A Latent Variable Analysis of Couple Closeness, Attributions, and Relational Satisfaction

Evidence has shown that couple closeness is positively correlated with relational satisfaction, but explanatory constructs have not been identified. Also, much research on relational satisfaction tests individual psychological correlates of satisfaction outside of couple interdependence. The latent variable model makes it possible to test such interdependencies at the individual, dyadic, and cross-individual levels. The authors predicted that the positive association between closeness and satisfaction would be partially mediated by attributional charity for positive and negative partner behavior. Using the latent variable model, they found that couples who had mutually high perceptions of closeness reported mutual satisfaction and made more positive attributions for partner behavior. However, when only one partner perceived high closeness, there were no effects on that partner's attributions or satisfaction. Findings suggest that relational satisfaction is contingent not just on individuals'perceptions, but also on the implicit communication of attributional charity that depends on couple interdependence.

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