Couples in therapy: A positive psychology investigation of similarity, personality, positive affect, life satisfaction, and relationship problems

The impact of positive affect on relationships and other psychological variables have been extensively researched (Deiner & Seligman, 2002; Snyder & Lopez, 2002). Individuals with higher levels of positive affect tend to be more satisfied in their intimate relationships (Robins et al., 2002; Watson et al., 2000), and those who report happiness have higher levels of life satisfaction (Deiner & Seligman, 2002). In addition to positive affect influencing satisfaction in intimate relationships, being similar to one's partner is associated with positive relationship outcomes (Nemechek & Olson, 1999). Individuals tend to be attracted to those who are similar to them on personality characteristics, demographics, attitudes, and physical characteristics (Botwin, et al., 1997; Gattis et al., 2004).;This dissertation examined positive affect similarity as a moderator between personality similarity (Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Openness to Experience, and Emotionality) and life satisfaction as well as perception of relationship problems of couples in therapy. The personality variable of Extraversion was examined in an exploratory manner. Participants included 664 couples from a local community mental health center. Eighty-nine percent of the sample were opposite-sex couples and 11 percent of the sample identified as same sex couples.;Results revealed that there were no differences between opposite-sex couples and same-sex couples on personality, life satisfaction, or partner relationship problems. Findings suggested that conscientiousness and agreeableness similarity were significant predictors of life satisfaction and fewer partner relationship problems in opposite-sex couples. Positive affect was a predictor of life satisfaction for opposite-sex couples. The moderator interactions were not statistically significant. Positive affect similarity was a significant moderator of extraversion similarity and life satisfaction for same-sex couples.;Integrating positive affect may be beneficial for couples in therapy because it may help with life satisfaction and perception of relationship problems for opposite-sex couples, especially when examining similarity of conscientiousness and agreeableness. Therapy with same-sex couples could emphasize both extraversion and positive affect similarity to increase life satisfaction. More research is needed in this area to further clarify these relationships. Study limitations, additional implications for practice, and future research ideas are discussed.