Flora and segrin

Year

2003

Aim

To examine how perceptions of relational history predicted

relational well-being in dating and married couples.

Participants

65 married couples and 66 dating couples, at least 20 years

old and native speakers of English.

Procedure

Measurements of relationship well-being (satisfaction

and stability) were taken twice with a six-month interval.

– A semi-structured interview was used

where participants answered a set of open-ended

questions while their partner was

present in the same room. A coding scheme was used

later to assess the interview transcripts against a set of

scales

– In addition, relationship development was assessed

through relationship development breadth—a

questionnaire completed by the participants alone.

Relationship development breadth is the extent to which

partners have experienced specific behaviours, cognitions and

affect in the course of the relationship. The more behaviours,

cognitions and emotional reactions you experienced

in the course of a relationship, the “broader” your

relationship development has been.

Results

Break-up and lower satisfaction at time 2 (six months

after the start of the study) were related to little relational

development breadth and negative oral history appraisals.

Conclusion

Researchers concluded that a variety of behavioural,

cognitive and affective experiences are necessary for long-

lasting relationships.