Optimism: An Enduring Resource for Romantic Relationships

This study extends research on the adaptive aspects of dispositional optimism to romantic relationships. We hypothesized that optimism would be positively linked to cooperative problem solving in romantic relationships, given previous research indicating that optimists are likely to use approach cop...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of personality and social psychology 2007-08, Vol.93 (2), p.285-297
Main Authors: Assad, Kimberly K, Donnellan, M. Brent, Conger, Rand D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Affect
Biological and medical sciences
Cooperation
Correlation analysis
Couple and family
Couples
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Human
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Interpersonal Relationships
Love
Male
Optimism
Personal relationships
Personal Satisfaction
Personality
Personality traits
Personality. Affectivity
Problem Solving
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Relationship Satisfaction
Romance
Romantic relationships
Romanticism
Satisfaction
Social interactions. Communication. Group processes
Social psychology
Studies
Surveys and Questionnaires
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Summary:This study extends research on the adaptive aspects of dispositional optimism to romantic relationships. We hypothesized that optimism would be positively linked to cooperative problem solving in romantic relationships, given previous research indicating that optimists are likely to use approach coping strategies. Results indicated that optimism was linked to satisfying and happy romantic relationships, and a substantial portion of this association was mediated by reports of cooperative problem solving. Moreover, optimism predicted relative increases in relationship satisfaction over a 2-year interval. All told, these results suggest that optimism may serve as an enduring resource for romantic unions.
ISSN:0022-3514
1939-1315
DOI:10.1037/0022-3514.93.2.285