may only exacerbate relationship problems and contribute to romantic instability.

'Sharing of romantic problems within a social network appears to have the potential to negatively impact.

'Our findings clarify how adult females share their romantic challenges with partners and friends over time and the romantic impact of doing so.'

Women are more likely to share the ups-and-downs of new relationships, confiding in their friends and shortcomings, the study said.

But it can have its drawbacks as friends may only see a friends's boyfriend in the negative.

For the two-year long study 67 women, in their 20s, were asked about their romantic relationships, problems within them, and who they choose to discuss them with - their partner or the best friend.

They found that sharing concerns with a friend increased the odds of a break-up by 33 per cent.

But talking it out with a lover doubled the chances of them staying together.

'Frequent relationship work with partners was linked with greater romantic stability, whereas frequent relationship work with friends predicted instability,' the report said.

Confiding in your best friend during a rough patch in a relationship is more likely to hinder than help, according to a new study. The researchers blamed jealousy on dissatisfied confidantes taking out their own relationship problems on other couples. Stock image

'Results suggest that discussing romantic challenges with one's partner likely has a positive impact both immediately and over time.'

'Many people actively involve their friends when faced with romantic problems by sharing these problems with them,' the report warned.

'This strategy is understandable, as overcoming romantic challenges begins with the ability to openly discuss problems. .

'[However], avoiding these discussions of romantic issues with a partner is linked with lower perceptions of romantic closeness and poorer romantic well-being.'

The report said girlfriends who may have a negative attitude to their best friend's partner might be feeling jealous if they have problems too - wanting to share their own misery.

'Individuals experiencing romantic challenges who breakup may influence not only their friends but also their friends' friends as the propensity to end the relationship spreads.'

Turning to a best friend for advice, rather than a boyfriend may be an early warning sign that a relationship is heading for the rocks.

'Do young women turn to friends when their relationship is troubled or does turning to friends lead to relationship problems?

'Individuals who display poorer conflict resolution skills have also been found to possess undesirable individual traits - less empathy and more neuroticism; partners may more readily turn away from such persons when dealing with a romantic problems.'