The effects of personality on roommate satisfaction
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Authors
Patterson, Sarah R.
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Type
Language
eng
Keywords
Personality, Relationship satisfaction, Roommates, Non-romantic relationships, Interpersonal circumplex model, Interpersonal adjective scale, Relationship relating form
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Abstract
Personality is made up of the unique characteristics that distinguish one person from the other, shaping the way we see ourselves and the world around us. Studies suggest that satisfaction is due to complementarity based on the Interpersonal Circumplex Model (Horowitz, 2004; Kiesler, 1996, Markey, Funder, & Ozer, 2003; Orford, 1986; Sadler & Woody, 2003; Strong et al., 1988; Tiedens & Fragale, 2003; Tracey, 2004). According to Gosling, the interaction of these two dimensions creates the ultimate recipe for relationship satisfaction. Therefore, this study will investigate the effects of personality on roommate satisfaction, applying the interpersonal circumplex model to non-romantic relationships. I believe individuals similar in nurturance but opposite in dominance will have higher levels of satisfaction than those similar in nuturance and similar in dominance, opposite in nurturance and similar in dominance, similar in nurturance and opposite in dominance, and opposite in nurturance and opposite in dominance. In this study, participants were asked to fill out the Interpersonal Adjective Scale, followed by the Relationship Rating Form. Participants were also asked to fill out demographic information indicating gender, age, and ethnic background. These tasks took no more than 30 minutes. Upon completion participants were debriefed, thanks, and dismissed.
Description
r = .078, p = .3357 r = .101, p = .2912 r = .189, p = .1501 The Effects of Personality on Roommate Satisfaction Sarah Patterson Washburn University Introduction Our personality also influences our daily interactions and interpersonal relationships, including those of roommates. Wiltz (2002) introduces the impact that a roommate can have on one’s overall happiness and life satisfaction. Gonzaga, G. C., Campos, B., & Bradbury, T. (2007) suggested that similarities in personality and experience encourage higher relationship satisfaction. Cuperman and Ickes (2009) found pairs of individuals similar in Extraversion (introvert with introvert, extravert with extravert) had better interactions than those dissimilar personalities. However, other studies suggest that satisfaction is due complementarity based on the Interpersonal Circumplex model (Horowitz, 2004; Kiesler, 1996;Markey, Funder, & Ozer, 2003; Orford, 1986; Sadler &Woody, 2003; Strong et al., 1988; Tiedens & Fragale,2003; Tracey, 2004) Purpose and Questions To investigate the effects of personality on roommate satisfaction. What leads to roommate satisfaction? •Do “opposites attract”? OR •Do “birds of a feather flock together”? OR •Do personalities complement each other? Hypothesis Roommates similar in nurturance but opposite in dominance will have higher levels of roommate satisfaction. Results Discussion Method Survey Participants (n=) Midwestern college students 20 male, 44 female Age: M = 20.66 years (18-31 years) Living Situation: dorms, fraternities, sororities, off-campus Measures Surveys Interpersonal Adjective Scale (Wiggins, 1995) 64 item survey assessing 2 dimensions of personality: Dominance Nurturance 8-point likert scale of adjectives “Please rate how accurately each of the words describes you as a person.” Relationship Rating Form (Davis, 1996) 45 item survey assessing interpersonal satisfaction 9-point likert scale of roommate satisfaction “Write the number between 1 and 9 that best reflects your feeling about your relationship with that person.” IAS and Roommate Satisfaction Both personality dimensions (nurturance and dominance) and roommate satisfaction were correlated within each roommate couple. According to the data, it appears that more satisfied roommates who scored opposite in dominance and similar in warmth also scored Results, however, were not significant and more research is needed. Dominance and Roommate Satisfaction Difference in dominance between roommates was correlated with roommate satisfaction. The results were not significant, but suggest future research could be done to produce better findings. Nurturance and Roommate Satisfaction Difference in nurturance between roommates was correlated with roommate satisfaction. According to the data, differences in nurturance scores tend to cluster between 0 and 1. The majority of the high satisfaction scores also fall between 0 and 1, suggesting that similar nurturance within roommates could be related to higher roommate satisfaction. However, there was no significant interaction between difference in nurturance and roommate satisfaction. In order to reach a potential significance between personality and roommate satisfaction, it would be necessary to survey more participants, with an even number being male and female. A future study could also collect the same information from a more concentrated area. For example, mid-western students between the ages of 18 and 20 from the dorms to ensure students have similar roommate experiences. It would also be interesting to investigate co-ed roommates, oppose to same-sex roommates, like this study did. It may also be worthwhile to compare correlations between personality and roommate satisfaction through a longitudinal study. Nurturance and dominance scores and satisfaction ratings could be compared by semester or overtime with roommates that live together for more than one year. Future research could also control for that amount of time roommates have known each other, as some roommates have chosen their roommates while others are matched by dorm staff. Personality and Roommate Satisfation Dominance and Roommate Satisfaction Nurturance and Roommate Satisfaction Future Research Future Research Special thanks to the Residential staff of Washburn’s Living Learning Center for sponsoring this research!