Romantic Relationship Outcomes Research Articles

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.

A daily-diary study on the effects of face-to-face communication, texting, and their interplay on understanding and relationship satisfaction

There is conflicting literature regarding the associations between CMC communication (especially texting) and relationship outcomes in established romantic relationships. These discrepancies could be in part because of differences and imperfections in the methodology of earlier studies, which often study CMC in isolation from other forms of communication. To address this gap in the literature, we used a daily-diary study, in which we asked people to report on the time they spent in phone calls, video calls, and texting with their partner, as well as the time they spent face-to-face with their partners. Each day we also asked participants the extent to which they felt understood by their partner and satisfied with their relationships. Results of our multilevel analyses indicated that the more face-to-face communication participants had with their partners, the more understood they felt and the more satisfied they were with their relationship. Texting, by contrast, did not predict relationship satisfaction. Texting was positively associated with understanding, but only when face-to-face communication was relatively low. These findings differ from those found in cross-sectional studies and suggest that texting should be investigated in concert with other forms of communication, especially face-to-face communication.

Avoiding information about one’s romantic partner

Research links open communication and self-disclosure to a host of beneficial outcomes in romantic relationships, including better relationship quality, relationship satisfaction, feelings of closeness and commitment, and relationship longevity. However, learning some information about a partner may evoke negative consequences. In two studies, we examined the types of information people may wish to avoid learning about their past or current romantic partners (Study 1), and individual differences in avoidance of information about a current romantic partner (Study 2). Content-coding of data from Study 1 revealed that a majority (51%) of respondents wished to avoid information related to their partner’s history of sexual behavior and/or infidelity. In Study 2, participants who were older and who scored higher on measures of anxious and avoidant attachment were more likely to want to avoid information about their partner. Furthermore, replicating and extending Study 1, participants most wished to avoid information about their partners’ prior sexual behavior and/or infidelity, as well as their partners’ prejudices. We interpret our findings in terms of a threat-management framework for information avoidance, suggesting that threats to the self and relationship may influence the decision to avoid information about a romantic partner.

Interdependence of Approach and Avoidance Goals in Romantic Couples Over Days and Months.

Despite the centrality of people's approach goals (i.e., approach toward positive outcomes) and avoidance goals (i.e., avoidance of negative outcomes) in romantic relationships, little is known about the interdependence of approach and avoidance relationship goals between partners. Assuming that short-term, state-level goals accumulate into general goal tendencies, the present research tested whether partners' daily (i.e., state level) and aggregated daily (i.e., trait level) approach and avoidance goals are mutually predictive in the short term (after one day) and the long term (after 10-12 months). In addition, we explored whether goal interdependence unfolds differently across adulthood and in relationships of different duration. Approach and avoidance goals were assessed daily on two 14-day measurement-burst occasions that were conducted 10-12 months apart. The sample consisted of N = 456 female-male couples (age: M = 33.6, SD = 13.8 years; relationship duration: M = 9.6, SD = 10.7 years). We observed significant short- and long-term partner effects in the prediction of couple members' approach and avoidance goals. These partner effects were restricted to trait level and they did not emerge at the state level. Almost all effects were independent of age and relationship duration. The present research underscores the importance of disentangling state- and trait-level goal tendencies when investigating the interdependence of approach and avoidance goals within romantic relationships.

Mindfulness and Romantic Relationship Outcomes: the Mediating Role of Conflict Resolution Styles and Closeness

ObjectivesThe association of mindfulness and romantic relationship outcomes such as partnership quality and satisfaction is well-established; however, the mechanisms of action are not yet clear. The current study tested conflict resolution styles and closeness as possible mediating factors. We hypothesized that trait mindfulness would increase the use of constructive conflict resolution styles (positive problem solving), decrease the use of destructive styles (conflict engagement, withdrawal, and compliance), and promote feelings of closeness between partners, which in turn would predict positive relationship outcomes (namely partnership quality, partnership satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction).MethodsA total of 209 individuals (86% German, 76% female, mean age = 32 years) living in a relationship (31% married) participated in an online questionnaire.ResultsMediation analyses revealed that positive problem solving mediated the association between mindfulness and partnership quality with b = .09 (95% CI = .03–.17), mindfulness and partnership satisfaction with b = .07 (95% CI = .02–.13), and mindfulness and sexual satisfaction with b = .04 (95% CI = .00–.10). Furthermore, a mediating role of withdrawal and closeness was shown for individual relationship outcomes.ConclusionsFindings suggest that more positive problem solving, less withdrawal, and more closeness are mechanisms by which mindfulness is associated with positive relationship outcomes. The results of our study thus broaden our understanding of the processes that underlie fulfilling romantic relationships and, in turn, underline the positive effects of mindfulness.

Romantic Relationships and Sexual Behavior Among Adolescents With ADHD

Objective: Both qualitative and quantitative analyses were used to (a) describe the romantic and sexual relationships of adolescents with ADHD and (b) examine how ADHD-related impairments (e.g., social skill deficits and emotion dysregulation [ED]) are associated with romantic relationship outcomes in this group. Method: Adolescents with ADHD (N = 171; 80% male; 70% White) responded to questions about their romantic and sexual relationship experiences and ED. Parents provided ratings of ADHD symptoms, ED, and social skills. Results: Adolescents with ADHD reported high rates of romantic relationship turnover and low rates of physical intimacy. More severe self-reported ED was associated with increased likelihood of engaging in romantic relationships, having more romantic relationship partners, increased likelihood of engaging in sexual intercourse, and increased likelihood of engaging in unprotected sex. Conclusion: Early intervention programs that alter the developmental trajectory of romantic relationships among individuals with ADHD may benefit from targeting ED among these youth.

Self-Reported Trait Mindfulness and Couples’ Relationship Satisfaction: a Meta-Analysis

New theoretical perspectives have begun to shift the study of trait mindfulness beyond individual processes to interpersonal romantic relationships. Viability of these pursuits is perhaps contingent on the basic assumption that higher trait mindfulness is associated with beneficial outcomes like relationship satisfaction. Moreover, if this association is not consistent across sample characteristics or if the available knowledge appears tainted by publication bias, then the basic assumption of this emerging research may not be tenable. Twenty-eight samples of studies correlating trait mindfulness and relationship satisfaction were collected. The average effect size was small (.24) and publication bias was not evident. The effect size was consistent across age, gender, marital status, meditation status, and mindfulness dimensionality. This study supports emerging theoretical perspectives linking trait mindfulness to romantic relationship outcomes. The association between trait mindfulness and relationship satisfaction does not appear sensitive to a publication bias mechanism.

The Impact of Minority Stress and Social Support on Positive Relationship Functioning in Same-Sex Relationships

ABSTRACT The Institute of Medicine has called for an increase in efforts to investigate the understudied area of LGBTQ health and relationships. This study furthers the research by illuminating social support predictors of positive relationship functioning and resilience from a large national sample of those in same-sex relationships (N = 1,303) who continue to face minority stigma and stress in society. Primary findings underscore the centrality of partner social support and the importance of combating depression in sustaining positive relationship outcomes (commitment, satisfaction, closeness, and couple resilience) in same-sex romantic relationships. Findings also may point to increasing social legitimacy of same-sex couples and less reliance on LGBTQ-specific social supportive environments. Future research is needed to further explore the personal and relational health of same-sex couples.

Underlying Mechanisms Explaining the Link between Differentiation and Romantic Relationship Outcomes

Differentiation of self has been associated with positive relationship outcomes, but little has been done to analyze the underlying mechanisms that promote these outcomes for highly differentiated people. Longitudinal data were collected from a sample of university students (N = 162) and clinically relevant direct and indirect effects between I-position and emotional reactivity, anxious attachment, relationship efficacy, and relationship satisfaction and conflict hostility were analyzed using path analysis. In general, anxious attachment and relationship efficacy mediated the association between differentiation of self and conflict hostility. Clients may benefit from therapists assessing differentiation and attachment, facilitating conversations that contribute to increasing differentiation and attachment, and using both of these constructs as mechanisms to enhance relationships in young adults.

A Meta-Analysis of Friendship Qualities and Romantic Relationship Outcomes in Adolescence.

Romantic relationships are one of the most significant interpersonal ties in adolescence, thus understanding factors that may contribute to their formation and quality are important. The current meta-analysis focuses on links between friendship quality and romantic relationship outcomes for adolescents up to 18years. In a series of meta-analyses (k=28 studies, N's=946-4,040), friendship qualities were not related to romantic involvement. However, we did find robust evidence of continuity between friendship qualities and romantic relationship qualities. Additionally, adolescents experienced more negative quality in their romantic relationships than in their friendships. These findings suggest that friendships have implications for adolescents' romantic relationships, although more research is needed on specific quality associations, and the mediators of these relations.

The Protective Influence of Relationship Commitment on the Effects of Facebook Addiction on Marital Disaffection

Previous research has suggested that Facebook use can lead to adverse romantic relationship outcomes due to interpersonal conflicts, interactions with potential romantic alternatives, and jealousy. However, these associations have been explored mainly with undergraduates, focusing primarily on conflict rather than emotional disengagement. The current study examined the associations between Facebook addiction and marital disaffection (e.g., loss of love, emotional disengagement) amongst 138 (95 females and 43 males) cohabiting married Facebook users residing in the United States. The results revealed that Facebook addiction and marital disaffection were positively related, even after controlling for relationship commitment. Additionally, greater relationship commitment weakened the association between Facebook addiction and marital disaffection. There are likely multiple explanations for the current findings; however, results suggest that higher levels of relationship commitment may protect spouses against the negative relationship outcomes associated with Facebook addiction. Future longitudinal work with couples is needed to clarify the directionality of the relationship between Facebook addiction and marital disaffection.

Big Five personality domains and relationship satisfaction: Direct effects and correlated change over time.

The Big Five Model (BFM) of personality domains is significantly related to romantic relationship outcomes, particularly marital satisfaction. Few studies to date, however, have examined the BFM domains and relationship outcomes longitudinally. We used latent growth curve modeling to estimate the initial levels (intercept) and the rate of change (slope) in the BFM domains and marital satisfaction and determine if change in one construct was associated with change in the other. All available data were retained from participants who remained married to the same individual, as well as early waves for participants who divorced or were widowed, in the Midlife in the United States study (N=1,965). We expected negative associations between (a) intercepts of Neuroticism and relationship satisfaction and (b) the intercept/slope of Neuroticism with change in marital satisfaction. The other BFM domains were expected to have positive effects on change in satisfaction. The results suggested that change over time in Neuroticism and Conscientiousness is detrimental to satisfaction, while initial levels of Conscientiousness may predict declining marital satisfaction. Changes in Neuroticism accompany parallel changes in relationship satisfaction in a large sample of married U.S. adults, suggesting an ongoing bidirectional influence between these constructs in enduring marriages.

Who gets mad and who feels bad? Mate value discrepancies predict anger and shame in response to transgressions in romantic relationships

Mate value discrepancies (MVDs) predict multiple outcomes in romantic relationships, including relationship satisfaction, jealousy, and forgiveness. We tested the hypotheses that MVDs would predict anger and shame in response to both medium and strong transgressions within romantic relationships. Participants in long-term committed relationships read scenarios describing relational transgressions and rated how much anger and shame they would feel if they were either the victim or the perpetrator of the transgressions in their current relationship. We found partial support for our hypotheses. Victims of medium-level transgressions were angrier the more alternative potential mates there were that were closer to their ideal mate preferences than their current partner. Perpetrators of strong transgressions felt more shame the higher in mate value their partner was compared to them. Results suggest that different MVDs may predict different outcomes in relationships and highlight the importance of using functional theories of emotions to predict individual differences in emotional responses.

Growing up with a single mother and life satisfaction in adulthood: A test of mediating and moderating factors.

Single parenthood is increasingly common in Western societies but only little is known about its long-term effects. We therefore studied life satisfaction among 641 individuals (ages 18–66 years) who spent their entire childhood with a single mother, 1539 individuals who spent part of their childhood with both parents but then experienced parental separation, and 21,943 individuals who grew up with both parents. Individuals who grew up with a single mother for their entire childhood and to a lesser degree also individuals who experienced parental separation showed a small but persistent decrease in life satisfaction into old age controlling childhood socio-economic status. This decrease was partly mediated by worse adulthood living conditions related to socio-economic and educational success, physical health, social integration, and romantic relationship outcomes. No moderation by age, gender, and societal system where the childhood was spent (i.e. western oriented FRG or socialist GDR) was found.

Parental Modeling and Deidentification in Romantic Relationships Among Mexican-origin Youth.

This study investigated youth's modeling of and de-identification from parents in romantic relationships, using two phases of data from adolescent siblings, mothers, and fathers in 246 Mexican-origin families. Each parent reported his/her marital satisfaction and conflict, and youth reported on parent-adolescent warmth and conflict at Time 1. Youth's reports of modeling of and de-identification from their mothers and fathers and three romantic relationship outcomes were assessed at Time 2. Findings revealed that higher parental marital satisfaction, lower marital conflict, and higher warmth and lower conflict in parent-adolescent relationships were associated with more modeling and less de-identification from parents. Moreover, higher de-identification was linked to a greater likelihood of youth being involved in a romantic relationship and cohabitation, whereas more modeling was linked to a lower likelihood of cohabitation and older age of first sex. Discussion underscores the importance of assessing parental modeling and de-identification and understanding correlates of these processes.

Great expectations

Expectations for one’s romantic relationship, and the extent to which these expectations are actually met, are important predictors of relationship outcomes. Themes of romanticism (e.g., idealism, soul mates, love at first sight) emerge from our romantic socialization. But what happens when romantic relationships fall short of these ideals and expectations are unmet? The current study examined the association among unmet romantic expectations and relationship outcomes using an investment model framework. The sample comprised 296 U.S. young adults involved in dating relationships. Participants provided ratings of the romantic characteristics of their current, ideal, and potential alternative relationships. Unmet romantic expectations based on an ideal relationship were associated with lower relationship satisfaction, commitment, and investment. Unmet romantic expectations based on an alternative relationship were associated with lower relationship satisfaction, investment, and commitment and higher quality of alternatives. The results are discussed in terms of implications for researchers and clinicians/counselors.

Perceptions of Parent-Child Attachment Relationships and Friendship Qualities: Predictors of Romantic Relationship Involvement and Quality in Adolescence.

Relationships with parents and friends are important contexts for developing romantic relationship skills. Parents and friends may influence both the timing of involvement and the quality of romantic relationships. Three models of the joint influence of parents and friends (direct effects model, mediation model, and moderator model) have been proposed. The present study uses data from a longitudinal study (n = 1012; 49.8% female; 81.1% Caucasian) to examine how attachment and friendship quality at age 10 years predict romantic relationship involvement and quality at ages 12 and 15 years. The results supported the direct effects model, with attachment and friendship quality uniquely predicting different romantic relationship outcomes. The findings provide further support for the important influence of family and friends on early romantic relationships.

A perfect blame: Conflict-promoting attributions mediate the association between perfectionism and forgiveness in romantic relationships

The current research sought to explore underlying mechanisms that contribute to the relation observed between dyadic perfectionism and negative romantic relationship outcomes. Two studies were conducted to examine whether partner-oriented and partner prescribed perfectionists interpret a partners' behavior in a conflict-promoting manner, thus making them less willing to forgive their partner. Study 1 (N=137) used hypothetical scenarios to explore how perfectionists expected they would respond to their partner's undesirable behavior, revealing partner-oriented perfectionism to be the prominent predictor of conflict-promoting attributions and willingness to forgive. Study 2 (N=185) asked participants to write narratives about a past transgression in their relationship in which their partner was at fault. Findings indicated that both partner-oriented and partner prescribed perfectionism were associated with conflict-promoting attributions. Further analyses for both Studies 1 and 2 revealed that this maladaptive attribution style mediated the relation between perfectionism and forgiveness, such that perfectionists were more likely to make conflict-promoting attributions, thus leading to less forgiveness. Findings provide insight on how to foster forgiveness in couples where high expectations are either projected or perceived.

“Do you dare to compare?” Associations between maternal social comparisons on social networking sites and parenting, mental health, and romantic relationship outcomes

Social comparisons on social networking sites can be problematic for some individuals. However, this has never been examined in a parenting context, where the pressure for mothers to portray themselves as “perfect parents” may be high. The aim of the current study was to examine associations between making social comparisons on social networking sites with mothers’ parenting, mental health, and romantic relationship outcomes. In the iMom Project, 721 mothers completed a number of questionnaires regarding their social media use, parenting behaviors, and health outcomes. Results revealed that making social comparisons on social networking sites was related to parenting outcomes (in the form of higher levels of parental role overload, and lower levels of parental competence and perceived social support), relationship outcomes (in the form of more conflict over social networking sites and perceiving less positive coparenting relationships) and higher levels of maternal depression. This study adds to a growing literature suggesting that making social comparisons online may be associated with a number of negative outcomes, and extends it to the context of mothering. This study has implications for the way that mothers use social media, specifically in the use of social comparisons.

Adolescent Mental Health and Dating in Young Adulthood

Adolescence is a period of tremendous socioemotional change, when youth develop important relationship skills that they carry with them into adulthood. The mental health of individuals during this period might act as resources or impediments that impact their ability to cultivate such skills as well as outcomes in their later romantic relationships. The current study examines how multiple dimensions of adolescent mental health (depressive symptomology, self-esteem, mastery, and impulsivity) are associated with outcomes in romantic relationships across the transition to adulthood, such as relationship conflict, relationship happiness, and number of dating partners. Youth with higher mastery, self-esteem, and impulsivity during adolescence had more romantic dating partners across the transition to adulthood. High levels of depressive symptomology and low mastery during adolescence were also associated with greater conflict within dating relationships in young adulthood.