The associations between relationship self‐regulation, partner regulation, and relationship outcomes: A meta‐analysis

Abstract

The aim of this meta‐analysis was to determine whether relationship self‐regulation (changing aspects of the self for the sake of the relationship) or partner regulation (changing the partner for the sake of the self/relationship) was more strongly associated with romantic relationship quality. Twenty studies (5 on relationship self‐regulation, 15 on partner regulation; N = 15,563) were included. A moderate positive association was found between relationship self‐regulation and relationship quality (r = .42). A weak positive association was found between positive partner regulation and relationship quality (r = .14). A negative association was found between negative partner regulation strategies and relationship quality (r = −.22). Partner regulation strategies were unlikely to be successful in prompting change in targeted partners. A weak positive association was found between positive strategies and regulation success (r = .10), and a weak negative association was found between negative strategies and regulation success (r = −.09). Thus, relationship self‐regulation is more strongly associated with relationship quality than partner regulation.