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.