Abstract

1. We’re having a good (or bad) day: The moderating effects of relationship satisfaction on emotional synchrony. Ashley K. Randall, Shannon A. Corkery, Valerie J. Young, & Emily A. Butler University of Arizona Abstract Methods, cont. Conclusions and Implications Measures: Participants reported the amount of relationship satisfaction and the amount of positive and negative feelings they felt [To what extent did you feel (anger, sadness, joy, etc.) today?]. Our findings suggest that relationship satisfaction has a moderating effect on emotional synchrony. Our findings held true specifically for men. These findings help support existing research that shows the positive effects of relationships for men’s health outcomes. These results suggest that highly satisfied couples are more likely to engage in emotion regulation strategies with their partner, such as empathy, in order to maintain a positive relationship. Future work in this domain should examine the interplay of daily emotions, both internal and external to the relationships dyad, and the effects on relationship outcomes. Emotional synchrony refers to the interpersonal linkage of emotions between social partners. Synchrony of positive emotion appears unproblematic, but it is unclear whether synchrony of negative emotion contributes to desirable relationship outcomes through empathy, negative outcomes due negative contagion, or both. To investigate this, we conducted a one-week daily-diary study of committed heterosexual couples (N = 91 dyads) assessing global relationship satisfaction and daily positive and negative emotions. Using dyadic longitudinal models we found that the positive and negative emotions of satisfied, but not unsatisfied, men could be predicted from their partners’ emotions. These differential effects of satisfaction were not present for women. This suggests that satisfied men may be influenced by their partners’ negative emotions primarily through empathy, while unsatisfied men may be generally unaffected by their partners. Women, in contrast, may be susceptible to their partners’ emotions (good and bad) due to both empathy and contagion. Results Hypothesis 1 – Supported (see Figure 1). Results showed synchrony of positive emotions for highly satisfied males, F(1, 734) = 26. 21, p<.001. Background Research has defined the complex linkage of emotions between partners as emotional synchrony, whereby one partner’s emotions influences their partner’s felt emotions (Butner, Diamond, & Hicks, 2007). Emotional synchrony of positive emotions between partners may lead to desirable relationship outcomes such as closeness and felt security. However, can emotional synchrony of negative emotions lead to similar desirable outcomes through empathy? We hypothesize that couples that are highly satisfied will show greater degrees of emotional synchrony for both positive and negative emotions. Figure 1. Husbands who are highly satisfied with their relationship, are influenced by their wives' positivity Hypothesis 2 – Supported (see Figure 2). Results showed synchrony of negative emotions for highly satisfied males, F(1, 728) = 4.22, p<.05. Methods To test hypotheses we collected daily diary data from a community sample of heterosexual couples. Participants: 91 couples, mean age = 34 years 55% married, 61% European American. Procedure: Participants completed an online initial measure and 7 consecutive daily diary entries Acknowledgements The authors would like to acknowledge Leslie Bosch for her help with data collection. The authors acknowledge funding from the Frances McClelland Institute for Children, Youth, and Families. Figure 2. Husbands who are highly satisfied with their relationship, are influenced by their wives' negativity.