Normal and abnormal personality traits are associated with marital satisfaction for both men and women: An Actor¬タモPartner Interdependence Model analysis

Research has demonstrated associations between relationship satisfaction and personality traits. Using the Actor–Partner Interdependence Model, we explored associations between self-reported relationship satisfaction in couples (n = 118) and various measures of normal and abnormal personality, including higher-order dimensions of PE/Extraversion, NE/Neuroticism, Constraint (CON), and their lower-order facets. We also examined gender differences and moderators of associations. Consistent with the Vulnerability Stress Adaptation Model, selfand partner-reported NE and PE were related to satisfaction, and their lower-order traits demonstrated differential associations with satisfaction. Further, abnormal personality traits specific to the interpersonal domain and personality disorder symptoms demonstrated effects. Relationship length emerged as a significant moderator, with associations weakening as relationship duration increased. 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. The broad dimensions of individual differences in emotion, motivation, cognition, and behavior recognized in various structural models of personality (Clark & Watson, 1999; Goldberg, 1993; McCrae & Costa, 1990; Rothbart, Adahi, & Evans, 2000) each describe consistent patterns or styles of behavior that are either fundamentally interpersonal in nature (e.g., Agreeableness, Extraversion) or which likely shape the content and quality of interactions between individuals and their representations of one another (e.g., Neuroticism). Consistent with this, several higher-order normal personality traits have been linked concurrently and prospectively to relationship functioning across numerous interpersonal relationships, including parent–child (e.g., Kochanska, Friesenborg, Lange, & Martel, 2004; South, Krueger, Johnson, & Iacono, 2008), peer/friendship (e.g., Asendorpf &Wilpers, 1998; Graziano, Jensen-Campbell, & Hair, 1996), and significant other domains (e.g., Bono, Boles, Judge, & Lauver, 2002; Carver, 1997). Considerable research has focused on the effects of personality on interpersonal functioning in the domain of couple/marital relationships, with many examining marital dissatisfaction. Karney and Bradbury’s (1995) Vulnerability Stress Adaptation Model (VSA) proposed that individual characteristics, such as personality traits, contribute both to stressful experiences encountered by couples as well as to how effectively couples adapt to these experiences. Marital dissatisfaction is seen as resulting from the interplay of personality traits, stressful experiences and adaptive processes, with personality traits indirectly affecting marital dissatisfaction through adaptive processes (marital interactions). Consistent with the predictions of the VSA model, empirical work has evidenced support for links between personality traits and couple relationship constructs such as marital dissatisfaction. This work has predominately focused on the Big Three (Tellegen, 1985;Watson & Clark, 1992) higher-order dimensions of adult personality: Negative Emotionality (NE/Neuroticism, including elements of the Five Factor Model [FFM] Neuroticism and Agreeableness [inversely]), Positive Emotionality (PE/Extraversion, including FFM Extraversion and achieving aspects of Conscientiousness), and Constraint (CON, including controlled aspects of FFM Conscientiousness and elements of Openness to Experience). Among these, evidence for NE is particularly strong. High levels of self-reported NE are associated both concurrently and prospectively with lower marital quality and satisfaction (e.g., Caughlin, Huston, & Houts, 2000; Donnellan, Conger, & Bryant, 2004; Karney & Bradbury, 1997; Robins, Caspi, & Moffitt, 2000, 2002; see Karney and Bradbury (1995) for a review). In addition, individuals whose partners report 0092-6566/$ see front matter 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2010.05.011 * Corresponding author. E-mail addresses: [email protected], [email protected] (C.B. Stroud). 1 The FFM model relates to the Big Three higher-dimensions in the following way: (a) NE includes the FFM traits of Neuroticism and Agreeableness (inversely); (b) PE includes the FFM trait Extraversion and the achieving aspects of the FFM trait Conscientiousness; and (c) CON includes the controlled aspects of the FFM trait Conscientiousness and elements of the FFM trait of Openness to Experience (Church, 1994). Journal of Research in Personality 44 (2010) 466–477