Five-factor personality similarity and marital adjustment

No previous research has examined the relationship between marital adjustme nt and similarity of partner personality on a measure of the five-factor pe rsonality model. The present study examined this relationship in 99 married couples. Spousal similarity on the domains of Conscientiousness, Agreeable ness, Neuroticism, and several personality facets was related to marital ad justment. With the exception of Conscientiousness, the traits on which simi larity was related to adjustment differed for husbands and wives. Reasons f or these sex differences are discussed.