Variance In Relationship Satisfaction Research Articles

A Safe Haven Through Attachment: A Dyadic Perspective on the Association Between Cumulative Childhood Trauma and Relationship Satisfaction.

Cumulative childhood trauma (CCT) increases the risk of experiencing interpersonal problems and relationship distress in adulthood. However, not all CCT survivors experience such difficulties, and little research has investigated protective factors against relationship dissatisfaction in CCT survivors and their partners. Romantic attachment might be one such factor that could reduce the harmful effects of a CCT history on relationship satisfaction for both survivors and their partners. Using a dyadic perspective, this study aimed to examine the association between CCT and relationship satisfaction and to test the moderating effect of attachment avoidance and anxiety on this association. A sample of 501 couples was recruited through a Canadian survey firm. Canadian couples who had provided their telephone number were randomly selected to complete the short form of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale, and the Childhood Cumulative Trauma Questionnaire. The actor-partner interdependence moderation model was used to guide the analyses. Results showed that individuals' and partners' higher CCT was correlated with both partners' lower relationship satisfaction. The analyses revealed a moderating effect of lower attachment avoidance on the link between individuals' CCT and their own relationship satisfaction. Specifically, individuals' CCT was significantly and negatively associated with relationship satisfaction at high levels of attachment avoidance, but unrelated to relationship satisfaction at low levels of attachment avoidance. The final model explained 31.4% of the variance in relationship satisfaction. Overall, the findings support the relevance of couple interventions that focus on romantic attachment to improve relationship well-being in couples where one or both partners have experienced CCT.

Childhood Sexual Abuse and Relationship Satisfaction: The Moderating Role of PTSD and Sexual-Related Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms

Research on childhood sexual abuse (CSA) has consistently demonstrated the long-term effects of such abuse, not only on survivors’ development, but also on the nature and quality of their adult relationships, particularly romantic ones. In this study we examined the moderating role of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sexual-related posttraumatic stress symptoms (sexual-related PTSS) between CSA and relationship satisfaction. Survey data from 529 individuals who reported being currently in a romantic relationship were analyzed. In the first set of analyses, results demonstrated that participants with CSA reported significantly lower relationship satisfaction and significantly greater severity of PTSD and sexual-related PTSS than participants without CSA. Sexual-related PTSS but not PTSD moderated the association between CSA and participants’ relationship satisfaction, with the model of sexual-related PTSS explaining 20.8% of the variance in relationship satisfaction and the model of PTSD explaining 11.3% of this variance. In the second set of analyses conducted among survivors of CSA only, higher sexual-related PTSS severity was linked with ongoing abuse and with abuse by a non-family member. This study points to the potential contribution made by sexual-related PTSS to relationship satisfaction among survivors of CSA.

Three tests of the Vulnerability-Stress-Adaptation Model: Independent prediction, mediation, and generalizability.

ObjectiveEfforts to understand why some marriages thrive while others falter are (a) not well integrated conceptually and (b) rely heavily on data collected from White middle-class samples. The Vulnerability-Stress-Adaptation Model (VSA; Karney and Bradbury, 1995) is used here to integrate prior efforts and is tested using data collected from couples living with low incomes.BackgroundThe VSA Model assumes (a) that enduring vulnerabilities, stress, and couple communication account for unique variance in relationship satisfaction, (b) that communication mediates the effects of vulnerabilities and stress on satisfaction, and (c) that the predictors of satisfaction generalize across socioeconomic levels. To date, these assumptions remain untested.Materials and methodsWith 388 couples from diverse backgrounds (88% Black or Hispanic), we used latent variable structural equation models to examine enduring vulnerabilities, chronic stress, and observed communication as predictors of 4-wave, 27-month satisfaction trajectories, first as main effects and then interacting with a validated 10-item index of sociodemographic risk.Results(a) The three variable sets independently predict satisfaction trajectories; (b) couple communication does not mediate the effects of enduring vulnerabilities or stress on satisfaction; and (c) in 19% of tests, effects were stronger among couples with higher sociodemographic risk.ConclusionEffects of established predictor domains on satisfaction replicate in a diverse sample of newlywed couples, and most findings generalize across levels of sociodemographic risk. The failure of couple communication to mediate effects of enduring personal vulnerabilities and stress raises new questions about how these two domains undermine committed partnerships.

Examining Whether Social Anxiety Influences Satisfaction in Romantic Relationships

AbstractResearch investigating social anxiety and the impacts on romantic relationships remains scarce. An online questionnaire examining romantic relationship status, social anxiety and depression symptomology, relationship satisfaction, and several relationship processes was completed by 444 adults. Individuals with higher social anxiety were less likely to be in romantic relationships. For the 188 adults in our sample in current relationships, relationship satisfaction was not influenced by social anxiety when controlling for depression. Although it was proposed that self-disclosure, social support, trust, and conflict initiation might influence romantic relationship satisfaction, none of these mechanisms interacted with social anxiety to explain additional variance in relationship satisfaction. These findings indicate that depression symptomology may be a treatment target for socially anxious individuals wishing to improve romantic relationship satisfaction.

Social Anxiety and Depression in Romantic Relationships: A Three-Sample Exploration.

Introduction: Social anxiety contributes to a variety of interpersonal difficulties and dysfunctions. Socially anxious adults are less likely to marry and more likely to divorce than are non-anxious adults. The present pre-registered study investigated incremental variance accounted for by social anxiety in relationship satisfaction, commitment, trust, and social support. Methods: Three independent samples of adults (N = 888; 53.7% female; Mage = 35.09 years) involved in a romantic relationship completed online self-report questionnaires. Both social anxiety and depression were significantly correlated with relationship satisfaction, commitment, dyadic trust, and social support. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted with each sample to investigate the incremental variance accounted for by each of social anxiety and depression in relationship satisfaction, commitment, dyadic trust, and social support. Subsequent meta-analyses were run to determine the strength and replicability of the hierarchical models. Results: Results suggest that social anxiety is a robust predictor of unique variance in both perceived social support and commitment. Depression was a robust predictor of unique variance in relationship satisfaction, dyadic trust, social support, and commitment. Discussion: These results help to further understanding of social anxiety in romantic relationships and provide direction for future research and clinical intervention.

The Association of Exposure to Military Sexual Trauma and Romantic Relationship Satisfaction Among Partnered Men Service Members/Veterans: The Influence of Compulsive Sexual Behavior

Civilian literature shows a strong, consistent association between exposure to sexual violence and poor romantic relationship satisfaction. The impact of sexual violence that occurred during military service, or military sexual trauma (MST), on romantic relationship satisfaction among partnered men service members/veterans (SM/Vs) is understudied. However, a recent study conducted in women observed that MST that involved an assault was associated with poorer relationship satisfaction through higher sexual dysfunction and lower sexual satisfaction. The current study extended the literature by examining sexual function as a mediator of the association of exposure to MST and romantic relationship satisfaction among partnered men SM/Vs (N = 499). Participants completed self-report measures of MST exposure, romantic relationship satisfaction, erectile dysfunction, and compulsive sexual behavior, as well as a demographic inventory. The average score on relationship satisfaction was in the distressed range. Sixty-four participants (12.83%) reported MST exposure. MST exposure was related to lower relationship satisfaction through higher compulsive sexual behavior. The model explained 16% of the variance in relationship satisfaction. The indirect effect of erectile dysfunction was nonsignificant. Current findings are consistent with research in women SM/Vs: the association of MST and romantic relationship satisfaction appears to be indirect, through the effects of sexual function. Couples' therapy may be most effective if it addresses sexual health concerns among men MST survivors, particularly engagement in compulsive sexual behaviors. Due to low endorsement of MST that involved assault, the impact of MST severity could not be examined.

Minority Stress and Relationship Satisfaction Among Gay and Bisexual Men

For gay and bisexual men, relationship status and relationship satisfaction have been linked to longevity, positive mental health, and life satisfaction. Factors that contribute to relationship satisfaction among gay and bisexual men were examined within the framework of Meyer’s (2003) minority stress model. Ninety-three gay, bisexual, and pansexual men who ranged in age from 18 to 60 years old (M = 32.14, SD = 10.01) were recruited in person and through Amazon Mechanical Turk to complete measures related to minority identity processes, identity characteristics, and relationship satisfaction. Most men were White (80.6%) with a high education level (58% had completed at least a bachelor’s degree). Multiple linear regression results were significant and indicated that 4 variables (identity concealment, uncertainty, centrality, and affirmation) explained about 40% of the variance in relationship satisfaction, F(6, 86) = 9.42, p ≤ .001 Findings suggest that Meyer’s model can be extended from explaining mental health to understanding relationship satisfaction. Results also draw attention to the role of identity affirmation and identity centrality, a somewhat unique contribution to this area of inquiry.

“Six of One, Half a Dozen of Another” or Do Mindfulness and Gratitude Each Add Unique Value to Relationship Functioning?

Although mindfulness and gratitude are both positive factors in relationship functioning, it remains unclear whether these two related variables represent unique contributions to relationships or are capitalizing on shared variance. The present study tests whether mindfulness and gratitude each account for unique variance in relationship satisfaction. The present sample consists of 76 married couples (N = 152) with an average relationship length of 24.25 years. Consistent with hypotheses, results indicate when controlling for gratitude individual mindfulness predicts one’s own but not one’s spouse’s relationship satisfaction. In addition, individual gratitude uniquely predicts both one’s own and one’s spouse’s relationship satisfaction. Contrary to expectations, individual mindfulness does not predict one’s spouse’s relationship satisfaction. Taken together, these findings suggest gratitude and mindfulness are related yet distinct constructs that uniquely contribute to relationship functioning. Results are interpreted in the context of relationship enrichment and suggestions are given for future research.

Attachment Identity as a Predictor of Relationship Functioning Among Heterosexual and Sexual-minority Women

Limited research examines the impact of attachment on variables reflecting relationship functioning (i.e., relationship satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and relationship commitment), especially among sexual-minority women (SMW). Given that such research utilizes a heterocentric lens, it is difficult to discern whether prior findings would also extend to SMW. Additional research is, therefore, warranted to identify if the theoretical foundation of attachment is relevant in understanding the relationship functioning of SMW. This study, therefore, sought to examine attachment dimensions (i.e., anxiety and avoidance) as predictors of relationship functioning variables and to assess for what, if any, differences exist between two groups: (a) heterosexual women and (b) SMW. An online survey was distributed to 166 women currently within relationships. There were no significant differences in relationship functioning variables nor in attachment dimensions between groups. Attachment anxiety explained over 31% of the variance in relationship satisfaction, over 39% of the variance in sexual satisfaction, and over 33% of the variance in relationship commitment between both groups. Conversely, attachment avoidance explained almost 18% of the variance in sexual satisfaction, but not did predict relationship satisfaction nor relationship commitment. These findings are further discussed in the context of limitations and clinical implications for practice.

Gender Differences in Relationship Maintenance Behaviors and Relationship Satisfaction

The present study investigated whether there are gender differences in how perceived use of relationship maintenance strategies by a partner is linked to subject’s relationship satisfaction in a Lithuanian sample. The sample consisted of 472 participants in committed romantic relationship, including 389 women and 83 men with a mean age of 21.89 years. The sample included 232 participants in dating relationship, 216 cohabiting and 24 married. Mean relationship duration was 31.91 months. Stafford’s (2011) Relationship Maintenance Behaviors Measure was used to assess relationship maintenance, while relationship satisfaction was measured by Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI-32) of Funk and Rogge (2007). Results of the study indicated that women perceived their partners using more positivity, understanding, assurances, sharing tasks, and social network strategies than men did. While no statistically significant gender differences in relationship satisfaction were found, all relationship maintenance strategies were positively correlated with relationship satisfaction for both men and women. However, strategies contributing towards prediction of relationship satisfaction differed for men and women. For women, relationship satisfaction was best predicted by perceived assurances, followed by understanding, positivity, and self-disclosure, which collectively accounted for just under 40% of variance in relationship satisfaction. For men, only perceived partner’s positivity was significant predictor of relationship satisfaction, but it alone accounted for 51.6 percent of variance in relationship satisfaction. Neither relationship status nor relationship duration were significant in predicting relationship satisfaction of either men or women.

Cultural humility: Pilot study testing the social bonds hypothesis in interethnic couples.

The purpose of this study was to explore factors associated with relationship quality in interethnic couples. Specifically, we tested the social bond hypotheses of humility in a sample of 155 individual participants currently in an interethnic relationship. Using a cross-sectional design, participants completed an online survey that included measures of demographics, conflict in their relationship, cultural humility, and relationship quality. We predicted that perceptions of one's partner's cultural humility would mediate the relationship between culturally based ineffective arguing and relationship satisfaction and commitment. Results indicated that cultural humility was positively related to both relationship satisfaction and commitment and negatively related to ineffective arguing. Mediation analyses revealed that approximately 26% of the variance in relationship satisfaction and about 8% of the variance in commitment was explained by the effect of ineffective arguing through cultural humility. Results of this study add to the growing body of evidence for the social bond hypothesis of humility and advance the field of research on interethnic couples by providing quantitative support for themes noted in previous qualitative studies on interethnic couples. (PsycINFO Database Record

Relationship authenticity partially mediates the effects of attachment on relationship satisfaction

ABSTRACTIndividuals with anxious and avoidant attachment tend to experience less satisfaction in their relationships. Past research suggests the negative effects of attachment on relationship satisfaction may be partially mediated by self-disclosure and self-concealment; the present study evaluated relationship authenticity as a potential additional mediator. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that relationship authenticity is distinct from self-disclosure and self-concealment. Relationship authenticity predicted additional variance in relationship satisfaction controlling for attachment, self-disclosure, and self-concealment. The results were consistent with relationship authenticity, along with self-disclosure and self-concealment, partially mediating the effects of attachment on relationship satisfaction. These findings suggest that relationship authenticity may play a unique role in understanding how attachment influences relationship satisfaction. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.

Examining the potential relationship benefits of leisure travel taken with and without one’s significant other and children

Goal and objectives of the dissertationGoalThe primary goal of the study was to investigate the effect vacation satisfaction has on relationship satisfaction and commitment levels.ObjectivesThe objectives of the research were to compare and contrast vacation and relationship satisfaction levels between three groups; (1) those who travelled with their significant other, (2) those who travelled without their significant other, and (3) those who travelled with children, to demonstrate the impact travel partners have on overall vacation satisfaction. The main objectives of this research were to develop an initial understanding of the potential benefits travel may contribute to relationship satisfaction, and to determine the impact vacation satisfaction may have on variables related to relationship commitment.The objectives to this study were guided by the following hypotheses:? H1a: Vacation Satisfaction will have a direct correlation with Relationship Satisfaction.? H1b: Relationship Satisfaction will have a direct correlation with Satisfaction with Life.? H1c: Vacation Satisfaction will have a positive correlation with Satisfaction with Life as mediated by Relationship Satisfaction.? H2a: Relationship Commitment will be significantly and positively influenced by Investment Size.? H2b: Relationship Commitment will be significantly and positively influenced by Relationship Satisfaction.? H2c: Relationship Commitment will be significantly and negatively influenced by Quality of Alternatives.? H3a: Perceived Relationship Satisfaction will be predicted by satisfaction with vacations taken; a) with a significant other, b) without a significant other, and c) with significant other and kids.? H3b: Perceived Commitment to Relationship will be predicted by satisfaction with vacations taken; a) with a significant other, b) without a significant other, and c) with significant other and kids.MethodologyThis study applied quantitative research methods to understand the proposed hypotheses and conceptual models. The study primarily incorporated latent variables of the Investment Model (satisfaction, investment, alternatives and commitment) to understand antecedents to relationship commitment and satisfaction. A selfadministered survey was selected as the primary data collection method which has been deemed an appropriate method by previous research in similar areas (Groves, Fowler, Couper, Lepkowski, Singer and Tourangeau, 2013).Specifically, this study employed the use of an online panel survey utilizing criterion sampling to collect data. The criterion used to select the sample included: only those in a relationship, those who had taken a leisure vacation in the past two years, had a household income greater than $25,000, and were 25 or older, resulting in a total response of 435 participants. The study was delimited to this criteria to respectively help increase the likelihood that respondents were in relationships, had taken recent vacations, had enough income to travel sufficiently, and were old enough to be on their own financially. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was chosen to test the majority of hypotheses. Hypothesis testing was completed through confirmatory factor analysis of the conceptual model to address H1a, H1b, H2a, H2b, and H2c.To test H3a and H3b, this study used linear regression to determine if vacation satisfaction and relationship commitment levels would significantly differ for those with differing travel parties, specifically those traveling (1) with a significant other, (2) without a significant other, and (3) traveling with children.ResultsIt was found that vacation satisfaction was a positive and significant predictor of relationship satisfaction, explaining 20 percent of the variance in relationship satisfaction. Furthermore, it was found that relationship satisfaction was a significant and positive predictor of satisfaction with life, explaining 40 percent of the variance. …

Need Fulfillment in Polyamorous Relationships

Polyamory is characterized by simultaneous consensual romantic relationships with multiple partners. Polyamory allows individuals to fulfill their relationship needs with multiple romantic partners, yet researchers have not identified how having needs met in one romantic relationship may be related to relationship outcomes in a concurrent relationship. Polyamorous individuals (N=1,093) completed online measures of need fulfillment, relationship satisfaction, and commitment for two concurrent romantic relationships. Participants reported high levels of need fulfillment and satisfaction in both relationships. Need fulfillment with one partner negatively predicted approximately 1% of the variance in relationship satisfaction with the other partner; however, there was no association between need fulfillment with one partner and commitment to the other. Generally, the findings suggest that polyamorous relationships are relatively independent of one another. This study provides initial evidence that polyamory may be a viable and fulfilling alternative way of conducting intimate relationships.

Socioeconomic status moderates associations among stressful events, mental health, and relationship satisfaction.

Although stressful events and poor mental health predict worse intimate relationships in all segments of society, they may be especially detrimental for poorer couples who lack the financial resources that facilitate successful coping. To examine this hypothesis, associations among stress, mental health, and relationship satisfaction were examined in the Florida Family Formation study, a stratified random sample of more than 2000 Florida residents that included oversamples of low-income participants. As predicted, stressful life events and mental health problems accounted for more variance in relationship satisfaction among poorer than among more affluent individuals. These results suggest that models of relationship satisfaction addressing low-income populations may need to emphasize contextual and individual variables more than models developed in more affluent populations.

Predicting relationship and life satisfaction from personality in nationally representative samples from three countries: The relative importance of actor, partner, and similarity effects.

Three very large, nationally representative samples of married couples were used to examine the relative importance of 3 types of personality effects on relationship and life satisfaction: actor effects, partner effects, and similarity effects. Using data sets from Australia (N = 5,278), the United Kingdom (N = 6,554), and Germany (N = 11,418) provided an opportunity to test whether effects replicated across samples. Actor effects accounted for approximately 6% of the variance in relationship satisfaction and between 10% and 15% of the variance in life satisfaction. Partner effects (which were largest for Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Emotional Stability) accounted for between 1% and 3% of the variance in relationship satisfaction and between 1% and 2% of the variance in life satisfaction. Couple similarity consistently explained less than .5% of the variance in life and relationship satisfaction after controlling for actor and partner effects.

Relationship satisfaction instability and depression.

In this study, we explored whether the degree of temporal instability in relationship satisfaction might add to our understanding of the well-documented association between relationship quality and depression. We hypothesized that greater relationship satisfaction instability would be associated with higher depressive symptoms, controlling for mean satisfaction levels. We conducted 12 weekly assessments of relationship satisfaction and depressive symptoms in a sample of 131 cohabiting and married women, and used intraindividual standard deviations of scores over the 12 weeks as an index of instability. Results indicated that, as hypothesized, relationship satisfaction instability predicted variance in depressive symptoms beyond that predicted by mean satisfaction; women whose weekly relationship satisfaction fluctuated more widely tended to have higher depressive symptoms. In comparison, temporal instability in depressive symptoms did not predict variance in relationship satisfaction beyond that predicted by mean depressive symptoms. Prospective analyses tentatively suggested that satisfaction instability may precede rather than follow elevated depressive symptoms. Results suggest the utility of assessing relationship satisfaction instability in future studies exploring links between marital quality and depression.

Predicting romantic relationship satisfaction from life history strategy

Attachment style and communication style have been shown in previous research to predict relationship satisfaction. We hypothesized that the ultimate cause underlying the relationship among attachment style, communication style, and relationship satisfaction is Life History Strategy (LHS). Furthermore, we hypothesized that LHS would not only predict relationship satisfaction indirectly through a couple’s attachment style and communication style, but would also predict relationship satisfaction directly. Two structural equation models were constructed to model and test each of these hypotheses. The first showed that the indirect causal pathways from LHS to attachment style, attachment style to communication style, and communication style to relationship satisfaction predicted 16% of the variance in relationship satisfaction. The second added a causal pathway directly from LHS to relationship satisfaction which reduced the estimate for the influence of communication style on relationship satisfaction and increased the total variance predicted in relationship satisfaction to 60%. These results challenge the notion that it is primarily the communication between two romantic partners which influences their relationship outcome by proposing that their LHS may be influential: (1) indirectly through their attachment style and communication style; and (2) directly upon relationship satisfaction.

Dispositional Forgiveness of Self, Others, and Situations

Six studies regarding forgiveness are presented. The Heartland Forgiveness Scale (HFS), a self-report measure of dispositional forgiveness (with subscales to assess forgiveness of self, others, and situations) was developed and demonstrated good psychometric properties. Forgiveness correlated positively with cognitive flexibility, positive affect, and distraction; it correlated negatively with rumination, vengeance, and hostility. Forgiveness predicted four components of psychological well-being (anger, anxiety, depression, and satisfaction with life); forgiveness of situations accounted for unique variance in these components of psychological well-being. Forgiveness and hostility demonstrated equivalent, inverse associations with relationship duration, and forgiveness accounted for unique variance in relationship satisfaction, even when controlling for trust. Forgiveness level correlated positively with decreased negativity in statements written about transgressions in the present versus the past tense.

Assessing How Much Couples Work at Their Relationship: The Behavioral Self-Regulation for Effective Relationships Scale.

It is widely believed that satisfying couple relationships require work by the partners. The authors equated the concept of work to relationship self-regulation and developed a scale to assess this construct. A factor analysis of the scale in a sample of 187 newlywed couples showed it comprised 2 factors of relationship strategies and effort. The factor structure was replicated in an independent sample of 97 newlywed couples. In both samples the scale had good internal consistency and high convergent validity between self- and partner-report forms. Self-regulation accounted for substantial variance in relationship satisfaction in both newlywed samples and in a 3rd sample of 61 long-married couples. The self-regulation and satisfaction association was independent of mood or self-report common method variance.