the Wedding Planner

UK Wedding News

11/07/2013

Optimistic Newlyweds Have Less Happy Marriages

Latest research has suggested that if you are more optimistic, you could have a more unhappy marriage.

According to Lisa A. Neff and Andrew L. Geers in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, having a positive outlook on life, can cause problems within a marriage.

It found that optimism can be a liability, because expecting the best in life could prevent a person from taking more proactive steps when faced with difficulties in life. The study added that newlyweds should pay more attention to the way their positive expectancies are viewed.

- - - - - - Advertisement - - - - - -
The Party Photobooth Limited

The authors said that people who are more optimistic in life won't experience problems but those who are extremely optimistic about their relationships in particular may develop poor coping responses when things go wrong. Their research discovered that those spouses higher in 'general dispositional optimism' reported engaging in more positive problem-solving behaviours when faced with relationship conflict. As a result, in the first year of marriage, these people experienced fewer declines in marital well-being.

In contrast, for those who focused their positivity wholly on their relationship, were not as good as constructive problem-solving when experiencing troubles or disagreements with their partner.

These people also experienced steeper declines in marital well-being over time.

The authors concluded that while global forms of optimism may prove to be a relationship asset, optimism in relationships can actually place couples at risk of marital breakdown.

(JP/MH)

Top stories


20/03/2020
LeToya Luckett-Walker Is Pregnant

Charlotte Crosby Finds New Romance

Lydia Bright Gets Candid About Giving Birth

Lana Del Ray Splits From Boyfriend

Angelica Ross Learns Of Boyfriend's Secret Life

Ashley Graham's Breastfeeding Struggle

Susanna Reid's Mother's Day Plans

Lin-Manuel Miranda Homeschooling Kids

Kristen Bell Speaks Of Pride For Daughters

Prince George & Princess Charlotte Now Homeschooled
more infomore info
0 18.119.110.116 Ban:1, But:1 26/04/2024

"Latest research has suggested that if you are more optimistic, you could have a more unhappy marriage."