In established relationships, are couples who are funny more satisfied with each other, or are satisfied couples more able to see the funny side of their partners? Much research has examined the evolutionary function of humor in relationship initiation, but not in relationship maintenance. Using a dyadic daily-diary study composed of college students from Singapore, results showed that relationship quality was positively associated with same-day humor production and perception. Importantly, and consistent with an interest-indicator perspective in which humor exchanges communicate relationship interest, relationship quality was also positively associated with next-day humor production and perception, and across both sexes. Results also indicated some support for a sexual-selection perspective in which humor exchanges predicted only same- and next-day satisfaction, but not commitment. Our findings suggest that humor can ultimately function as a strategy to monitor and maintain established relationships.

中文翻译：

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幽默产生和感知在夫妻日常生活中的作用：兴趣指标的视角。

在已建立的关系中，是有趣的情侣对彼此更满意，还是满意的情侣更能看到伴侣有趣的一面？许多研究都检验了幽默在关系建立中的进化功能，但没有在关系维持中发挥作用。通过一项由新加坡大学生组成的二元日记研究，结果表明，关系质量与当日幽默的产生和感知呈正相关。重要的是，与幽默交流传达关系兴趣的兴趣指标观点一致，关系质量也与第二天的幽默产生和感知呈正相关，并且无论男女。结果还表明了对性选择观点的一些支持，其中幽默交流只能预测当天和第二天的满意度，而不是承诺。我们的研究结果表明，幽默最终可以作为一种监控和维持既定关系的策略。