"Date nights" take two: The maintenance function of shared relationship activities. Issue 1 (21st November 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: GIRME, YUTHIKA U.; OVERALL, NICKOLA C.; FAINGATAA, SIVAILELE
• Is Part Of: Personal relationships. Volume 21:Issue 1(2014)
• Page Start: 125
• Page End: 149
• Publication Date: 2013-11-21
• Subjects: Interpersonal relations -- Periodicals; 302
• DOI: 10.1111/pere.12020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1350-4126

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="pere12020-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p id="pere12020-para-0001">One‐hundred and ninety‐six individuals (Study 1) and 83 couples (Study 2) reported on their shared relationship activities—activities that individuals engage in with their partner to facilitate closeness in their romantic relationships. Couples also reported on the quality of their shared activities and relationships 3 months later (Study 2). Results indicated that shared activities help to sustain relationships, and do so beyond threat‐based maintenance strategies (i.e., accommodation). Activities that were satisfying, stress‐free, and increased closeness predicted greater relationship quality concurrently and longitudinally. However, positive activity and relationship outcomes depended on the degree to which partners were dedicated to the activity, indicating that shared activities sustain relationship quality only when partners are responsive and want to share relationship activities.</p> </abstract>