Dyadic longitudinal interplay between personality and relationship satisfaction: A focus on neuroticism and self-esteem

The current study investigated the dyadic longitudinal interplay between neuroticism, self-esteem, and individual and shared aspects of relationship satisfaction in intimate partners. The study involved data of 141 heterosexual couples with a broad age range measured at two measurement occasions spaced 2 years apart. The analyses were based on Actor-Partner Interdependence Models and extended Common Fate Models. Regarding individual relationship satisfaction, neuroticism was found to be a predictor at the intrapersonal level, whereas self-esteem turned out to be an interpersonal outcome. Furthermore, shared relationship satisfaction predicted self-esteem 2 years later. The findings contribute to the literature by showing that relationship satisfaction can be both outcome and predictor depending on the personality trait and the model applied for dyadic data analysis.