Maintenance Behaviors, Expectations for Maintenance, and Satisfaction: Linking Comparison Levels to Relational Maintenance Strategies

Abstract

Two studies were conducted to assess the relationship between expectancy fulfillment for the partner's use of relational maintenance activities and one's own satisfaction with the relationship. In Study 1, 478 people in romantic relationships completed questionnaires assessing their experience of their partner's use of maintenance activities relative to their expectations for the frequency with which maintenance should be performed. As interdependence theory predicts, the more one's experience with maintenance activities exceeded expectations, the more relational satisfaction was reported. The strongest predictors of satisfaction were the extent to which the partner's use of assurances and positivity exceeded one's expectations for these activities. In Study 2, 283 people in romantic relationships provided reports of their expectations for their partner's use of maintenance activities, as well as their perceptions of the frequency with which their partners actually engaged in maintenance behaviors. Results indicated that individuals had higher expectations for their partner's use of sharing tasks and assurances than for other maintenance behaviors. However, the perceived use of maintenance strategies was stronger in predicting relational satisfaction than were the discrepancy scores between expected and perceived use of such behaviors. Implications for an interdependence theory approach to relational maintenance are discussed.

Understanding Everyday Relationship Work: The Development of a Relationship Maintenance Scale

“…Relationship maintenance is a burgeoning area of research, and its role in relationship quality is important for enduring coupledoms (Dainton, 2000). These promising preliminary results warrant future tests of the psychometric properties of the RMS.…”

“…Relationships that are marked by high levels of satisfaction can help buffer stress (Walker & Luszcz, 2009). Research indicates that good communication (Mackey, Diemer, & O'Brien, 2004), low levels of conflict (Levenson, Carstensen, & Gottman, 1993), and relationship maintenance behaviors (Dainton, 2000) are associated with high relationship quality. Myriad research exists regarding relationship quality and satisfaction, whilst far less is known about what comprises everyday relationship maintenance.…”

“…Given that research has found that routine relationship maintenance behaviors are integral to relationship satisfaction (Dainton, 2000), assessing the degree to which these behaviors occur and how they influence relationship quality is fundamental. However, there is a dearth of scales available for measuring relationship maintenance.…”

The examination of parent-adolescent communication motives, relational maintenance and intimacy in the uses of communication technologies

“…The findings of Canary and Stafford (1992) show intimate partners should reveal both giving and receiving behaviors in an equal state to maintain a peaceful and long-term relationship. In contrast, Dainton (2000) attribute the satisfaction level of family relationship is largely relied on the comparison between one's expectation and relational maintenance behavior. If there is a gap between expectation and consequences of relational maintenance, the mechanism of mutual trust and satisfaction level are decreased.…”

An examination of relational-interdependent self-construal, communal strength, and pro-relationship behaviors in friendships

“…The value of engaging in these pro-relationship behaviors cannot be understated, as there is ample evidence that relationship maintenance, sacrificial behavior, and accommodation are associated with greater relationship quality and stability (Canary, Stafford, & Semic, 2002;Dainton, 2000;Mattingly & Clark, 2010;Oswald & Clark, 2003;Rusbult, Johnson, & Morrow, 1986;Rusbult, Olsen, Davis, & Hannon, 2001). Ultimately, RISC may be associated with more positive, rewarding, and long-lasting relationships because individuals whose self-construals are largely relationally-oriented tend to view their close relationships in terms of communal endeavors, which is associated with selfless and pro-social behavioral patterns.…”