Intimate Relationships in China: Predictors Across Genders for Dating, Engaged, and Married Individuals

Abstract

Intimate relationship satisfaction was evaluated by 258 (male and female) dating, engaged, and married Chinese individuals on four dimensions (emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and physical), which were examined in relation to several personal and social characteristics (emotional intelligence, extraversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, self-esteem, partner's physical attractiveness, traditional Chinese values, gender attributes, interpersonal trust, locus of control, and family emotional support) as hypothesised predictors of relationship intimacy. In turn, the four relationship dimensions were tested as predictors for satisfaction of the belongingness need. Correlations confirmed the hypothesised relationships that the personal and social variables had with the four intimate relationship dimensions, while regressions revealed different patterns of predictors across gender for each of the relationship dimensions. Also, plots of the different mean scores on the four relationship dimensions for dating, engaged, and married individuals revealed very similar patterns, with engaged persons consistently showing the highest scores on all four dimensions. In addition, overall satisfaction with one's intimate relationship proved to be a predictor of satisfaction of the belongingness need for both genders. The discussion centres on the variables that predicted the intimate relationship dimensions and on gender differences in those variables and in variables that predicted satisfaction of the belongingness need.