Assortative mating and marital quality in newlyweds: a couple-centered approach

Using a couple-centered approach, the authors examined assortative mating on a broad range of variables in a large (N 291) sample of newlyweds. Couples showed substantial similarity on attitude-related domains but little on personality-related domains. Similarity was not due to social homogamy or convergence. The authors examined linear and curvilinear effects of spouse similarity on self and observer indicators of marital quality. Results show (a) positive associations between similarity and marital quality for personality-related domains but not for attitude-related domains, (b) that similarity on attachment characteristics were most strongly predictive of satisfaction, (c) robust curvilinear effects for husbands but not for wives, (d) that profile similarity remained a significant predictor of marital quality even when spouses ’ self-ratings were controlled, and (e) that profile-based similarity indices were better predictors of marital quality than absolute difference scores. Why do two individuals choose to be with each other rather than with one of many other potential partners? Is there a systematic pattern in human mate selection (i.e., assortative mating)? And if there is, does nonrandom selection influence relationship quality? For decades, much psychological research has been devoted t