Influence of personality, attachment and mate value on heterosexual and non-heterosexual romantic relationship satisfaction

Abstract In recent decades, the constructs of individual differences have become important in the context of human romantic relationships. The present study aimed to investigate whether the personality, romantic attachment and mate value of couples can predict their relationship satisfaction. The sample consisted of 83 couples in long-term relationships and all the participants completed a set of questionnaires in person. The results indicate that the dimensions of romantic attachment are the constructs most able to predict satisfaction in a heterosexual relationship, while personality traits are the best predictors of relationship satisfaction for non-heterosexuals. In addition, the greater the differences in neuroticism and the lower in openness, the higher the relationship satisfaction, irrespective of sexual orientation. Thus, we can conclude that satisfaction in heterosexual and non-heterosexual relationships seems to be linked to different individual characteristics, but similarities and differences between the characteristics of the individuals in the couple appear to be important in relationship satisfaction for both heterosexuals and non-heterosexuals.