Longitudinal actor, partner, and similarity effects of personality on well-being.

The current study aimed to conceptually replicate previous studies on the effects of actor personality, partner personality, and personality similarity on general and relational well-being by using response surface analyses and a longitudinal sample of 4,464 romantic couples. Similar to previous studies using difference scores and profile correlations, results from response surface analyses indicated that personality similarity explained a small amount of variance in well-being as compared with the amount of variance explained by linear actor and partner effects. However, response surface analyses also revealed that second-order terms (i.e., the interaction term and quadratic terms of actor and partner personality) were systematically linked to couples' well-being for all traits except neuroticism. In particular, most response surfaces showed a complex pattern in which the effect of similarity and dissimilarity on well-being depended on the level and combination of actor and partner personality. In addition, one small but robust similarity effect was found, indicating that similarity in agreeableness was related to women's experience of support across the eight years of the study. The discussion focuses on the implications of these findings for theory and research on personality similarity in romantic relationships. (PsycINFO Database Record

• Publication year

  2019

• Venue

  Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

• Publication date

  2019-10-01

• Fields of study

  Medicine, Psychology

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1037/pspp0000211PMID 30102060PMCID PMC6374220
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

• Understanding Relationships

  2019cited by this paper
• Interaction Concepts of Personality

  2019cited by this paper
• Response Surface Analysis in Personality and Social Psychology: Checklist and Clarifications for the Case of Congruence Hypotheses

  2019cited by this paper
• Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic

  2019cited by this paper
• Response surface analysis with multilevel data: Illustration for the case of congruence hypotheses.

  2019cited by this paper
• Enhanced Versus Simply Positive: A New Condition-Based Regression Analysis to Disentangle Effects of Self-Enhancement From Effects of Positivity of Self-View

  2018cited by this paper
• Concurrent and longitudinal dyadic polynomial regression analyses of Big Five traits and relationship satisfaction: Does similarity matter?

  2017influential reference
• Ideal Standards, Acceptance, and Relationship Satisfaction: Latitudes of Differential Effects

  2017cited by this paper
• Uncovering the Power of Personality to Shape Income

  2017cited by this paper
• Associations among relational values, support, health, and well‐being across the adult lifespan

  2017cited by this paper
• How to Test Questions About Similarity in Personality and Social Psychology Research

  2017cited by this paper
• Personality development in old age relates to physical health and cognitive performance: Evidence from the Berlin Aging Study II

  2016cited by this paper
• The Correlates of Similarity Estimates Are Often Misleadingly Positive

  2016cited by this paper
• The Interdependence of Personality and Satisfaction in Couples

  2016influential reference
• To Live Among Like-Minded Others

  2016cited by this paper
• The Social Consequences and Mechanisms of Personality: How to Analyse Longitudinal Data from Individual, Dyadic, Round–Robin and Network Designs

  2015cited by this paper
• Idiosyncratic versus social consensus approaches to personality: Self-view, perceived, and peer-view similarity.

  2015cited by this paper
• Testing Fit Patterns with Polynomial Regression Models

  2015influential reference
• Partner similarity matters for the insecure: : Attachment orientations moderate the association between similarity in partners personality traits and relationship satisfaction

  2014influential reference
• R: A language and environment for statistical computing.

  2014influential reference
• The role of active assortment in spousal similarity.

  2014cited by this paper
• Why do personality traits predict divorce? Multiple pathways through satisfaction.

  2014cited by this paper
• Cohort Profile: the Health and Retirement Study (HRS).

  2014cited by this paper
• Personality similarity and life satisfaction in couples

  2013influential reference
• How Large Are Actor and Partner Effects of Personality on Relationship Satisfaction? The Importance of Controlling for Shared Method Variance

  2013cited by this paper
• A general and simple method for obtaining R2 from generalized linear mixed‐effects models

  2013cited by this paper
• Self-verification theory.

  2012cited by this paper
• Personality and relationship quality during the transition from high school to early adulthood.

  2012cited by this paper
• Polynomial Regression with Response Surface Analysis: A Powerful Approach for Examining Moderation and Overcoming Limitations of Difference Scores

  2010cited by this paper
• Is Spousal Similarity for Personality A Matter of Convergence or Selection?

  2010cited by this paper
• Predicting relationship and life satisfaction from personality in nationally representative samples from three countries: the relative importance of actor, partner, and similarity effects.

  2010influential reference
• Emerging late adolescent friendship networks and Big Five personality traits: a social network approach.

  2010cited by this paper
• The Five-Factor Model of personality and relationship satisfaction of intimate partners: A meta-analysis

  2010influential reference
• Compensatory Conscientiousness and Health in Older Couples

  2009cited by this paper
• Personality trait similarity between spouses in four cultures.

  2008cited by this paper
• Is actual similarity necessary for attraction? A meta-analysis of actual and perceived similarity

  2008cited by this paper
• The Secret Lives of Liberals and Conservatives: Personality Profiles, Interaction Styles, and the Things They Leave Behind

  2008cited by this paper
• A framework for profile similarity: integrating similarity, normativeness, and distinctiveness.

  2008cited by this paper
• Romantic ideals, romantic obtainment, and relationship experiences

  2007cited by this paper
• Dyadic Data Analysis

  2007cited by this paper
• Patterns of mean-level change in personality traits across the life course: a meta-analysis of longitudinal studies.

  2006cited by this paper
• Couple similarity and marital satisfaction: are similar spouses happier?

  2006cited by this paper
• Self and partner personality in intimate relationships

  2005cited by this paper
• Match makers and deal breakers: analyses of assortative mating in newlywed couples.

  2004cited by this paper
• The Big Five and enduring marriages

  2004cited by this paper
• Understanding AIC and BIC in Model Selection

  2004cited by this paper
• Emotional convergence between people over time.

  2003cited by this paper
• How Close Are We? Measuring Intimacy and Examining Gender Differences

  2003cited by this paper
• Alternatives to difference scores: Polynomial regression analysis and response surface methodology.

  2002influential reference
• Orthogonal Markers for Orthogonal Factors: The Case of the Big Five

  2002cited by this paper
• Mixed-Effects Models in S and S-Plus

  2001cited by this paper
• Marital Happiness, Marital Duration, and the U-Shaped Curve: Evidence from a Five-Wave Panel Study

  2001cited by this paper
• Personality-Relationship transaction in young adulthood.

  2001cited by this paper
• Difference score correlations in relationship research: A conceptual primer

  1999cited by this paper
• The Big Five Trait taxonomy: History, measurement, and theoretical perspectives.

  1999cited by this paper
• Interpersonal and psychological correlates of marital dissatisfaction in late life: a review.

  1999cited by this paper
• The happy personality: a meta-analysis of 137 personality traits and subjective well-being.

  1998cited by this paper
• Personality and mate preferences: five factors in mate selection and marital satisfaction.

  1997cited by this paper
• Men's and Women's Beliefs About Communication in Intimate Relationships: When Sex Differences Make A Difference - And When They Don't

  1996cited by this paper
• On Traits and Values: With Special Reference to Openness to Experience

  1996cited by this paper
• Men's and Women's Evaluations of Communication Skills in Personal Relationships: When Sex Differences Make a Difference and when they don't

  1996cited by this paper
• Social consequences of experiential openness.

  1996cited by this paper
• The longitudinal course of marital quality and stability: a review of theory, method, and research.

  1995influential reference
• The Study of Congruence in Organizational Behavior Research: Critique and a Proposed Alternative

  1994cited by this paper
• Thoughts about talk in romantic relationships: Similarity makes for attraction (and happiness, too)

  1994cited by this paper
• On the Use of Polynomial Regression Equations As An Alternative to Difference Scores in Organizational Research

  1993cited by this paper
• Problems with the use of profile similarity indices in the study of congruence in organizational research.

  1993influential reference
• Long-term marriage: age, gender, and satisfaction.

  1993cited by this paper
• The relationship between income and subjective well-being: Relative or absolute?

  1993cited by this paper
• THE DEVELOPMENT OF MARKERS FOR THE BIG-FIVE FACTOR STRUCTURE

  1992cited by this paper
• Retirement: What happens to husband-wife relationships?

  1991cited by this paper
• Multiple Regression: Testing and Interpreting Interactions

  1991cited by this paper
• Inferred evaluation and the relation between attitude similarity and interpersonal attraction.

  1988cited by this paper
• The Satisfaction With Life Scale.

  1985cited by this paper
• A psychological taxonomy of trait-descriptive terms: The interpersonal domain.

  1979cited by this paper
• Objective Personality Assessment

  1978cited by this paper
• How we should measure "change": Or should we?

  1970cited by this paper
• Attraction and similarity of personality characteristics.

  1967cited by this paper
• ATTRACTION AS A LINEAR FUNCTION OF PROPORTION OF POSITIVE REINFORCEMENTS.

  1965cited by this paper
• Interpersonal attraction and attitude similarity.

  1961cited by this paper
• The prediction of interpersonal attraction

  1956cited by this paper

• The Relationship Between Economic Pressure, Emotional Neglect and Anxiety Among Chinese Left-Behind Children: Based on Response Surface Analysis

  2025cites this paper
• The interplay between gender and personality in relationship outcomes: Satisfaction across domains and partnership status

  2025cites this paper
• Trait emotion regulation similarity and well-being

  2025cites this paper
• On person-community fit: Trait-, person-, and type-based approaches to measurement

  2024cites this paper
• A Multidisciplinary Perspective on Person-Environment Fit: Relevance, Measurement, and Future Directions

  2024cites this paper
• Own and Partner Attachment Insecurity Interact to Predict Marital Satisfaction and Dissolution

  2024cites this paper
• Trait and facet personality similarity and relationship and life satisfaction in romantic couples.

  2023cites this paper
• Evidence of correlations between human partners based on systematic reviews and meta-analyses of 22 traits and UK Biobank analysis of 133 traits

  2023cites this paper
• The effects of similarity in personality and values on relationship satisfaction among dating couples: A response surface analysis

  2023cites this paper
• Research-Problem Validity in Primary Research: Precision and Transparency in Characterizing Past Knowledge

  2023cites this paper
• Mate evaluation theory.

  2022influential citation
• Partner influences on ICT use variety among middle-aged and older adults: The role of need for cognition

  2022cites this paper
• Predicting romantic interest during early relationship development: A preregistered investigation using machine learning

  2022cites this paper
• PowerLAPIM: An application to conduct power analysis for linear and quadratic longitudinal actor–partner interdependence models in intensive longitudinal dyadic designs

  2022cites this paper
• Health Literacy and Personality Traits in Two Types of Family Structure—A Cross-Sectional Study in China

  2022cites this paper
• Profile Similarities Among Romantic Partners’ Character Strengths and Their Associations with Relationship- and Life Satisfaction

  2022cites this paper
• Relationship between personality of owner-managers and performance of internet cafes in Free State, South Africa

  2022cites this paper
• Special Issue: Nonlinear Effects and Dynamics in Close Relationships

  2022cites this paper
• Similarity in Situation Perception Predicts Relationship Satisfaction

  2022cites this paper
• How Secure and Preoccupied Attachment Relate to Offence-Specific Forgiveness in Couples

  2022cites this paper
• IN GOOD TIMES AND IN BAD 1 In Good Times and in Bad: A Longitudinal Analysis of the Impact of Bereavement on Self-Esteem and Life Satisfaction in Couples

  2021cites this paper
• In good times and in bad: A longitudinal analysis of the impact of bereavement on self-esteem and life satisfaction in couples

  2021cites this paper
• Are Couples More Satisfied When They Match in Sexual Desire? New Insights From Response Surface Analyses

  2021cites this paper
• Revisiting Adult Playfulness and Relationship Satisfaction: APIM Analyses of Middle-Aged and Older Couples

  2021cites this paper
• Modeling dating decisions in a mock swiping paradigm: An examination of participant and target characteristics

  2021cites this paper
• Associations between sense of purpose and romantic relationship quality in adulthood

  2020cites this paper
• Home Is Where the Heart Is

  2020cites this paper
• Are Couples More Satisfied When They Match in Sexual Desire?: New Insights From Response Surface Analyses:

  2020cites this paper
• Reciprocity and personality in diet-related spousal involvement among older couples managing diabetes: The role of gender

  2020cites this paper
• Dyadic profiles of personality among older couples: Associations with marital quality

  2020cites this paper
• Lonely Me, Lonely You: Loneliness and the Longitudinal Course of Relationship Satisfaction

  2020cites this paper
• Actor, partner, and similarity effects of personality on global and experienced well-being.

  2019cites this paper
• Self–other personality agreement and internalizing problems in adolescence

  2019cites this paper
• When insecurity dampens desire: Attachment anxiety in men amplifies the decline in sexual desire during the early years of romantic relationships

  2019cites this paper
• Who gives and receives more? Older couples' personality and spousal support

  2019cites this paper
• Old dog, new tricks: Age differences in dog personality traits, associations with human personality traits, and links to important outcomes

  2019cites this paper