Romantic Relationships Research Articles

Men and women transitioning to singlehood in young adulthood and midlife.

Research has long shown that men suffer more from romantic breakups than women. We predicted that men would on average be less inclined to initiate separation, decline with the separation more in well-being and increase more in loneliness, are less satisfied with singlehood, and desire a new partner more than women. We theorized that these gender differences in separation adaptation could be linked to men's higher reliance on their partners for emotional support. Because socioemotional selectivity theory suggests that with age people shift toward more fulfilling social connections, we also expected men's dependency on their partners for emotional support to be smaller in midlife than in young adulthood. To examine our hypotheses, we analyzed multiyear within-person longitudinal change data from 1,530 mostly unmarried participants from the annual German pairfam study who had experienced a relationship dissolution. We applied propensity score matching to compare separation-related changes in well-being and loneliness to case-matched controls who remained in a romantic relationship. Results showed that men relative to women were less likely to initiate separation, less satisfied with singlehood, and wished for a partner more. In contrast to our expectations, the gender differences observed did not differ by age, and no gender differences were found in separation-related changes in well-being and loneliness. Dissolution-related effects on well-being were only evident for marital relationships, while dissolution-related effects on loneliness were equally strong for marital and nonmarital dissolutions. Our study suggests that previous findings on gender-specific divorce-induced changes in well-being may not generalize to nonmarital dissolutions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Personality trait similarity in recently cohabiting couples: Partner choice, convergence, or selective breakup?

Romantic partners tend to be more similar in self-reported personality traits than would be expected by chance. This similarity can be due to the choice of a similar partner, partners becoming more similar to each other over time, or dissimilar couples breaking up. To examine whether these processes (choice, convergence, or breakup) explain personality trait similarities in couples, we followed a sample of 1,180 German couples (N = 2,360 individuals; age range = 17-82 years old) from right after moving in together (ranging from 0 to 4 years after) up to 16 years thereafter. Using bivariate latent growth curve models, we found that couples were already similar in openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, and agreeableness in the first years of moving in together. Although couples showed correlated change in conscientiousness, this did not increase similarity. Response surface analyses showed that separation risk was generally unrelated to dissimilarity. Furthermore, romantic partners did not become more dissimilar in the years before separation. Taken together, these results suggest that personality similarity in cohabiting couples is fully driven by choosing a similar partner. We discuss the implications of these findings for theory and research on personality similarity in romantic relationships. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Influences of Attachment on Perceptions and Reactions to Partner Drinking

This study explored the relationship between alcohol consumption within romantic relationships and the perception of a partner’s drinking problem, considering attachment. Attachment theory identifies three primary attachment styles: secure, anxious, and avoidant. It was hypothesized that the number of times a partner got drunk in the last year would be positively associated with the person’s perception of a drinking problem and that these perceptions and reactions would vary according to the individual's attachment orientation. Specifically, it was anticipated that those who are more anxiously attached would be more sensitive to their partner's drinking behaviors, perceiving them more negatively and engaging in more punitive actions, whereas avoidantly attached individuals would minimize the significance of their partner's drinking issues. 754 participants were surveyed via Qualtrics to assess frequency of partner drinking, concern about partner drinking, punishment for partner drinking, reward for partner sobriety, and attachment levels. Results showed that frequency of a partner’s drinking was related to concern about partner drinking, and that association was stronger for those with more anxious and avoidant orientations. Additionally, partner drinking was associated with more punishment behaviors for those with higher levels of anxious attachment, as well as those with higher levels of avoidant attachment. However, partner drinking was not related to reward for non-drinking based on attachment. Lastly, the perception of a partner’s drinking mediated the relationship between perceived partner drinking and punishment, with the indirect effect being stronger for higher levels of insecure attachment. Building upon these findings, future research should explore interventions tailored to different attachment orientations to better address the negative impacts of alcohol consumption within romantic relationships.

Sexual and Affectionate Behaviors and Satisfaction for Adults in Romantic Relationships: A Latent Profile Analysis.

Engaging in both sexual and affectionate behaviors with a romantic partner is often beneficial for adults' sexual and relationship satisfaction and promotes relationship stability. However, prior research has primarily examined either adults' sexual or affectionate behaviors, and has yet to explore patterns of sexual and affectionate behaviors and their associations with sexual and relationship satisfaction. In the current paper, we used a person-centered approach and latent profile analysis to identify specific profiles of adults' physical behaviors in same-gender and mixed-gender relationships, and examined associations of these profiles with sexual and relationship satisfaction. Adults (N = 336, 85.4% LGBTQ+; 45% women, 30% men, 38.6% gender-diverse; Mage = 29.07 years) who were currently in a committed romantic partner relationship for at least six months completed online surveys. We found that a 3-profile solution best fit the data and identified the following profiles: Infrequent Physical Behaviors, Affection-focused Behaviors, and Comprehensive Physical Behaviors. Adults in the Infrequent Physical Behaviors profile were less sexually and relationally satisfied than adults in the other profiles. Adults in the Comprehensive Physical Behaviors profile were more sexually satisfied than the two other profiles. Further, profiles did not differ for mixed-gender compared to same-gender or gender-diverse couples. Our findings have implications for understanding the diversity in adults' physical behavior patterns, including how clinicians might better support adults' sexual and relationship satisfaction.

How We Communicate Forgiveness to Our Partners Matters: Forgiveness-Granting Strategies, Forgiveness Tendency, Commitment, and Relationship Satisfaction in Dating and Married Couples

Abstract Individuals in dating and marital relationships experience various transgressions that require forgiveness (e.g., hurtful communication, mistrust, lies, or infidelity). This study examines forgiveness-granting strategies in the context of forgiveness tendency, relationship length, commitment, satisfaction, and relational consequences to better understand relationship dynamics. 649 individuals (532 dating, 117 married), aged 18–65 (M = 26.00, SD = 8.82) participated. The sample included 517 women (79.7 %) and 132 men (20.3 %). Participants described a forgiven transgression and completed questionnaires, including the Multidimensional Forgiveness-Granting Scale (MFGS), Transgression-Related Interpersonal Motivations Inventory (TRIM-18), Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS), and the commitment subscale from the Investment Model Scale. One open-ended question (types of forgiven transgressions) was analyzed consensually. Quantitative data were analyzed using correlational analysis, regression analysis, and t-tests. The most common transgression was infidelity. A linear regression analysis showed that the strongest positive predictor of relationship satisfaction was the tendency to forgive one’s partner. Nonverbal displays positively predicted relationship strengthening, while the discussion strategy predicted relationship deterioration negatively. These findings emphasize the importance of how forgiveness is communicated and may inform interventions to enhance romantic relationships.

The effect of service dogs on veterans’ romantic partners and relationships: A preliminary mixed-methods study

Abstract Romantic partners are often key supports for veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, a PTSD diagnosis among veterans is often associated with lower relationship satisfaction and quality. To help reduce their PTSD symptomology, some veterans are more regularly relying on the help of service dogs (SDs). Relatively little is known about how SDs affect romantic relationships and veterans’ romantic partners. The current mixed-methods preliminary study explored the psycho-social effects of SDs on veterans’ romantic relationships and their partners from the romantic partners’ perspective. Romantic partners of veterans ( N = 27) completed the Partnership Questionnaire and seven partners completed interviews. Scale results indicated overall low relationship quality, with relatively lower scores for couples’ tenderness/intimacy and togetherness/communication, and higher scores for their quarreling. Interview results indicated there were perceived relationship problems due to the veterans’ PTSD, but there were some relationship improvements since the SD had been supporting the veteran, including decreased quarreling and increased tenderness/intimacy and togetherness/communication. Romantic partners reported experiencing less resentment and stress, and increased relaxation, calmness, patience, happiness, and hope for the future because of the SDs. This study suggests that SDs can influence other aspects of veterans’ lives beyond their disability, such as helping veterans reconnect with their romantic partners.

A Sibling's Intuition: The Role of Sibling Approval for Romantic Relationships

Research has shown that family and peer relationships have an impact on the stability and quality of one's romantic relationships. According to family systems theory, family dyads are likely to impact the stability of romantic dyads within a system. Yet, little is known if and how one's sibling will impact the development and maintenance of that relationship. Therefore, the goal of this study is to understand how approval of a sibling's romantic relationship impacts the quality of that relationship. Participants ( N = 168) and their siblings ( N = 118) were recruited to participate in an online survey, which included questions regarding their current and previous romantic relationships, if applicable, their relationship with their sibling, and their approval of their sibling's previous and/or current relationship(s). Data was analyzed using moderation analyses and actor–partner interdependence models. Although regression results showed no effects of sibling approval for relationship quality for either current or past relationships, the path analyses revealed that when participants approved their siblings’ relationship, the satisfaction increased, but when the siblings approved of the participant's relationship, the satisfaction trended downward. Path analyses also showed that approval did not predict the satisfaction of either participant's or sibling's last relationship. In both models, sibling and participant approval significantly predicted each other. Last, sibling closeness was not found to moderate any of these relationships. These results show that sibling approval plays a role in romantic relationships, but the impacts vary depending on relationship context.

Subtypes of childhood social withdrawal and adult relationship and parenting outcomes

The aims of the current 30 year prospective study were to determine: (1) whether socially withdrawn kindergarten children are less likely than others to enter serious romantic relationships or become parents by age 34, (2) whether socially withdrawn children parent differently than non-withdrawn individuals when they grow up, and (3) whether subtypes of withdrawal are associated with different adult outcomes. Following Harrist et al. (1997), 558 kindergarten children (81% White, 17% Black) were categorized into one of the five groups: four clusters of social withdrawal ( n = 95 unsociable, 23 passive-anxious, 18 active-isolate, and 25 sad/depressed) or non-withdrawal ( n = 397), using directly observed school behavior and teacher ratings. About 30 years later ( Mage = 34.45 years, SD = 0.62 years), participants self-reported on their romantic relationship and parent status and parenting warmth and harshness. Overall, the group of socially withdrawn children was no more or less likely than the non-withdrawn group to be in a current relationship or a parent, nor did they report any differences in parenting. However, the active-isolate subtype of social withdrawal, characterized by impulsivity and anger, was less likely than the non-withdrawn group to be in a current relationship ( B = −1.24, p < 0.05). This study suggests socially withdrawn children in the United States fare similarly to non-withdrawn peers in adulthood in their romantic relationships and parenting, but a subgroup of active-isolate children may be at risk of not entering adult relationships.

In Defense of Fifty Shades by E. L. James: Does It Really Contain Gender-Based Violence?

This article presents a response to the harsh criticism expressed against E. L. James’s Fifty Shades. Accusations have been made from many sides that it encourages gender-based violence within a romantic relationship, unjustly stereotyping the female character Anastasia (Ana) as a battered, submissive, weak woman and a “sex slave.” However, as this thorough analysis will argue, Anastasia does not fit the profile of a victim of gender-based violence. Rather, she embodies the traits of an empowered woman. From this viewpoint, it is unfair to consider Fifty Shades as promoting violence against women.

Barriers and facilitators of transition of adolescents living with HIV into adult care in under-resourced settings of Southern Ethiopia: a qualitative study

BackgroundAdolescence is commonly perceived as a distinct and typically healthy stage of life. However, in regions with a high prevalence of HIV, like Ethiopia, numerous adolescents are contracting the virus. Upon testing and diagnosis, they encounter care-related issues, particularly barriers and facilitators of the healthcare transition from adolescent to adult clinics. Hence, the study aimed to investigate the barriers and facilitators influencing the transition of adolescents living with HIV (ALWHs) in the resource-limited settings of Southern Ethiopia.MethodsThe research employed a phenomenological study design with a qualitative methodology. Purposive sampling was used to gather data through in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FDGs) involving ALWHs and their parents. The data analysis followed Van Manen’s principles.ResultsFollowing Van Manen’s guidelines, the data analysis revealed a conceptual framework with two major themes: “Barriers” and “Facilitators”. The theme barrier was derived from three sub-themes including behavioral barriers, social barriers, and system barriers in the transition. The theme facilitator was derived from four sub-themes including self-acceptance as an adult, a desire to experience new things, a supportive family, and friendly healthcare services. The study identified three levels of factors influencing the transition into adult clinics: individual, family/peer, and healthcare-related factors. The barriers to transition included lack of knowledge, being in a romantic relationship, psychosocial struggles, perceiving us as immature, stigma, negative peer pressure, lack of timely disclosure, absence of transition guidelines, disrespectful treatment, and absence of separate clinics. On the other hand, facilitators such as self-acceptance as an adult, desire for new experiences, family support, informed support and promising outcomes, flexible appointment scheduling, and psycho-social support groups were found to improve the transition process and enhance the overall well-being of adolescents living with HIV.ConclusionThe study highlights the complex transition process for ALWHs into adult healthcare. Barriers such as lack of knowledge, stigma, and disrespectful treatment pose challenges during this critical period. Conversely, facilitators like self-acceptance, family support, and youth-friendly healthcare services can enhance the transition experience and well-being of ALWHs. Collaborative efforts among ALWHs, families, and healthcare providers are crucial for successful transitions and improved health outcomes. Separated clinics catering to the unique needs of ALWHs are recommended to address privacy concerns.

Couple affection exchange profiles and marital quality in Chinese couples

AbstractAffection plays a crucial role in romantic relationships, as individuals exchange affection with each other to build and maintain relationships. This study applied affection exchange theory (AET) to examine affection exchange patterns within marital dyads, employing couple‐centered approaches. The aim was to identify different types of couple affection exchange profiles based on both partners' affection given and received. The sample consisted of 668 Chinese heterosexual couples. Additionally, this study explored the association between couple affection exchange profiles and marital quality. Through latent profile analysis, three distinct profiles were identified: reserved (47.1%), invisible (10.5%), and highly affectionate (42.4%). Further between‐profile comparisons regarding marital quality indicated that couples in the highly affectionate profile report the most satisfying marriages, whereas the invisible profile represents the least desirable outcome. The findings highlight the diverse nature of couple affection exchange and offer valuable insights for couple therapy interventions focused on affection.

Dating Applications versus Meeting Face-to-Face: What Is Better for Romantic Relationship Quality?

The use of dating applications has increased over time, as recent data illustrate that meeting online is one of the most popular ways for couples to meet in the United States. Yet, the perceptions of using dating applications and how the applications were developed may hinder the quality of relationships that form using dating applications. The goal of this study is to examine the difference in relationship quality based on whether a relationship is initiated in person or using a dating application. Data for this study come from 233 college students who completed an online survey. Of the coupled participants (n = 120), 34 met their current partner through a dating application, and of the participants who had previous dating experience (n = 169), 29 met their last partner on a dating application. Conducting independent-samples t-tests, the means of relationship quality were not significantly different for those who met their current or former partner online compared to in person. Although previously stigmatized, the results of this study illustrate that forming relationships on dating applications may be similar in quality to those that are formed in person.

The theme of love and beauty in the works by Sergei Moskvitin

The theme of love and beauty is key in the work of Sergei Moskvitin. According to Moskvitin, poetry, beauty and love are the three pillars on which the entire planet rests. At the same time, the concepts of “woman”, “beauty”, “inspiration” are inseparable for the author. Woman is identical with love, the author deifies her, belittling himself. The image of a woman is slightly blurry and not specified in Moskvitin’s works, unlike landscape lyrics, where every detail is carefully described. At the same time, landscape lyrics and love lyrics are inseparable: through the prism of describing nature, one can guess the author’s mood, some milestones in the biography. For example, when a romantic relationship with a lady begins, the description of nature is positive; when disagreements occur, the hero and heroine are tormented by doubts, nature and natural phenomena echo these feelings. The author is no stranger to the sensual side of the relationship between a man and a woman. However, platonic love predominates in creativity The description of intimate scenes is always complemented by the chanting of love, the beloved woman, which fully conveys a respectful attitude towards the heroine. The author emphasizes that women are different, but each is beautiful and worthy of love, its own poet who sings of her beauty. The author appreciates not only external beauty, but more spiritual beauty. Moskvitin's love lyrics are autobiographical; they are expressed in poems and messages to the woman he loves, as evidenced by the conclusions drawn by the researchers

Quantifying the importance of factors in predicting non-suicidal self-injury among depressive Chinese adolescents: A comparative study between only child and non-only child groups

BackgroundDepression is a major global public health concern, often co-occurring with Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI). Focused on Depressive adolescents, this study aimed to quantify the importance of factors in predicting NSSI and compare them between the only child and non-only child groups, enriching knowledge to leverage tailored intervention strategies. MethodsA large multicenter survey was conducted in China. 2510 adolescents diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) volunteered for the study. 36 factors were included to train random forest models for NSSI prediction in only child and non-only child groups, respectively. The SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method was utilized to compute the relative importance of each factor in two groups. ResultsAdolescents with MDD exhibited a rather high prevalence of NSSI (52.0 %), among them 66.9 % were non-only children. Self-esteem was the most significant factor for both groups, while critical disparities of factors were also found. In the only child group, factors like family support, parental overprotection, drinking alcohol, sleep conditions and romantic relationship involvement showed greater importance, while higher depression degree, anxiety level and emotional abuse were more important factors for non-only children. LimitationsThe use of cross-sectional data from Chinese adolescents may limit deeper analysis of NSSI mechanisms and the generalizability to Western cultures. ConclusionsOnly and non-only child family structures may have different influence on factors related with NSSI occurrence of adolescents with MDD. Only children were more susceptible to vulnerable family environments, alcohol abuse and romantic experience, while non-only children were more disturbed by abnormal mental states.

Mindfulness and attachment security in romantic relationships: The role of emotion regulation as a mediator

Mindfulness and attachment security in romantic relationships: The role of emotion regulation as a mediator

Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence among Male Local Government Workers in Ekiti State

Intimate partner violence (IPV) against men is a global prevalent issue. It is the abuse that transpires within or outside a romantic relationship. It affects men and women equally but the cases of men are under-reported. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of intimate partner violence among male local government workers in Ekiti State. The study adopted a cross sectional descriptive research design using a quantitative method approach of data collection. Multistage sampling technique was used to select two hundred and eighteen (218) respondents from six local government areas in Ekiti State. Data were collected with the aid of adapted questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. The result showed that the average age of the respondents was approximately 43 years with 67.9% being within 36-51 years old and 79.4% were married with an average length of 13 years in relationship. The overall prevalence of IPV was 94.5% with psychological violence being the most prevalent (89.0%), followed by psychological violence (78.9%), then by sexual (39.9%) and physical (19.3%). IPV against men is prevalent and it is mostly psychological. The fact that physical assault is minimal does not mean that men are undergoing IPV. Hence nurses and other health workers should screen men who present with psychological symptoms for necessary help.

Erasing women from the Frankenstein culture-text: adapting Elizabeth Lavenza and Justine Moritz

Abstract The Frankenstein culture-text has been dominated by adaptations of Frankenstein’s women in line with the presumption of heterosexuality. This means that the women of Frankenstein are typically adapted in ways which refocus their character’s narrative around their romantic relationships, usually with Victor. Alternatively, they are completely cut from the narrative, despite being narratively significant in the source text. This results in a silence in the culture-text about the presence of women in this story. Addressing this cultural silence requires not only feminist adaptation practice in the effort to make space for these women in future adaptations but a necessarily queer practice which resists the presumption of heterosexuality.

Taking Liberty with Imagination and Gender in Northanger Abbey

In Northanger Abbey Austen presents the evolution and devolution of a romantic relationship that reveals what is lost when shame brings two non-heteronormative partners into a conventional social contract: the witty conversations and imaginative flights of fancy that Catherine Morland and Henry Tilney sustain in their courtship fade and finally disappear as they take their places in the symbolic order. Both experience a turning point in their development when Henry realizes and seemingly rebukes Catherine for suspecting that his father was responsible for his mother’s death. That critical moment changes everything for them, as they surrender their fluidity and pursue a more generic path to marriage that Austen’s metaleptic narrator cagily challenges as the novel concludes.

A closer look at the demographics of same-sex marriage in the United States: Implications for research, practice, and policy.

In 2015, the United States Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, setting in motion a sweeping social change for sexual minority people and their romantic relationships. The United States Census Bureau collects demographic data on same-sex couple households, offering an opportunity to better understand the demographic makeup of same-sex marriage today. This knowledge is essential for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers who aim to understand and support same-sex couples' relationships. We used national probability data from the American Community Survey collected in 2021 (the most recent year these data are available) on married and unmarried, cohabiting same-sex and opposite-sex households. Respondents reported their own age, race, ethnicity, education, employment, income, home ownership, and whether they had children living with them in their household. Differences between married and unmarried opposite-sex couples were observed in race, ethnicity, age, and socioeconomic status, consistent with prior research. Many of these demographic gaps also existed for same-sex couples, although these were often smaller. Several of these differences further varied between male and female same-sex couples. Same-sex married couples appear to be more demographically diverse than opposite-sex married couples. However, like opposite-sex couples, same-sex couples from multiple minoritized groups were less likely to be married. Future research is needed to understand drivers of these differences (e.g., different attitudes about marriage or lack of access to marriage) and their impact. Policymakers and clinicians will need to bear these group differences in mind when designing policy and delivering services to support the well-being of sexual minority couples.

Use of meishi by Chinese females in romantic conversation

AbstractThis study explores the major types and main interpersonal functions of meishi (没事, literally ‘I'm fine’) by Chinese females in romantic conversation through analyzing collected posts from Sina Microblog. Results show that meishi by Chinese females in the context of romantic relationships primarily manifests the attributes of “expressive” and “assertive” (“insincere assertive” in particular), with specific functions to express comfort (expressive), to implicitly express negative feelings (expressive), and to avoid self-disclosure of negative emotion (insincere assertive). We hold that Chinese women's use of meishi is not only a realization of gendered discourse but also has a practical function as it detects the sincerity and attentiveness of their male counterparts.