Differing Levels of Gratitude Between Romantic Partners: Concurrent and Longitudinal Links With Satisfaction and Commitment in Six Dyadic Datasets
Authors
Yoobin Park
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
Amie Gordon
Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Sarah Humberg
Department of Psychology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
Amy Muise
Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Canada
Emily A. Impett
Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Mississauga, Canada
Abstract
Gratitude promotes high quality relationships, but what happens when partners differ in their levels of gratitude? We examined the dyadic nature of gratitude in relationships using six longitudinal datasets (562 couples). Approaching the dyadic effect from the perspective of a “weak-link” hypothesis, we tested if the link between one partner’s gratitude and relationship quality is reduced if the other partner is low in gratitude. Our results overall did not support this hypothesis as they indicated that grateful individuals were more satisfied and committed at baseline, and more grateful and committed over time, regardless of their partner’s level of gratitude. As an alternative way to conceptualize the dyadic effect of gratitude, we explored a potential similarity effect using Dyadic Response Surface Analysis. Our results revealed no unique effect of having two partners reciprocating the same levels of gratitude above and beyond the effect of each partner’s gratitude.