2008 Woodie Awards
Researchers explore what makes relationships last
Rose Soliven
Issue date: 2/13/08 Section: College News
Numerous examples of romantic love can be seen in a typical day - an online news headline reveals the latest celebrity hookup, a woman hugs her tear-stained friend who just broke up with her boyfriend, and an affectionate couple kisses goodbye before departing for class.
However, with all these images of love, one may ask, what makes a relationship last?
Researchers have wondered the same thing and have explored various facets of relationship satisfaction in several studies.
Optimism is one characteristic researchers investigated to determine its effects on relationship satisfaction. Psychologists Sanjay Srivastava from the University of Oregon, Kelly M. McGonigal from Stanford University and three other psychologists from across the nation found in their 2006 study that optimistic people and their partners, who may or may not be optimistic themselves, felt greater satisfaction in their relationships.
Out of the 108 couples who participated by completing questionnaires about their relationship and optimism levels, the optimists and their partners felt they experienced less intense disagreements, took part in conflicts more positively and were more satisfied with the results of their disagreements. The study also found that male optimists stayed in their relationships longer than the other male participants.
In their 2007 study, Michigan State University's Kimberly K. Assad and M. Brent Donnellan and the University of California's Rand D. Conger found results that confirmed previous research on optimism and relationship satisfaction. Their study also found optimism was associated with friendly problem solving in relationships.
Christine Allen, an IUPUI sophomore student, says she values a positive outlook in a relationship.
"It helps to be optimistic, to know that everything will be OK in the end," she says.
Another trait psychologists have looked at is perfectionism. In 2006 Frederick G. Lopez, Alia Fons-Scheyd, Wendy Morúa and Rebecca Chaliman from the University of Houston conducted a study of more than 120 college students involved in romantic relationships. In addition to completing questionnaires about themselves and their relationships, the participants answered questions that determined whether they possessed a form of perfectionism.
However, with all these images of love, one may ask, what makes a relationship last?
Researchers have wondered the same thing and have explored various facets of relationship satisfaction in several studies.
Optimism is one characteristic researchers investigated to determine its effects on relationship satisfaction. Psychologists Sanjay Srivastava from the University of Oregon, Kelly M. McGonigal from Stanford University and three other psychologists from across the nation found in their 2006 study that optimistic people and their partners, who may or may not be optimistic themselves, felt greater satisfaction in their relationships.
Out of the 108 couples who participated by completing questionnaires about their relationship and optimism levels, the optimists and their partners felt they experienced less intense disagreements, took part in conflicts more positively and were more satisfied with the results of their disagreements. The study also found that male optimists stayed in their relationships longer than the other male participants.
In their 2007 study, Michigan State University's Kimberly K. Assad and M. Brent Donnellan and the University of California's Rand D. Conger found results that confirmed previous research on optimism and relationship satisfaction. Their study also found optimism was associated with friendly problem solving in relationships.
Christine Allen, an IUPUI sophomore student, says she values a positive outlook in a relationship.
"It helps to be optimistic, to know that everything will be OK in the end," she says.
Another trait psychologists have looked at is perfectionism. In 2006 Frederick G. Lopez, Alia Fons-Scheyd, Wendy Morúa and Rebecca Chaliman from the University of Houston conducted a study of more than 120 college students involved in romantic relationships. In addition to completing questionnaires about themselves and their relationships, the participants answered questions that determined whether they possessed a form of perfectionism.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Julia
posted 3/10/08 @ 3:25 PM EST
Self-reported evaluations tend to be highly inaccurate. Who sets the standard for perfectionism?
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