Assortative mating and marital quality in newlyweds: a couple-centered approach.
Using a couple-centered approach, the authors examined assortative mating on a broad range of variables in a large (N = 291) sample of newlyweds. Couples showed substantial similarity on attitude-related domains but little on personality-related domains. Similarity was not due to social homogamy or convergence. The authors examined linear and curvilinear effects of spouse similarity on self and observer indicators of marital quality. Results show (a) positive associations between similarity and marital quality for personality-related domains but not for attitude-related domains, (b) that similarity on attachment characteristics were most strongly predictive of satisfaction, (c) robust curvilinear effects for husbands but not for wives, (d) that profile similarity remained a significant predictor of marital quality even when spouses' self-ratings were controlled, and (e) that profile-based similarity indices were better predictors of marital quality than absolute difference scores.
Luo
Shanhong
S
Department of Psychology, E11 Seashore Hall, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242-1407, USA. shanhong-luo@uiowa.edu
Klohnen
Eva C
EC
D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D003710:Demography; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D009769:Object Attachment; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D012945:Social Values; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires