Equity and Interdependence as Predictors of Relational Maintenance Strategies

Abstract

This article continues a research program on relational maintenance strategies used in marriage. In particular, we explore how equity and satisfaction, defined in terms of interdependence theory, individually and jointly are predictive of self-reported maintenance strategies. The rationale for the study is based on previous programmatic efforts, as well as a critique of these efforts. Over 200 married couples completed measures of equity, satisfaction, and self-reported maintenance strategies of positivity, openness, assurances, social networks, and sharing tasks. Findings reveal that satisfaction tends to be highest for spouses who perceive their relationships to be equitable, followed by overbenefited partners, followed by underbenefited partners (a curvilinear association, predicted by equity theory). Moreover, wife-defined equity predicted both wife and husband maintenance behaviors in the same inverted curvilinear pattern. The predicted curvilinear trend held only for women-defined equity groups, not men's, in this sample, aside from the use of tasks, which did follow the predicted curvilinear patterns. Also, support for an equity framework was found, as underbenefited husbands reported significantly lower levels of 3 of the 5 maintenance behaviors than did equitable or overbenefited husbands. Finally, using women's reports, the combination of equity and satisfaction was a more powerful predictor of maintenance behavior than either of these constructs alone.