The Link Between Mate Value Discrepancy and Relationship Satisfaction-An Empirical Examination Using Response Surface Analysis.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional observational survey study
PubMed 40867488 · doi:10.3390/bs15081131
What was done
The authors evaluated the relationship between mate value discrepancy and relationship satisfaction using multidimensional operationalizations of mate value and response surface analysis alongside confirmatory factor analysis. Data were gathered in 2016 via a stratified web-based survey across 19 counties in Norway. The analyzed sample consisted of 904 individuals currently in romantic relationships who reported on five mate value traits: family orientation, resourcefulness, appearance, sociability, and physical condition.
What was found
No quantitative effect sizes, test statistics, or p-values are reported in the abstract. Relationship satisfaction was highest when both partners had high scores across all five dimensions, with family orientation being the most important dimension. Relationship satisfaction declined when both partners were equally low on these traits.
Why it matters
This study moves beyond single-construct difference scores by applying response surface analysis across multiple mate value dimensions, showing that joint high trait levels support relationship satisfaction better than joint low levels.
Limits
The abstract provides no numerical data, effect sizes, or confidence intervals. The cross-sectional self-report design prevents causal inference and reflects individual perceptions rather than true dyadic reports from both partners. The sample was drawn exclusively from Norway in 2016, limiting cross-cultural generalizability.