Assortative Mating in Personality Traits and Its Relation with Relationship Satisfaction

Prema dosadašnjim istraživanjima, sličnost partnera u različitim karakteristikama važna je za njihovo uparivanje. Sličnost partnera u određenim osobinama utječe i na zadovoljstvo vezom. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ispitati postoji li asortativno uparivanje među partnerima prema dimenzijama ličnosti petofaktorskog modela, ispitati načine asortativnog uparivanja te efekte sličnosti u dimenzijama ličnosti partnera na zadovoljstvo vezom. Istraživanje je provedeno na 215 parova u dobi od 19 do 65 godina koji su najmanje godinu dana u vezi. U istraživanju je korišten Petofaktorski upitnik ličnosti i tri mjere zadovoljstva vezom (Skala bračne stabilnosti, Indeks zadovoljstva partnerom, Upitnik percipirane kvalitete braka) koje su objedinjene u jednu standardiziranu mjeru Ukupnog zadovoljstva vezom. Rezultati istraživanja potvrđuju asortativno uparivanje prema osobinama ekstraverzije i otvorenosti. Također, potvrđuju inicijalno uparivanje koje govori o sličnosti partnera u navedenim osobinama od početka veze, nasuprot konvergenciji. Partneri se više uparuju putem aktivnog uparivanja (tj. traže partnere koji su im slični prema određenim osobinama), nego socijalnom homogamijom (tj. uparivanje prema socijalnoj pozadini). Sličnost tj. (ne)usklađenost u osobinama ličnosti ima efekte i na muškarce i žene. Muškarci su zadovoljniji u vezi kada i muškarac i žena u paru imaju izraženiju i usklađeniju ekstraverziju. Također, muškarci su zadovoljniji vezom i u slučaju kad su otvoreniji od žena. Žene su zadovoljnije vezom kada i muškarac i žena u paru imaju izraženiju i usklađeniju otvorenost.According to previous research, similarity of partners in a variety of characteristics is important for their mating. The similarity of the partners in certain traits also affects relationship satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to examine assortative mating in personality traits of the Big Five model, examine the mechanisms of assortative mating and effects of similarity in personality traits on relationship satisfaction. The study was conducted on 215 couples, aged between 19 and 65, who were at least one year in a relationship. In this study, participants completed the Big Five Inventory (BFI), and three measures of relationship satisfaction (Marriage Stability Scale, Partner's Satisfaction Index and Percieved Relationship Quality Components) which are merged into one standardized measure named Total Relationship Satisfaction. The results of this study confirmed assortative mating in extraversion and openness. Results also confirmed the initial assortment (partners are similar at the beginning of the relationship), as opposed to convergence. Partners actively seek for partners with similar traits (active assortment) and don't make choice by similar social background (social homogamy). Similarity in personality traits affects men's and women's relationship satisfaction. Men are more satisfied when both men and women in a couple have more pronounced and similar extraversion. Also, men are more satisfied with the relationship when they have a higher openness than women. Women are more satisfied with the relationship when men and women in a couple have more pronounced and similar openness