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How relationship satisfaction changes within and across romantic relationships: Evidence from a large longitudinal
Janina Larissa Bühler1, Ulrich Orth2
1Department of Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|January 11, 2024
Summary
Relationship satisfaction declines over time, especially in dissolving relationships. New relationships start with higher satisfaction but also see declines, with children and shorter breaks impacting this trend.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Human Development
Background:
- Relationship satisfaction is known to change systematically over time.
- Understanding these changes based on relationship outcomes is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how relationship satisfaction changes differently based on relationship outcomes (continuation, dissolution, new relationships).
- To examine changes within and across consecutive relationships.
Main Methods:
- Utilized multilevel models on longitudinal data from 2,268 participants (aged 16-90) over 20 years.
- Analyzed relationship satisfaction trends in continuing vs. dissolving relationships.
- Compared satisfaction in consecutive relationships of individuals.
Main Results:
- Dissolving relationships showed lower satisfaction and a more pronounced decrease compared to continuing ones.
- New relationships began with higher satisfaction than previous ones, but satisfaction declined in both.
- Children, shorter relationship durations, and shorter breaks between relationships moderated satisfaction decline.
Conclusions:
- Relationship satisfaction dynamics differ significantly based on relationship trajectory.
- A critical threshold of satisfaction may precede relationship dissolution.
- Findings enhance understanding of relationship satisfaction changes within and across relationships.
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