Speaker
Description
High-quality relationships are one of the most important predictors of well-being and are strongly linked to both mental and physical health across the lifespan (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2010). Yet what makes a relationship high quality? In the current work, we tested whether moments of synchrony—in which two people converge in their thoughts, emotions, or behaviors—are important components of connection and high quality relationships. In Study 1, using dyadic interaction data from 171 couples expressing gratitude to each other, we found evidence for a bidirectional link between observed synchrony and romantic relationship quality. Couples with greater relationship quality were more likely to show higher levels of synchrony in their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors during the interaction; in turn, those with higher levels of synchrony in their thoughts and emotions—but not behaviors—experienced a greater increase in momentary relationship quality from the beginning to the end of the lab session. In Study 2, we used self-report data from 269 people to study synchrony as it occurs in one’s daily life. Participants who reported higher levels of synchrony in their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors with their closest friend or romantic partner also reported feeling more connected to that person, and this link did not vary based on whether they believed synchrony is an important component of momentary connection. Taken together, this work suggests that both observed and felt synchrony may be key components of connection and high quality relationships. In future work, I plan to more directly test whether this link is present across different relationship and life stages.
