Abstract
AbstractA growing body of literature suggests that specific markers of relationship quality are meaningfully linked to health outcomes. We tested whether relational self‐expansion potential might be one of these markers in cross‐sectional samples of individuals and romantic couples. Study 1 found that greater self‐expansion potential was linked to better perceived physical health via both higher positive affect (PA) and lower negative affect (NA). Study 2 replicated these findings for PA (but not NA) and revealed both actor and partner effects of self‐expansion potential. Results remained robust when statistically accounting for gender, age, body mass index, agreeableness, neuroticism, and perceived partner responsiveness. These findings identify a new relationship‐level “active ingredient” associated with health and have implications for future physical health studies.
Highlights
The quality of individuals' relationships is an important predictor of short- and long-term health outcomes (Holt-Lunstad, Smith, & Layton, 2010; Kiecolt-Glaser & Newton, 2001; Robles, Slatcher, Trombello, & McGinn, 2014)
The purpose of the present research was to investigate if relational self-expansion potential may serve as an additional facet of relationship quality that plays a role within the health domain via its links to affect
The parent project includes both a sample of romantically involved individuals and a sample of romantic couples drawn from the general U.S population, who completed the same series of questionnaires in one online session
Summary
The quality of individuals' relationships is an important predictor of short- and long-term health outcomes (Holt-Lunstad, Smith, & Layton, 2010; Kiecolt-Glaser & Newton, 2001; Robles, Slatcher, Trombello, & McGinn, 2014). Theoretical models of relationships and health propose that specific elements of relationship quality should be linked to health outcomes via mediating biological, behavioral, or psychological processes (e.g., Kiecolt-Glaser & Newton, 2001; Slatcher & Selcuk, 2017). The purpose of the present research was to investigate if relational self-expansion potential (i.e., partners' beliefs that their relationship will offer them opportunities to grow in the future) may serve as an additional facet of relationship quality that plays a role within the health domain via its links to affect. We sought to demonstrate initial evidence for the links between self-expansion potential, positive and negative affect (PA and NA), and perceived physical health in a cross-sectional study of romantically involved individuals and a second cross-sectional study of romantic couples
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