The role of identity in the link between relationship thinking and relationship satisfaction

The link between a partner's thinking about the relationship and relationsh ip satisfaction has been shown to be stronger for women than men. The main goal of this study was to examine the extent to which one's identity (rathe r than biological sex) moderates that link. In a survey of 238 couples (90 unmarried and 148 married), results indicated that, for unmarried couples, a general relational identity, or the tendency to see oneself in relation t o others in general, moderated the association between positive relationshi p thinking and satisfaction. For married couples, a couple identity, or the tendency to see oneself as part of the specific relationship, moderated th is association. These results were generally the same for both men and wome n, indicating that one's identity may be more important than biological sex in determining concurrent associations between relationship thinking and r elationship satisfaction. However, longitudinal findings suggest that long- term outcomes of positive relationship thinking may be stronger for women t han men. Results are discussed in terms of the development and importance o f a specific couple identity in committed relationships.