Relationship-contingent self-esteem and the ups and downs of romantic relationships.
Relationship-contingent self-esteem (RCSE) emerges from perspectives on authenticity, need fulfillment, and relationship functioning and is an unhealthy form of self-esteem that depends on one's relationship. Four studies provided evidence of convergent, discriminant, incremental, and predictive validity for RCSE. Study 1 tested associations between RCSE and several conceptually related and unrelated constructs in multiple samples. In Study 2, the authors employed an event-contingent diary procedure to examine reports of self-esteem as a function of everyday relationship events. The association between event valence and changes in self-esteem became stronger with RCSE, and this interaction remained controlling for several parallel interactions by other constructs. Study 3 employed an interval-contingent diary procedure and found support for a mediation model in which the moderating role of RCSE largely occurred through momentary emotions, which in turn predicted momentary self-esteem. Study 4 sampled couples and found that partners who were both higher in RCSE felt more committed but not more satisfied or close.
Knee
C Raymond
CR
Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-5022, USA. knee@uh.edu
Canevello
Amy
A
Bush
Amber L
AL
Cook
Astrid
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002605:Character; D003858:Dependency, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008149:Love; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012649:Self Concept; D012917:Social Adjustment; D055815:Young Adult