Building good relationships: The role of positive behaviour in boosting satisfaction and buffering insecurity

Abstract

There is strong evidence that the negative behaviour of close others has detrimental effects on relationships but recent research suggests that positive behaviour also has an important, beneficial impact on personal and relationship wellbeing. The current research used two independent diary studies (Sample 1, N = 84; Sample 2, N = 76) to examine the impact of negative and positive partner behaviour on relationship satisfaction, feelings of rejection, depressed mood and positive mood. As predicted, positive partner behaviour had independent effects on daily outcomes beyond the impact of negative behaviour, including greater relationship satisfaction and positive mood, and lower depressed mood and feelings of rejection. Cross-day analyses also revealed that the beneficial outcomes associated with positive partner behaviour lasted across days, whereas the detrimental outcomes of negative behaviour did not. Further, positive partner behaviour appeared to act as a buffer against the negative outcomes of low perceived regard. People who lacked confidence in their partner's acceptance reported greater relationship satisfaction and lower feelings of rejection and depressed mood on days that their partner behaved more positively. These results provide good evidence that positive partner behaviour plays an important and independent role in relationships, improving personal and relationship wellbeing by bolstering feelings of acceptance and security and actively building and improving the relationship.