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Relationship social comparison interpretations and dating relationship quality, behaviors, and mood
Author(s) -
MORRY MARIAN M.,
SUCHARYNA TAMARA A.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
personal relationships
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.81
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1475-6811
pISSN - 1350-4126
DOI - 10.1111/pere.12143
Subject(s) - psychology , mood , social psychology , scale (ratio) , quality (philosophy) , interpretation (philosophy) , positive relationship , affect (linguistics) , accommodation , developmental psychology , philosophy , physics , communication , epistemology , quantum mechanics , neuroscience , computer science , programming language
Social comparisons are common in dating relationships. We examined individuals' cognitive interpretations (e.g., hope for the future or one's own relationship is not doing well) after an upward, downward, or lateral social comparison to a friend's dating relationship. Exploratory factor analyses indicated three factors in the Relationship Social Comparison Interpretation scale ( RSCI ): negative interpretations, positive upward interpretations, and positive downward interpretations (Studies 1 and 2). Hierarchical regressions controlling for comparison direction and individual differences in relationship social comparison orientation indicated that the RSCI was associated with relationship satisfaction, commitment, and positive and negative affect (Studies 1 and 2). There were also direct and indirect effects (through relationship quality) of the RSCI , with attention to alternatives and accommodation behaviors (Study 2).