Two personalities, one relationship: both partners' personality traits shape the quality of their relationship.
This research tested 6 models of the independent and interactive effects of stable personality traits on each partner's reports of relationship satisfaction and quality. Both members of 360 couples (N = 720) completed the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire and were interviewed about their relationship. Findings show that a woman's relationship happiness is predicted by her partner's low Negative Emotionality, high Positive Emotionality, and high Constraint, whereas a man's relationship happiness is predicted only by his partner's low Negative Emotionality. Findings also show evidence of additive but not interactive effects: Each partner's personality contributed independently to relationship outcomes but not in a synergistic way. These results are discussed in relation to models that seek to integrate research on individual differences in personality traits with research on interpersonal processes in intimate relationships.
Robins
R W
RW
Department of Psychology, University of California at Davis, 95616-8686, USA. rwrobins@ucdavis.edu
Caspi
A
A
Moffitt
T E
TE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009341:Negativism; D010551:Personality; D010553:Personality Development; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D018454:Spouses; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013694:Temperament; D014481:United States