Savoring positive events in couple life: impacts on relationship quality and dyadic adjustment

Susana Costa-Ramalho*, Alexandra Marques-Pinto, Maria Teresa Ribeiro, Cicero Roberto Pereira

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Savoring is as an emotion regulation process that moderates the effect of positive events on positive feelings and helps people to generate, maintain, and increase their positive emotional experiences. Savoring processes are expected to have an impact on romantic relationships, although no study has yet been conducted. Using self-reported data from 473 adults in a conjugal relationship, this study investigated the predictive value of savoring strategies regarding relationship quality and dyadic adjustment; and whether savoring responses moderate the relationship between positive events in couplehood and the relational outcomes. Counting blessings, feeling relieved, memory building, and kill-joy thinking strategies predict several relational dimensions. Moderation analyses highlight that the behavioral expression, counting blessings, and memory building strategies affect positive events’ impact on several relational outcomes. Given the suggested role of savoring strategies in partners’ relational well-being, we believe that this issue may be targeted in marital counseling or training programs.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)170-180
Number of pages11
JournalFamily Science
Volume6
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Couplehood
  • Dyadic adjustment
  • Positive events
  • Relationship quality
  • Savoring strategies

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