Interaction and relationship development in stable young couples: Effects of positive engagement, psychological aggression, and withdrawal

This study tested associations among observed interaction patterns and relationship satisfaction in a subsample of young at-risk couples (n=47) from the Oregon Youth Study who remained stable over 7 years; each partnerʹs positive engagement, psychological aggression, and withdrawal within a particular conflict structure (his vs. her topic) was used to predict satisfaction over time using multilevel growth curve modeling. Womenʹs positive engagement during both topics predicted higher satisfaction for both partners at within-couple and between-couple levels. Womenʹs psychological aggression showed topic-specific associations with lower satisfaction for each partner, and increases in both menʹs and womenʹs psychological aggression during their partnerʹs topic related to lower satisfaction over time for women. Both partners’ withdrawal during menʹs topics predicted less decline in satisfaction for men.