Socioemotional behavior and satisfaction in marital relationships: A longitudinal study.

Abstract

The interplay between 3 types of socioemotional behavior (affection, sexual interest, and negativity) and marital satisfaction was studied using data from newly married couples followed over 2 years. Affection and negativity (but not sexual interest) were consistently associated cross-sectionally with marital satisfaction. Longitudinal analyses revealed a gender-differentiated pattern suggesting a more complex relationship between satisfaction and marital behavior than previously shown. Negativity, regardless of whether it was expressed by the husband or the wife, was associated with declines in wives' (but not husbands') satisfaction. Wives of husbands who were relatively negative early in marriage became more negative themselves. Wives who were relatively less satisfied early in marriage (but not husbands) were married to spouses who became more negative with time.

Perceived Spouse's Affectionate and Antagonistic Behaviours and Marital Satisfaction

“…Combinations of spouses' affectionate and antagonistic behaviours in couple's everyday life differentiate marriages from one another (Caughlin & Huston, 2006). Affection and antagonism seem to be different dimensions, as confirmed by factor analyses and low correlation between the two (Gable, Reis, & Elliot, 2003;Huston & Vangelisti, 1991;Smith, Vivian, & O'Leary, 1990). In other words, lack of antagonism in marriage still does not make it affectionate and happy, just as lack of loving behaviours does not necessarily make it hostile.…”

“…how often spouses criticize each other, how much they disclose, and how consistently they validate each other). In other words, spouses' satisfaction is reflected in the way they treat each other which in turn defines their satisfaction with their relationship thus creating an interdependent system (Huston & Vangelisti, 1991). With time, marital satisfaction of each spouse, and the warm or hostile behaviour they express, come to mirror those of the partner.…”

“…Relationships may encounter problems when partners begin to interpret each other's behaviours negatively. Research (systematically presented in Huston & Vangelisti, 1991) has given a lot of support to the notion that it is negative rather than positive partner's behaviour that serves as a barometer of marital satisfaction, especially for distressed couples (Christensen & Walczynski, 1997;Gottman & Levenson, 1986;Noller, 1985;Notarius, Lashley, & Sullivan, 1997). In line with these findings, longitudinal studies have confirmed that the expression of negative affect predicts satisfaction at a later time (e.g., Kelley, Huston, & Cate, 1985;Markman, 1979Markman, , 1981 and that, when controlling for initial satisfaction, negativity predicts declines in satisfaction over time (Gottman & Krokoff, 1989;Levenson & Gottman, 1985).…”

“…However, as Caughlin and Huston (2006) point out "enduringly happy relationships involve more than just the absence of antagonism and strife" (p. 132). In the last decades a salient trend in the literature is to pay greater attention to the positive elements and there is growing recognition that affectionate and supportive behaviours are also important for a marriage to be successful (Bradbury, Cohan, & Karney, 1998;Gottman & Levenson, 2000;Huston & Houts, 1998;Huston, Caughlin, Houts, Smith, & George, 2001;Huston & Vangelisti, 1991;Vangelisti, 2002). For instance, positive behaviours have been found to covary with daily satisfaction ratings more strongly for happy than for distressed couples (Wills, Weiss, & Patterson, 1974).…”

Good days, bad days

“…This daily approach permits researchers to examine when changes occur and potentially identify situations or contexts associated with these changes. For example, although researchers have examined how aspects of relationship quality change over longer periods of time (Huston & Vangelisti, 1991;Rusbult, 1983), daily investigations of experiences and interactions may shed light on the mechanisms by which changes occur. In the current study, we used daily-based analysis to examine how sacrifices and hassles may strengthen or erode specific types of positive relationship quality.…”