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This study developed a method to code couples' relationship narratives, called "We-Stories," to measure "We-ness." Happy couples' stories revealed security, pleasure, and shared meaning as key elements, validating the coding manual.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Relationship Science
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • "We-ness," a couple's mutual investment, is vital for relationship resilience.
  • Measuring "We-ness" in clinical settings is challenging.
  • Couple narratives offer a window into relationship dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and validate a coding system for couple-created narratives ("We-Stories") to capture "We-ness."
  • To identify the core thematic elements constituting "We-ness" in relationship narratives.
  • To assess the relationship between coded "We-ness" elements and relationship satisfaction/mutuality.

Main Methods:

  • Fifty-three self-identified "happy" couples co-constructed relationship narratives ("We-Stories").
  • Couples completed measures of relationship satisfaction and mutuality.
  • A novel coding manual was used to analyze the thematic elements within the We-Stories.

Main Results:

  • Security (safety, support, commitment) was the most prevalent theme (58.5%).
  • Pleasure (49.1%) and shared meaning/vision (37.7%) were also common elements.
  • The quantity of "We-ness" elements predicted relationship mutuality scores, supporting the manual's validity.

Conclusions:

  • The We-Stories coding manual effectively captures key elements of couple "We-ness."
  • Security, pleasure, and shared meaning are foundational components of relationship "We-ness."
  • This method offers a valuable tool for assessing and potentially enhancing couple resilience in therapy.