A Dyadic Test of the Association Between Trait Self-Control and Romantic Relationship Satisfaction

Frontiers in Psychology

Anouk Scheres¹  Gesa Kappen¹  Johan C. Karremans¹  Pei-Ying Zuo¹  William J. Burk¹  Esther S. Kluwer²  Hagar Ter Kuile³ 

[1] Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands;Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands;Department of Social, Health and Organizational Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands;Department of Social, Health and Organizational Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands;

关键词: trait self-control;    relationship satisfaction;    relationship commitment;    romantic relationships;    dyadic;    cross-sectional;    longitudinal;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2020.594476

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Previous research has demonstrated that trait self-control is related to a range of positive romantic relationship processes, suggesting that trait self-control should be positively and robustly linked to relationship satisfaction in both partners in a romantic relationship. However, the existing empirical evidence is limited and mixed, especially regarding partner effects (i.e., the effect of one’s self-control on the partner’s relationship satisfaction). With three datasets of heterosexual couples (S1: N = 195 newlyweds, longitudinal; S2: N = 249 couples who transition into first parenthood, longitudinal; S3: N = 929 couples, cross-sectional), the present pre-registered studies examined: (1) the dyadic associations between trait self-control and relationship satisfaction both cross-sectionally and longitudinally, and (2) whether these effects hold when controlling for both partners’ relationship commitment. The results indicated a cross-sectional positive actor effect, some support for a positive cross-sectional partner effect, and only little support for a longitudinal actor (but not partner) effect. After controlling for relationship commitment, all effects of trait self-control on satisfaction diminished except for a longitudinal actor effect among women in Study 2. Potential explanations for the current results, and implications for theory and practice, are discussed.

【 授权许可】

CC BY