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Journal of Relationships Research Journal of Relationships Research

Article contents

The Construct of Relationship Quality

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 April 2014

Saif R. Farooqi
Saif R. Farooqi
Affiliation:
University of Delhi, Delhi, India
Corresponding
E-mail address:
saif.farooqi@gmail.com
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Abstract

Relationships form the essence of personality and contribute to the individual's wellbeing. Keeping in view the significance that relationships may have on an individual, it becomes compelling to examine relationship quality, the central guiding force of relationships. Relationship quality — the positive or negative feelings about a relationship — is termed an ambiguous concept. The purpose of this article is to review the literature of relationship quality to develop a deep understanding of the construct, by exploring its various determinants. The article begins with a description of the construct followed by a detailed exploration of the factors that determine relationship quality. Research suggests that a wide range of factors have an influence on relationship quality. These include, among others, self-verification and self-enhancement, personality, emotional intelligence, interaction patterns, and partner support. Economic factors also play an important role in determining relationship quality. Previous research also suggests that most of the research on relationship quality has been done on either marital relationships or dating relationships. Further, the determinants of relationship quality may be different with respect to different types of relationships. Additionally, research suggests that relationship quality has been examined using multiple methods, which strengthens the claim of relationship quality being a complex and ambiguous construct.

Keywords

relationships relationship quality determinants of relationship quality
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Relationships Research , Volume 5 , 2014 , e2
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Australian Academic Press Pty Ltd 2014 

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