Daily Relationship Satisfaction Research Articles

Daily relationship satisfaction and markers of health: Findings from a smartphone-based assessment.

Relationship satisfaction is associated consistently with better physical and mental health. Less is known about these associations in daily life, particularly the association between relationship satisfaction and cognitive health. This study examined the daily, within-person association between relationship satisfaction and subjective health markers, including cognitive health. Participants from the United States (N = 303; Mage = 51.71, SD = 7.32) in the Couples Healthy Aging Project (CHAP) completed assessments of relationship satisfaction and health markers every night for eight days. Multilevel modeling was performed by accounting for personal (sex, age, race, education), relational (relationship duration), and contextual (day in the study, weekend day) factors. Within-person, on days when participants were more satisfied with their relationship, they felt healthier, younger, more satisfied with their life, and more purposeful. They also reported a sharper mind, better memory, and clearer thinking; relationship satisfaction was unrelated to whether participants were bothered and disrupted by forgetting. Results indicated that a satisfying romantic relationship is closely associated with better physical, psychological, and cognitive health markers in daily life.

Implications of daily world beliefs for relationship satisfaction: The role of positive relationship illusions

ABSTRACT The current research examined implications of day-to-day variability in beliefs about the world’s general goodness for daily relationship satisfaction and the mediating role of positive relationship illusions. In a dyadic daily diary study of romantic couples, participants were more satisfied with their relationships on days when they or their partner had more positive beliefs about the world. These effects were mediated by positive images of the partner. Participants had more positive images of their partner on days when they or their partner saw the world as a better place, which predicted their own and their partner’s greater satisfaction. Results suggest that, by shaping how people perceive their partners, positive world beliefs may promote satisfying relationships for both couple members.

Intergenerational Interactions and Relationship Quality: A Daily Study Among Mothers and Their Adult Children.

The parent-child relationship is one of the most long-lasting relationships in human life. Such relationship is particularly adaptive during public health emergencies that threaten human life. However, few studies have examined the effects of daily exchanges in support between aging parents and adult children on the relationship quality during public health emergencies. Using data collected during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, we examined the relationship between daily support and relationship quality among middle-aged and older mothers and adult children. Seventy-seven dyads of middle-aged and older mothers (age range: 44-80 years, Mage = 53.78, SDage = 9.57) and adult children (age range: 18-54 years, Mage = 26.61, SDage = 9.46) participated in the study. They reported their daily exchanges with the other (i.e., support they had received from and given to each other) and daily relationship quality (i.e., relationship satisfaction and trust) each day for 14 consecutive days. The perception of being underbenefited on Day N was associated with daily relationship satisfaction on the concurrent day in children but not mothers. It was associated with daily trust toward the relationship partner in both mothers and children on Day N. Both providing and receiving more support on Day N was associated with better relationship satisfaction for both mothers and children on Day N. Only receiving (not providing) more support on Day N was associated with greater trust toward the partner on Day N for both mothers and children. The time-lagged associations were not significant. The findings highlight the importance of daily reciprocity and daily support exchanges on relationship quality during a public health emergency.

Daily relationship satisfaction and depressed mood: The moderating roles of support satisfaction, over- and underprovision.

Research on the impact of romantic partner social support on depressed mood and relationship satisfaction focuses primarily on the discrepancies between actual and desired frequency of support behaviors, which are conceptualized as social support over- and underprovision. However, frequency counts of support behaviors neglect other potentially important qualities of those behaviors, such as whether the support behaviors, however frequent, are satisfying, or even occurring in relevant domains. In the present study, 62 opposite-sex couples completed daily online questionnaires to assess their depressed mood, relationship satisfaction, actual and desired frequency of emotional/esteem, informational, tangible, and physical support as well as satisfaction with their partner's support. Results of lagged, multilevel moderation analyses showed that satisfaction with prior-day informational, physical, and tangible support was associated with a greater decrease in relationship satisfaction if partners had reported an increase in prior-day depressive symptoms. In addition, overprovision of prior-day tangible support mitigated the negative impact of prior-day depressed mood on relationship satisfaction and vice versa. These results are consistent with prior research on the bidirectional nature of the association between depressed mood and relationship satisfaction, and clarify the role of frequency of and satisfaction with support behaviors in relationships. Recommendations for couples therapists working with depressed partners focus on emphasizing gradual changes in support behaviors to avoid overwhelming the partner reporting depressed mood and encouraging tangible support provision between partners who report depressed or relational distress. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Supplemental Material for Daily Relationship Satisfaction and Depressed Mood: The Moderating Roles of Support Satisfaction, Over- and Underprovision

Supplemental Material for Daily Relationship Satisfaction and Depressed Mood: The Moderating Roles of Support Satisfaction, Over- and Underprovision

Better together: The impact of exercising with a romantic partner

Many people have goals to increase their physical activity levels through engaging in exercise, but have difficulty establishing and maintaining an exercise routine. Research shows that people are more successful at exercising if they do so together with their romantic partner. In this study, we examined how exercising with a romantic partner may influence the experience of exercise itself, as well as people’s daily experiences. Specifically, we examined how joint exercise influences daily and exercise affect, daily relationship satisfaction, and amount of daily exercise. Young adults who were currently involved in a romantic relationship (N = 95) completed intake questionnaires and 14 daily reports of their exercise behavior, exercise and daily affect, and daily relationship satisfaction. Multilevel models showed that on days when people exercised with their romantic partner, they experienced higher positive affect during exercise, higher daily positive affect, and were more satisfied with their relationship compared to days when they exercised without their partner. No effects were found on daily and exercise negative affect, or amount of exercise. This study illustrates how exercising with a romantic partner may improve people’s experience of both exercising and their daily experiences, and may help provide a reason why people might be more successful at maintaining their exercise routine when they exercise together with their romantic partner.

Situation Perception Mediates the Link Between Narcissism and Relationship Satisfaction: Evidence From a Daily Diary Study in Romantic Couples

Research has shown that diverging romantic relationship outcomes of grandiose narcissism can be explained by differential associations of agentic and antagonistic aspects of narcissism. In this study, we wanted to further investigate the underlying mechanisms by examining how narcissists perceive daily situations with their partners. In an online diary, 171 couples reported on 1941 daily situations experienced together. Analyses revealed that agentic narcissism was positively and antagonistic narcissism was negatively related to daily relationship satisfaction. These effects were differentially linked through distinct situation perceptions: Agentic narcissism was positively linked with relationship satisfaction through perceiving daily situations as, for example, containing more romance, sexuality, and love, while antagonistic narcissism was negatively linked with relationship satisfaction through perceiving, for example, more threat, criticism, and accusation. Results are discussed in light of the Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Concept and with respect to person–situation transactions in romantic relationships.

Teen Dating Relationships: How Daily Disagreements are Associated with Relationship Satisfaction

Being in a satisfying romantic relationship in adolescence is associated to many short- and long-term benefits. However, more research is needed to better understand what promotes relationship satisfaction in adolescence. To address this gap, this study used a diary approach to examine the relation between disagreements and daily variations in adolescent romantic relationship satisfaction. A sample of 186 adolescents was recruited (Mage = 17.08 years, SD = 1.48; 56% female). Multilevel modeling was used to evaluate how disagreement occurrences, resolution, and resolution strategies were related to daily perceived relationship satisfaction at both the between- and within-subjects levels. At the within-subjects level, satisfaction was lower on days when a disagreement occurred, especially for girls. Adolescents also reported lower relationship satisfaction on days when they used more destructive strategies than usual, and higher relationship satisfaction on days when they successfully resolved disagreements. This study demonstrates that adolescents' evaluations of their daily relationship satisfaction vary as function of disagreement processes.

Broadening your horizon one day at a time: Relationship goals and exciting activities as daily antecedents of relational self-expansion

Self-expansion in intimate relationships (i.e., broadening one’s perspective through engaging in novel, exciting activities with a partner) has been associated with relationship benefits. The goal of this study was to propose a motivational model of self-expansion to understand what prompts people to engage in self-expanding activities in their relationship on a daily basis. We hypothesized that when people report stronger daily approach relationship goals (i.e., goals focused on pursuing growth, intimacy, and rewards), they would report a greater likelihood of engaging in novel, exciting activities that enhance self-expansion and ultimately promote greater satisfaction in romantic relationships. To test our model, we recruited 122 couples for a 3-week daily diary study. In support of our hypotheses, on days when people (or their partners) reported higher than their usual approach relationship goals, they reported higher relational self-expansion, which was due, in part, to a greater likelihood of engaging in novel, exciting activities with the partner. In turn, higher relational self-expansion was associated with higher daily relationship satisfaction. Our findings have implications for understanding what promotes relationship growth on a day-to-day basis and the outcomes of daily approach-oriented relationship goals.

Associations between young adult dating partners’ drinking and relationship satisfaction

ABSTRACTBackground: The link between drinking and relationship functioning is well documented among married couples, particularly by using survey methods of retrospective drinking focusing on negative relationship outcomes. However, few studies have examined the link between drinking in daily life and relationship satisfaction among young adult dating couples. Methods: This study used a 7-day daily diary method by drawing on dyadic data from 57 heterosexual couples. This study utilized the Actor–Partner Interdependence Model and dyadic hierarchical linear modeling. Results: Controlling for same day relationship satisfaction, a positive association was found between females’ number of alcoholic drinks and their own next-day relationship satisfaction. Males’ higher consumption of drinks across the study period was linked with their female partners’ lower daily relationship satisfaction ratings. Drinking behavior by either partner was not reliably linked with males’ relationship satisfaction. Conclusions: This study suggests differential implications of partners’ drinking for females in dating relationships. Findings encourage continued examination of young adult romantic relationships as a context for drinking behavior.

Do day-to-day finances play a role in relationship satisfaction? A dyadic investigation.

Prior researchers have found consistent links between financial issues and relationship outcomes. Yet, because most research is cross-sectional or examines these constructs over longer periods of time (e.g., years), the microlevel processes of how and when these changes occur are unclear. In the present study, we use interdependence theory as a guide to examine the daily fluctuations of financial satisfaction and stress as well as their daily associations with relationship quality in married and unmarried heterosexual couples. Using a dyadic 14-day daily diary research design, we found both financial satisfaction and stress demonstrated significant within-person fluctuations, with women demonstrating greater volatility in financial satisfaction than men. Given that individuals varied in their perceptions of financial satisfaction and stress from day to day, we then examined how these fluctuations were associated with daily relationship satisfaction. We expected financial satisfaction would be positively associated with relationship satisfaction for both actors and partners, whereas financial stress would be negatively associated for both actors and partners. Hypotheses were partially supported. Unmarried women's daily financial satisfaction was associated with increased relationship quality for both themselves (marginal) as well as their partners. An unexpected pattern for unmarried men's financial satisfaction was found; their increased financial satisfaction was associated with decreased relationship satisfaction. Increased financial stress was associated with decreased relationship satisfaction for unmarried men and married women (actor effects). We discuss implications for research and practice. (PsycINFO Database Record

Within-person variability in relationship satisfaction moderates partners' pain estimation in vulvodynia couples

Models of pain communication propose that the social environment contributes to partners' pain estimation. This study examined partners' pain estimation in vulvodynia, an idiopathic vulvovaginal pain condition that disrupts the sexuality and relationships of affected couples. Specifically, we investigated (1) the overall bias and tracking accuracy of male partners' perceptions of women's pain during intercourse and (2) the influence of men's within-person variability in relationship satisfaction on bias and accuracy. Sixty-nine women (mean age = 28.1, SD = 6.7) diagnosed with vulvodynia and their cohabiting male partners (mean age = 29.7, SD = 8.1) participated in an 8-week daily diary study. On sexual intercourse days (mean = 6.1, SD = 5.4), men reported their perception of women's pain during intercourse and women self-reported their pain. Men reported their daily relationship satisfaction on all diary days. Men's within-person variability in relationship satisfaction was represented by the SD of relationship satisfaction scores across all daily diaries. Results indicated that men's perceptions were both accurate in that they tracked changes in women's pain and biased in that they generally underestimated this pain. Men's variability in relationship satisfaction moderated tracking accuracy such that men with higher variability manifested lower tracking accuracy for women's pain. Men's higher variability in relationship satisfaction may interfere with their motivation to accurately infer their female partner's pain. Poorer pain estimation may impair men's ability to adjust their emotional and behavioral responses to women's pain, which may have negative consequences for the couples' coping with vulvodynia.

Relationship satisfaction moderates the associations between male partner responses and depression in women with vulvodynia: A dyadic daily experience study

Vulvodynia is a prevalent vulvovaginal pain condition that interferes with women’s psychological health. Given the central role of sexuality and relationships in vulvodynia, relationship satisfaction may be an important moderator of daily partner responses to this pain and associated negative sequelae, such as depression. Sixty-nine women (M age=28.12years, SD=6.68) with vulvodynia and their cohabiting partners (M age=29.67years, SD=8.10) reported their daily relationship satisfaction, and male partner responses on sexual intercourse days (M=3.74, SD=2.47) over 8weeks. Women also reported their depressive symptoms. Relationship satisfaction on the preceding day moderated the associations between partner responses and women’s depressive symptoms in several significant ways: (1) On days after women reported higher relationship satisfaction than usual, their perception of greater facilitative male partner responses was associated with their decreased depression; (2) on days after women reported lower relationship satisfaction than usual, their perception of greater negative male partner responses was associated with their increased depression; (3) on days after men reported higher relationship satisfaction than usual, their self-reported higher negative responses were associated with decreased women’s depression, and higher solicitous responses were associated with increased women’s depression, whereas (4) on days after men reported lower relationship satisfaction than usual, their self-reported higher negative responses were related to increased women’s depression, and higher solicitous responses were associated with decreased women’s depression. Targeting partner responses and relationship satisfaction may enhance the quality of interventions aimed at reducing depression in women with vulvodynia.

The Association Between Self-Concealment From One’s Partner and Relationship Well-Being

In two studies the authors examined whether self-concealment from one's partner is associated with lower relationship well-being. In Study 1, participants who were in a romantic relationship (N = 165) completed an online survey. Self-concealment from one's partner was associated with lower relationship satisfaction and commitment. Furthermore, results were consistent with this relationship being mediated by autonomy and relatedness needs. In Study 2, couples (N = 50) completed daily records for 14 consecutive days. Multilevel analyses indicated that daily self-concealment from one's partner was associated with daily relationship satisfaction, commitment, and conflict. Lagged analyses also showed that self-concealment from one's partner predicted lower relationship well-being on the following day. Moreover, results supported that thwarted basic needs mediated the association between daily self-concealment and relationship well-being. Finally, actor-partner interdependence model over time analyses indicated that, apart from one's own self-concealment, one's partner's self-concealment was associated negatively with one's own relationship well-being.

Attachment Orientations and Daily Condom Use in Dating Relationships

This daily experience study examined the roles of attachment orientations and daily relationship satisfaction in shaping daily condom use among college students in dating relationships. Seventy-five participants completed an initial measure of attachment orientation and then reported their relationship satisfaction and condom use each day for 14 consecutive days. The results showed that attachment anxiety was associated with less frequent use of condoms on a daily basis. Daily satisfaction was also associated with a decreased likelihood of using condoms, and this association was stronger for those high in attachment anxiety and mitigated for participants high in attachment avoidance. The associations between attachment orientations and daily condom use remained significant when controlling for important covariates including participant gender, use of another form of birth control, frequency of sex, and knowledge of a partner's sexual history. Implications for sexual risk-taking behaviors and future research using daily diary methods to study sexuality in intimate relationships are discussed.