ABSTRACT

The present study evaluated the assumptions of Interdependence Theory and the Theory of Social Exchange on the role of love exchange in relationship satisfaction in same-sex couples. We used an actor-partner interdependence model to examine four different effects on relationship satisfaction: (1.) Personal expression of love – actor effect; (2.) Personal expression of love – partner effect; (3.) Partner’s expression of love – actor effect; and (4.) Partner’s expression of love – partner effect. The sample included a total of 50 gay and 50 lesbian couples from Serbia (M_age = 26.65, SD = 7.66). The results yielded that significant predictors of relationship satisfaction are how a person expresses love, how he/she perceived partner’s expression of love, and how their partner perceived how he/she expresses love. We also found that the partner’s personal expression of love was not a significant predictor of relationship satisfaction. The same predictors are significant for both gay and lesbian couples. This study indicates that a complex dyadic approach is needed when examining the role of the love expression in relationship satisfaction among same-sex couples.

摘要

本研究评估了相互依赖理论和社会交换理论关于爱情交换在同性伴侣关系满意度中的作用的假设。我们使用演员-伴侣相互依赖模型来检验对关系满意度的四种不同影响：（1.）个人爱的表达——演员效应；(2.) 爱的个人表达——伴侣效应；(3.) 伴侣表达爱意——演员效应；(4.) 伴侣表达爱意——伴侣效应。样本共包括来自塞尔维亚的 50 对男同性恋和 50 对女同性恋（M_年龄 = 26.65，标准差 = 7.66）。结果表明，关系满意度的重要预测因素是一个人如何表达爱，他/她如何看待伴侣的爱表达，以及他们的伴侣如何看待他/她如何表达爱。我们还发现，伴侣的个人爱意表达并不是关系满意度的重要预测指标。相同的预测因素对同性恋夫妇都很重要。这项研究表明，在检验爱的表达在同性伴侣关系满意度中的作用时，需要一种复杂的二元方法。