Dyadic adjustment in relational types: Consensus, cohesion, affectional expression, and satisfaction in enduring relationships

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Abstract
This paper reports the third in a series of studies designed to empirically develop a typology of enduring relationships. The purpose of this study is to validate the category scheme established in previous work by comparing the relational types on measures of dyadic adjustment. A secondary purpose involved an examination of the effect of relational definition agreement and, disagreement on the adjustment measures. The results indicate that couples who share a similar definition of their relationship are significantly more in agreement on a variety of relational issues and more cohesive than are couples who do not share a relational definition. Those who disagree on a relational definition tend to agree only on expressions of affection and sexual relations. In the relationships previously typed as Traditional, Separate, Independent, and Separate / Traditional, couples exhibit significantly different levels of dyadic adjustment.

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