Running Head: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTIMACY AND SATISFACTION
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTIMACY AND SATISFACTION
The Relationship Between Intimacy and Relationship Satisfaction
Anabella Barajas
University of Central Florida
Abstract
Methods
Forty two upper-division undergraduate Psychology majors enrolled in a Statistical Methods in Psychology class collected data to determine if there is a relationship between two variables, intimacy and relationship satisfaction. Each student assessed twenty people comprising 10 romantic couples they know or knew well over a period of at least a year and rated each individual on intimacy and relationship satisfaction using the following rating scales which serve as the operational definitions of the two variables under investigation.
Relationship intimacy - An overall feeling of closeness emotionally and/or physically and/or intellectually with the other person in the couple (how this person feels overall).
5 - High level of overall closeness with incessant sharing in a wide array of areas
4- Moderate level of overall closeness with frequent sharing in a wide array of areas.
3 - Moderate level of overall closeness with sharing limited to particular areas of discussion/activity.
2- Low level of overall closeness with inconsistent sharing, with periods of time in which sharing clearly doesn't occur
1 - Very low level of overall closeness with frequent periods in which sharing clearly doesn't occur
Relationship satisfaction - An overall feeling of well-being in the relationship.
5- High level of overall satisfaction in the relationship with an overall high feeling of happiness and emotional safety in the relationship
4- Moderate level of overall satisfaction in the relationship with an overall feeling of satisfaction/contentment in the relationship with a very few rare areas in which emotional safety may be compromised
3- Moderate level of overall satisfaction in the relationship with satisfaction limited to particular areas of functioning (for example, great sex and great time...