Similarity, communication, and satisfaction in intimate relationships: The role of ideal standards
Similarity, communication, and satisfaction in intimate relationships: The role of ideal standards

Summary/Abstract: Recent research and theory suggest that people use ideal standards (organized around five major dimensions: warmth/trustworthiness, vitality/attractiveness, status/resource, intimacy loyalty, and passion) to evaluate their intimate partner and relationships. Guided by the ideal Standards model (Simpson, Fletcher & Campbell, 2001), we examined actor and partner effects of perceived ideal similarity and communication of ideals on relationship satisfaction, using the actor‑partner interdependence model (APIM and APIMeM) and data from a sample of 100 couples. The results indicated that perceived ideal similarity predicted the individual’s own relationship satisfaction (all dimensions), and the relationship satisfaction of his or her partner (four dimensions: warmth/ trustworthiness, vitality/attractiveness, status/resources, and passion). In the case of communication of ideals, the partner effect was statistically significant for all dimensions, while the actor effect was significant for three dimensions: status/resources, intimacy/loyalty, and passion. Moreover, we tested whether communication of ideals mediate the effect of perceived ideal similarity on relationship satisfaction. We found support for the full mediation hypothesis for the warmth/trustworthiness and status/resources dimensions.

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