Within-person variability and couple synchrony in state relationship satisfaction: Testing predictors and...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Relationship Science
• Social Psychology

Background:

• Traditional research on relationship satisfaction focuses on long-term traits.
• Daily fluctuations in romantic relationships are critical for understanding relationship development.
• State relationship satisfaction and its variability/synchrony require examination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate within-person variability and couple synchrony in state relationship satisfaction.
• To identify predictors of variability and synchrony.
• To examine the implications of variability and synchrony for relationship outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized two dyadic datasets of heterosexual couples (N=593 in Study 1, N=150 in Study 2).
• Employed multiwave diary and experience sampling methods to assess state relationship satisfaction daily and multiple times daily.
• Applied dynamic structural equation modeling to analyze variability and synchrony.

Main Results:

• Individuals exhibited significant variability in state relationship satisfaction, with greater variability across days than within days.
• Couple synchrony in satisfaction variability was moderate to high.
• Perceived responsiveness and neuroticism predicted variability; women's perceived responsiveness predicted synchrony.

Conclusions:

• Variability in state relationship satisfaction is common in romantic relationships.
• Higher variability correlates with lower trait relationship satisfaction.
• Variability and synchrony did not predict long-term relationship satisfaction or stability, but high variability may indicate unmet needs.