Predicting Relationship Stability From Both Partners Versus One

This study investigated whether longitudinal predictions of stability are improved when assessments of the relationship are obtained from both members of the couple rather than just from 1 partner and, if so, which partner's assessments are the most diagnostic of stability. Both partners in 120 dating couples provided self-report assessments on 16 relationship dimensions, and 6 months later 2 outcomes were examined: stability and emotional distress if breakup had occurred. Assessments from both partners were more predictive of stability than were assessments from 1 (randomly chosen) partner, but the improvement was small. Assessments from female partners were no more predictive of stability than were those from male partners. However, assessments from "weak-link" partners (whose standing on stability indicators was lower than the other member of the couple) were significantly more diagnostic of stability than were those from "strong-link" partners. These and other findings are discussed.