title: Turbulent Times, Rocky Relationships: Relational Consequences of Experiencing Physical Instability.
abstract: What influences how people feel about and behave toward their romantic partners? Extending beyond features of the partners, relationship experiences, and social context, the current research examines whether benign, relationship-irrelevant factors-such as one's somatic experiences-can influence relationship perceptions and interpersonal behavior. Drawing on the embodiment literature, we propose that experiencing physical instability can undermine perceptions of relationship stability. Participants who experienced physical instability by sitting at a wobbly workstation rather than a stable workstation (Study 1), standing on one foot rather than two (Study 2), or sitting on an inflatable seat cushion rather than a rigid one (Study 3) perceived their romantic relationships to be less likely to last. Results were consistent with risk-regulation theory: Perceptions of relational instability were associated with reporting lower relationship quality (Studies 1-3) and expressing less affection toward the partner (Studies 2 and 3). These findings indicate that benign physical experiences can influence perceptions of relationship stability, exerting downstream effects on consequential relationship processes.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh forest@pitt.edu.
authors.forename: Amanda L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Forest
authors.affiliation: University of Waterloo.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Kille
authors.affiliation: University of Waterloo.
authors.forename: Joanne V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: University of Waterloo.
authors.forename: Lindsay R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Stehouwer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008149:Love; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D004856:Postural Balance; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D012931:Social Environment; D035501:Uncertainty; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: embodiment; interpersonal relationships; relationship stability; risk regulation; uncertainty