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Happy to Know You: An Examination of Subjective Well-Being and Partner Knowledge

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  • Shannon M. Moore

    (Army Research Laboratory)

  • Danielle M. Geerling

    (Saint Norbert College)

  • Ed Diener

    (The University of Utah)

Abstract

In this study, we examined an unexplored type of partner knowledge—familiarity with partners’ subjective well-being (i.e., SWB familiarity). Using multilevel models, we analyzed data from 101 heterosexual couples to examine how SWB was associated with partner knowledge and to determine whether SWB familiarity was associated with relationship and mental health benefits. We found that higher levels of positive affect and life satisfaction and lower levels of negative affect were associated with greater normative and distinctive accuracy in partner knowledge of attitudes and traits. We also calculated both normative and distinctive indices of SWB familiarity and found that participants’ and their partners’ familiarity with normative (i.e., average) profiles of SWB were associated with respondents reporting greater relationship satisfaction, perceived support from their partner, positive affect, and life satisfaction, as well as less negative affect. Conversely, distinctive (i.e., unique) SWB familiarity was not related to any relationship or mental health outcomes. Thus, one’s perception of their partner as having normative levels of SWB appears to be more important for relationship and mental health outcomes than knowledge of partners’ unique experiences of SWB.

Suggested Citation

  • Shannon M. Moore & Danielle M. Geerling & Ed Diener, 2022. "Happy to Know You: An Examination of Subjective Well-Being and Partner Knowledge," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 1333-1357, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:23:y:2022:i:4:d:10.1007_s10902-021-00451-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-021-00451-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gary Marks & Nicole Fleming, 1999. "Influences and Consequences of Well-being Among Australian Young People: 1980–1995," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 46(3), pages 301-323, March.
    2. Ed Diener & Derrick Wirtz & William Tov & Chu Kim-Prieto & Dong-won Choi & Shigehiro Oishi & Robert Biswas-Diener, 2010. "New Well-being Measures: Short Scales to Assess Flourishing and Positive and Negative Feelings," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 97(2), pages 143-156, June.
    3. De Neve, Jan-Emmanuel & Oswald, Andrew J., 2012. "Estimating the influence of life satisfaction and positive affect on later income using sibling fixed-effects," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 51523, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    4. Ed Diener & Carol Nickerson & Richard Lucas & Ed Sandvik, 2002. "Dispositional Affect and Job Outcomes," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 59(3), pages 229-259, September.
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