THE FIVE FACTORS OF PERSONALITY AND INTERPERSONAL ...

(n = 92 couples) completed measures of the proximal factor (dysfunctional relationship
beliefs), the distal factors (expressiveness, satisfaction whh social support, and negative
affectivhy), and relationship satisfaction and stabilhy annually for four years Results
indicated that negafive affectivhy was inversely related to relationship satisfaction and
stabilhy. Increases in satisfaction over the four-year period were related to parallel
decreases in dysfunctional beliefs regarding the relationship In addhion, discrepancies
between partners' scores on support satisfaction and expressiveness were smaller for
those partners who became more satisfied whh their relationship over the course of the
study. According to Kurdek (1992), both distal and proximal factors appear to influence
relationship outcomes
In the first of a two-part study, Bradbury and Fincham (1992) examined the
contextual model and how attributions for problems are related to behavioral interactions
and marital satisfaction. Subjects (n = 47 couples) completed measures of satisfaction,
common marital problems, and attributions for marhal problems Each couple was then
videotaped discussing one problem they identified as difficuh and the tapes were coded
for problem-solving behaviors. Results indicated that low satisfaction w as related to
attributing marital problems to the spouse and to global and stable causes More
specifically, these couples were likely to view their partner as worthy of blame and of
behaving intentionally whh selfish motivation Poor problem-solving behaviors were
also exhibhed by those couples whh maladaptive attributions and low satisfaction This
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