title: Development of self-esteem and relationship satisfaction in couples: Two longitudinal studies.
abstract: We examined the effects of self-esteem development on the development of relationship satisfaction in 2 samples of couples. Study 1 used data from both partners of 885 couples assessed 5 times over 12 years, and Study 2 used data from both partners of 6,116 couples assessed 3 times over 15 years. The pattern of results was similar across the 2 studies. First, development of relationship satisfaction could be modeled as a couple-level process. Second, initial level of self-esteem of each partner predicted the initial level of the partners' common relationship satisfaction, and change in self-esteem of each partner predicted change in the partners' common relationship satisfaction. Third, these effects did not differ by gender and held when controlling for participants' age, length of relationship, health, and employment status. Fourth, self-esteem similarity among partners did not influence the development of their relationship satisfaction. The findings suggest that the development of self-esteem in both partners of a couple contributes in a meaningful way to the development of the partners' common satisfaction with their relationship.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Basel.
authors.forename: Ruth Yasemin
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Erol
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Bern.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Orth
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004651:Employment; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult