Higher Levels Of Relationship Satisfaction Research Articles

Sexual Sanctification and Relationship Satisfaction in Black Heterosexual Couples

This study examines dyadic data from 299 married and 242 cohabiting Black heterosexual couples in the United States (an understudied cross-section of the population) and assesses individual (actor) effects as well as couple (partner) effects of sexual sanctification and relationship satisfaction. Higher levels of sexual sanctification were associated with higher levels of relationship satisfaction for women and men in the actor effects, but no significant associations were found in the partner effects for couples. Additionally, initial findings suggest that sexual sanctification may act as a relational protective factor for Black married and cohabiting couples. Implications for further research as well as practical applications for clergy, therapists, and practitioners working with Black heterosexual couples in sexual relationships are also discussed.

Relationship satisfaction, feelings of closeness and annoyance, and linkage in electrodermal activity.

Physiological linkage refers to moment-to-moment, time-linked coordination in physiological responses among people in close relationships. Although people in romantic relationships have been shown to evidence linkage in their physiological responses over time, it is still unclear how patterns of covariation relate to in-the-moment, as well as general levels of, relationship functioning. In the present study with data collected between 2014 and 2017, we capture linkage in electrodermal activity (EDA) in a diverse sample of young-adult couples, generally representative and generalizable to the Los Angeles community from which we sampled. We test how naturally occurring, shifting feelings of closeness with and annoyance toward one's partner relate to concurrent changes in levels of physiological linkage over the course of 1 day. Additionally, we examine how linkage relates to overall relationship satisfaction. Results showed that couples evidenced significant covariation in their levels of physiological arousal in daily life. Further, physiological linkage increased during hours that participants felt close to their romantic partners but not during hours that participants felt annoyed with their partners. Finally, those participants with overall higher levels of relationship satisfaction showed lower levels of linkage over the day of data collection. These findings highlight how individuals respond in sync with their romantic partners and how this process ebbs and flows in conjunction with the shifting emotional tone of their relationships. The discussion focuses on how linkage might enhance closeness or, alternatively, contribute to conflict escalation and the potential of linkage processes to promote positive interpersonal relationships. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Romantic Attachment, Relationship Satisfaction, Internalized Sexual Stigma, and Motives for Parenthood in Italian Lesbian Women and Gay Men.

This study examines romantic attachment, internalized sexual stigma, relationship satisfaction, and motives for parenthood in a sample of 313 Italian lesbian women (47.9%) and gay men (52.1%) aged 18-71 years (M = 36.2; SD = 11.9) and in same-sex relationships. The following hypotheses were tested: that romantic attachment is positively correlated with internalized stigma and motives to not have children, while it is negatively correlated with relationship satisfaction; that relationship satisfaction is negatively correlated with internalized stigma and motives for parenthood; that internalized stigma is negatively correlated with motives for parenthood; and that relationship satisfaction mediates the relationships between romantic attachment and motives for parenthood and between internalized stigma and motives for parenthood. The results strongly support the hypotheses. Furthermore, the results indicate that the lesbian participants reported lower levels of avoidance and internalized stigma and higher levels of relationship satisfaction and motives to not have children, and the participants in civil unions reported lower levels of anxiety and internalized stigma and higher levels of relationship satisfaction and motives to not have children. Taken together, our findings contribute to the growing body of research on LG parenthood and may inform social policy and psychological support for LG individuals pursuing parenthood.

Associations of Lesbian and Gay Identity with Relationship Status and Satisfaction

ABSTRACT Based on a multifactorial sexual orientation identity model, this study examined how lesbian and gay (LG) identity formation is associated with relationship status and relationship satisfaction. Data stem from a sample of 1,190 LG individuals (18–40 years; 47% female). Using a variable-centered approach, LG identity formation, as indicated by eight factors, was unrelated to relationship status (60% were in a relationship) but substantially related to relationship satisfaction. The correlation pattern, however, was complex. The picture was clearer when using a person-centered approach. Two profiles were identified, indicating affirmed versus struggling LG identities. Participants classified as affirmed identities were more than twice as likely to be in a relationship, and those in a relationship reported substantially higher levels of relationship satisfaction.

Does Sex Matter? The Role of Sexual and Relationship Satisfaction on Living Apart Together Relationship Transitions

There is limited understanding of how the aspects of sex and relationship quality are related to decisions on whether to move in together, separate or continue dating among living-apart together (LAT) couples. This paper focuses on sexual and relationship satisfaction in understanding LAT relationship transitions into coresidence or separation in Germany. The longitudinal prospective design of the German Panel Analysis of Intimate Relationships and Family Dynamics data (pairfam, waves 1-9) is used. Discrete-time competing risk hazard models on LAT relationship outcomes to coresidence or separation are estimated. The results underline the fact that sexual satisfaction is not related to LAT partners’ decision to move in together; however, higher levels of relationship satisfaction are positively related to the decision of moving in with a partner. The models reveal that low sexual and relationship satisfaction are associated with breaking-up relative to still living apart. This study highlights the importance of considering sexual satisfaction in understanding better the risk of separation from a LAT partner, in addition to the global indicator of relationship satisfaction.

Similarity and Contact Frequency Promote Mentorship Quality among Hispanic Undergraduates in STEM.

Mentoring relationships can be important for promoting the success and persistence of undergraduates, particularly for students from historically underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. While mentoring is often cited as important for attracting and retaining students from underrepresented groups in STEM, little is known about the differential mentoring processes that can result from similar and dissimilar mentor–protégé pairs. The present study tests the process-oriented mentorship model (POMM) regarding how mentor–protégé similarities and the moderating role of contact frequency influence mentorship quality and STEM research career persistence intentions among faculty-mentored Hispanic STEM majors in their senior year of college. The results indicate that mentor–protégé similarity matters. Specifically, higher levels of mentor–protégé psychological similarity were related to higher levels of psychosocial support and relationship satisfaction. Hispanic students with a Hispanic faculty mentor reported engaging in more coauthoring opportunities than peers with non-Hispanic mentors. Among those with higher contact frequency, students with same-gender mentors had higher levels of relationship satisfaction than peers with different-gender mentors; however, there were no differences among those with low contact frequency. Additionally, protégés who reported coauthoring support were more likely to also report commitment to pursuing a STEM research career.

Relationship quality and support for family policy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ObjectiveWe examined how relationship satisfaction changed during the coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic, as well as how relationship satisfaction related to public policy support.BackgroundConservation of resources (COR) theory suggests that societal‐level stressors (such as a global pandemic) threaten familial and individual resources, straining couple relationships. Relationship satisfaction is in turn linked with important individual, familial, and societal outcomes, necessitating research on how COVID‐19 impacted this facet of relationships.MethodDrawing from an international project on COVID‐19 and family life, participants included 734 married and cohabiting American parents of children under 18 years of age.ResultsFindings revealed relationship satisfaction declined moderately compared to retrospective reports of relationship satisfaction prior to the pandemic. This decline was more precipitous for White individuals, women, parents less involved in their children's lives, and those reporting higher levels of depressive symptoms. We also found that higher relationship satisfaction was associated with higher levels of support for family policy, particularly for men. At higher levels of relationship satisfaction, men and women had similarly high levels of support for family policy, while at lower levels, women's support for family policy was significantly higher.ConclusionThe COVID‐19 pandemic likely amplified facets of social inequality, which is especially concerning when considering the large socioeconomic gaps prior to the pandemic.ImplicationsTherapists, researchers, and policy makers should examine how relationship satisfaction may have changed during the pandemic because relationship satisfaction is linked to child and adult well‐being and relationship dissolution. Further, the link between relationship satisfaction and support for family policy deserves further scrutiny.

A dyadic analysis of relationship satisfaction and depressive symptoms among same-sex couples.

Sexual minority individuals experience depression at a disproportionately higher rate than their heterosexual peers. One predictor of depression is low romantic relationship satisfaction, and research on different-sex couples demonstrates that one's own and one's partner's levels of relationship satisfaction are negatively associated with one's own level of depressive symptoms (i.e., actor and partner effects, respectively). However, little research has explored partner effects of relationship satisfaction on depression in same-sex couples. Furthermore, little is known regarding the degree to which relationship satisfaction is associated with depression in same-sex couples, over and above their shared association with demographic characteristics and internalized heterosexism, a known correlate of both relationship satisfaction and depression. This study examined cross-sectional actor and partner effects of relationship satisfaction on depressive symptoms in a sample of 102 same-sex couples (68 female), and evaluated whether these effects were significant when adjusting for sex, relationship length, and internalized heterosexism. Multilevel analyses were conducted to estimate actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) effects for indistinguishable dyads. Results indicated that (a) there were statistically significant actor and partner effects for relationship satisfaction on depressive symptoms, such that higher levels of relationship satisfaction were associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms and (b) actor and partner effects for relationship satisfaction remained statistically significant when adjusting for sex, relationship length, and actor and partner effects for internalized heterosexism. Furthermore, there were statistically significant actor (but not partner) effects for internalized heterosexism on depressive symptoms, such that higher levels of internalized heterosexism were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Are there "Better" and "Worse" Ways to be Consensually Non-Monogamous (CNM)?: CNM Types and CNM-Specific Predictors of Dyadic Adjustment.

Research on consensual non-monogamy (CNM) has largely been restricted to comparisons between monogamous and CNM people, with researchers paying little attention to various CNM styles. The current research elucidated differences among three styles of CNM: open relationships, polyamory, and swinging. Across three studies, we demonstrated that people in polyamorous or swinger-style relationships have higher levels of relationship satisfaction and other relational outcomes (e.g., passionate love, trust) than those in open relationships. That is, people in open relationships consistently fared more poorly in their relational outcomes than those in other types of CNM relationships. In Studies 4 and 5, we isolated some of the reasons for these differences. We found that differences in relational outcomes between open-style and other styles of CNM dissipated when controlling for (a) couples' approach to communication, (b) extrinsic versus intrinsic motivations for participating in CNM, (c) adherence to pro-monogamy beliefs and (d) degree of contact with one's partner's partners ("metamours"). Thus, CNM-specific relational dynamics are associated with dyadic adjustment in these relationships.

Adult Attachment, Differentiation of Self, and Relationship Satisfaction in Lesbians and Gay Men

We examined adult attachment styles, differentiation of self, and relationship satisfaction in a sample of 298 Italian lesbians (48%) and gay men (52%), all of whom were ages 19–71 years (M = 36.1; SD = 11.8) and in a couple relationship for at least six months. Participants were recruited via the Internet and completed a web-based survey. We tested the hypotheses that attachment insecurity and differentiation of self would predict relationship satisfaction, as well as that differentiation of self would mediate the relationship between adult attachment and relationship satisfaction. Results supported the hypotheses, thus indicating that attachment insecurity and differentiation of self were correlated with and predicted relationship satisfaction. Furthermore, results supported the hypothesized mediating role of differentiation of self. Finally, results indicated that younger participants, lesbians, and participants in civil unions reported higher levels of relationship satisfaction. Implications for counselors and therapists working with LG populations are discussed.

The stories couples live by

Within social and personality psychology, researchers interested in narrative and storytelling have most often considered participants’ life stories, or narrative identities. This focus has led to the construction of the “narrative identity approach,” a conceptual and empirical paradigm tailored to assessing participants’ storied sense of self. Narrative processing is a common route by which individuals understand not only themselves, their lives, and variety of social phenomena, including their romantic relationships. As such, we argue on behalf of the application of the narrative identity approach to the study of romantic relationships. In this paper, an overview of the theoretical and methodological components of this approach is presented. This is followed by a summary of a preliminary study piloting a method for assessing the story-based identity couple members have constructed about their current romantic relationships. Twenty female-male couples completed an interview assessing the story of their romantic relationships. These interviews were administered individually, such that each couple member provided his or her stories separately and privately. Associations between the affective features of these stories, attachment styles, and relationship satisfaction are explored. Those who disclosed affectively positive stories tended to report lower levels of avoidant attachment and higher levels of relationship satisfaction. The narrative identity approach represents a noteworthy resource for relationship researchers that will be useful for future research on romantic relationships.

Negative Partner Attributions Moderate the Association between Heart Rate Reactivity During Relationship Conflict and Relationship Satisfaction

Numerous theoretical models of relationship distress suggest that strong, negative reactions to conflict are directly associated with lower levels of relationship satisfaction. Consistent with this supposition, substantial evidence links higher levels of subjective negative emotion, more pronounced and frequent expressions of negative affect, and higher levels of negative communication behaviors to lower levels of relationship satisfaction (e.g., Bradbury, Fincham, & Beach, 2000, Journal of Marriage and Family, 62(4), 964). However, the evidence linking stress-related physiological responding during relationship conflict and relationship satisfaction is less compelling than would be anticipated based on theory. We propose that these theoretically unexpected but empirically well-replicated findings may be the result of different patterns in association between physiological reactivity and relationship satisfaction for couples with varying styles in how they typically perceive unwanted behavior in one another. The present study tests negative attributions for undesirable partner behaviors as a moderator of the association between heart rate reactivity (HRR) during relationship conflict and relationship satisfaction in a sample of 60 married couples. A significant interaction emerged between HRR and negative attributions of partner behavior in predicting relationship satisfaction such that higher levels of HRR were associated with lower levels of relationship satisfaction for individuals who typically made more negative attributions for undesirable partner behaviors, but with higher levels of relationship satisfaction for individuals who typically made fewer negative attributions for undesirable partner behaviors. Implications for conceptualizing reactivity during relationship conflict and couple interventions are discussed.

Having a Baby: Impact on Married and Cohabiting Parents' Relationships.

The current study evaluates the effects of having a baby on relationship quality and stability, contrasting married and unmarried cohabiting parents (N=179; 38% unmarried cohabiting). Participants provided several waves of data, including time points before, during, and after pregnancy. Results indicated that cohabiting parents broke up at a significantly higher rate after having a baby compared to married parents. In terms of relationship quality, interrupted time-series analyses indicated that negative communication significantly increased after baby regardless of marital status. In addition, married parents had significantly higher levels of relationship satisfaction and commitment before baby compared to cohabiting parents but experienced modest declines in relationship satisfaction after baby. Cohabiting parents did not show such declines but remained lower in satisfaction throughout the study. Gender moderated commitment trajectories, such that married and cohabiting women demonstrated decreased commitment after baby, but married and cohabiting men demonstrated no significant changes in commitment. This study adds to the literature by examining both relationship stability and relationship quality trajectories from before pregnancy to after the birth of a baby among married and cohabiting parents in the same sample. Implications of these findings for practice and future research are discussed.

Lesbian and Gay Relationship Satisfaction Among Italians: Adult Attachment, Social Support, and Internalized Stigma.

We examined adult attachment styles, perceived social support, internalized stigma, and relationship satisfaction in a sample of 305 lesbians (48.2%) and gay men (51.8%), ages 19-72years (M = 36.4; SD = 11.8), and in a same-sex relationship for at least 6months. Participants were recruited via the Internet and completed a web-based survey. We tested the hypotheses that attachment styles, perceived social support, and internalized stigma predicted relationship satisfaction, as well as that perceived social support would be correlated with internalized stigma. Results strongly supported the hypotheses, thus indicating that attachment styles, perceived support, and internalized stigma were negatively correlated with and predicted relationship satisfaction and that perceived social support was negatively correlated with internalized stigma. Furthermore, results indicated that lesbian participants had lower levels of anxious attachment style and reported higher levels of relationship satisfaction and lower levels of internalized stigma. Finally, results indicated that in the lesbian subsample, conservative political orientation and religious beliefs were correlated with higher levels of internalized stigma; participants coming from central Italy reported higher levels of perceived social support; and participants in civil unions reported higher levels of perceived social support and relationship satisfaction, and lower levels of internalized stigma. Implications for counselors and therapists working with lesbian and gay populations are discussed.

The Influence of Prayer and Family Worship on Relationship Functioning among Married Adults in the Caribbean and Latin American

Religion and its practice have been found to significantly influence marital satisfaction and quality. However, there is a paucity of research that has explored these relationships among married adults living in the Caribbean and Latin America. This study examines the influence of prayer and family worship on relationship satisfaction, emotional attunement, conflict resolution and belief in traditional gender roles among Christian Caribbean and Latin American married adults. Data were gathered from 3997 Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) adults in the Caribbean and Latin America. Hierarchical multiple regression (HMR) analyses were conducted to evaluate the associations between religious practices (personal prayer, family worship, church attendance, and bible study) and relationship outcomes (relationship satisfaction, emotional attunement, conflict resolution, beliefs in traditional roles) independent of gender and level of education. The results suggest that married adults who spend more time in habitual prayer and at least weekly family worship experience higher levels of relationship satisfaction, emotional attunement and satisfaction with how conflicts were resolved. Additionally, married adults who were more likely to have a daily prayer life also reported having more egalitarian beliefs about roles and responsibilities in their relationships. These findings highlight the significant influence prayer and family worship have on relationship satisfaction and functioning.

Positive Communication and Partner Appraisals Among Mothers and Their Long-Term Male Partners: Impact on Sexual and Relationship Satisfaction

Parents in the USA struggle to maintain their sexual and relational health over time. The current study aimed to investigate the impact of positive communication and partner appraisals on sexual and relationship satisfaction in a sample of 93 mixed sex couples (N = 186) with children living in the home on a full-time basis. Results indicated that for men and women, positive communication scores predicted higher levels of sexual and relationship satisfaction and more positive partner appraisals predicted higher levels of relationship satisfaction. Significant results were also found at the couple-level. Findings have clinical and educational implications for parents.

Gay and lesbian couples’ relationship quality: Italian validation of the Gay and Lesbian Relationship Satisfaction Scale (GLRSS)

This study examines the psychometric properties of the Italian Gay and Lesbian Relationship Satisfaction Scale (GLRSS) in a sample of 305 Italian lesbians (48.2%) and gay men (51.8%), aged 19–72 yrs (M = 36.4, SD = 11.9). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis showed the expected bi-factorial structure and a close correlation between factors and scale. Internal consistency was satisfactory. Correlations with the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) and with the Measure for Internalized Sexual Stigma for Lesbians and Gay men (MISS-LG) were consistent with theoretical relationships within construct and between constructs. Lesbians, younger people, and participants in civil unions showed higher levels of relationship satisfaction, while participants in long-term relationships, as well as in civil unions, showed higher levels of perceived social support.

82-LB: In the Eye of the Beholder? Communication in Couples Coping with Type 1 Diabetes

A growing body of work highlights the need to better understand modifiable relationship processes in couples coping with chronic health conditions. The current study examines associations between couple communication during discussions about type 1 diabetes (T1D) and the relationship and psychological health outcomes of persons with T1D and their partners. Adults with T1D and their partners (N = 398 individuals [199 couples]) completed measures of relationship satisfaction and depressive symptoms. Couples then participated in an 8-min video-recorded discussion about an area of concern related to T1D. Following the discussion, persons with T1D and their partners each completed paper-and-pencil measures of communication. A team of 7 observers subsequently rated communication from the video-recordings. Paper-and-pencil and observer ratings were associated across aspects of communication. We hypothesized that (1) greater destructive communication (e.g., criticism) would be associated with poorer outcomes (i.e., lower levels of relationship satisfaction and higher levels of depressive symptoms), and (2) greater constructive communication (e.g., positivity/warmth) would be associated with superior outcomes (i.e., higher levels of relationship satisfaction and lower levels of depressive symptoms). Data were analyzed with a series of multilevel models in HLM, with both paper-and-pencil and observer measures included as predictors in each model. Consistent with hypotheses, paper-and-pencil measures of communication were generally uniquely associated with adjustment in expected directions. Contrary to hypotheses, observer ratings of communication were not uniquely associated with outcomes when modeled in concert with paper-and-pencil measures of communication. Understanding how persons with T1D and their partners perceive communication around diabetes provides a window into their individual and relationship well-being. Disclosure K.J.W. Baucom: None. V. Helgeson: None. C. Berg: None. Funding National Institutes of Health

Dyad to triad: A longitudinal analysis of humor and pregnancy intention during the transition to parenthood

The transition to parenthood is a stressful life event that often leads to decreases in relationship satisfaction over time. Guided by the Stress Buffering Model, we examined how pregnancy intention and humor use are associated with relationship satisfaction across the transition to parenthood using a multi-wave longitudinal design. First-time parents were initially assessed prenatally and then every 6-month postpartum for 2 years. Six months after birth, each couple was video-recorded engaging in two support discussions where each partner’s use of different humor styles was observed and rated. The results revealed a positive association between affiliative humor use (assessed at 6-month postpartum) and relationship satisfaction (assessed across the entire transition) for men and women. For men only, there was an interaction between pregnancy intention (assessed prenatally) and aggressive humor use (assessed 6-month postpartum). Specifically, when the pregnancy was unplanned, men who displayed higher levels of aggressive humor at 6-month postpartum reported higher overall relationship satisfaction. There also was a significant interaction between men’s (but not women’s) affiliative humor use and pregnancy intention, such that when men reported an unplanned pregnancy, their greater use of affiliative humor buffered declines in their relationship satisfaction. These findings suggest that, for men, greater use of affiliative humor appears to forestall declines in their relationship satisfaction. More broadly, different forms of humor may promote or sustain higher levels of relationship satisfaction in men across the chronically stressful transition to parenthood because they serve key communicative functions.

The pervasive role of sex mindset: Beliefs about the malleability of sexual life is linked to higher levels of relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction and lower levels of problematic pornography use

The present two-study research examined the link between problematic pornography consumption, relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction by considering malleability beliefs about sexual life. In Study 1, the Sex Mindset Scale was created which measures beliefs about the changeability of sexual life. Exploratory Factor Analyses (N1=755) indicated a one-factor structure, Confirmatory Factor Analyses (N2=769) consolidated the previously established factor structure and the measure was reliable. In Study 2 (N3=10,463), structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to explore the associations between gender, sex mindset, problematic pornography use, relationship and sexual satisfaction. The examined model showed that growth sex mindset had moderate positive association with sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction while problematic pornography use only showed a negative, but weak one. According to the present results, beliefs about the malleability of sexual life play a more important role in relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction than problematic pornography use. Moreover, sex mindset was negatively associated with problematic pornography use indicating that growth sex mindset can reduce the extent of problematic pornography consumption. In sum, sex mindset can be considered as an underlying pervasive sexuality-related implicit theory that can influence the individual's topic-relevant thinking and behavior through different pathways.