Sexual coercion and relationship satisfaction: Dyadic and individual contributions of attachment and dark triad traits

Relationship satisfaction is widely examined across cultures. From an evolutionary perspective, reflects a subjective evaluation of the costs/benefits of a relationship. In Study 1, 848 individuals completed the Love Scale, Experiences in Close Relationships–Revised, the Dark Triad Dirty Dozen, and the Sexual Coercion in Intimate Relationships Scale. Structural Equation Models indicated that female satisfaction was negatively predicted by their attachment, but not by Dark Triad traits or self-reported victimization or perpetration. Female victimization was predicted only by perpetration, whereas perpetration was predicted by attachment and Dark Triad traits. For men, satisfaction, victimization, and perpetration were not predicted by any variables. In Study 2, 55 heterosexual couples completed the same instruments, and Actor–Partner Interdependence Models were estimated. Female satisfaction was negatively predicted by their own avoidance and by their partners' anxiety, narcissism, and perpetration. Male satisfaction was negatively predicted by their partners' perpetration and by their own victimization and perpetration. Overall, female satisfaction was sensitive to partners' emotional functioning and behavior, whereas male satisfaction was associated with concrete negative experiences. Coercion reflected individual differences at the individual level and showed direct effects on satisfaction at the dyadic level. We underscore the value of integrating individual and couple-based approaches in relationship research.