Self monitoring in romantic relationships: Stress and psychological symptoms

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine whether stress and psychological symptoms predict self monitoring scores in romantic relationships at university students. Participants were 280 university students, each involved in a heterosexual romantic relationship. Demographic Information Form, Brief Symptom Inventory, Stress Symptoms Checklist and Revised Self Monitoring Scale were used for data collection. Multiple regression analysis showed that the level of relationship distress was an important predictor of self monitoring scores. For females, depression and level of relationship distress were significant predictors for self monitoring scores. Anger was significant predictor of self monitoring scores for males. In addition, participants who had high levels of perceived relationship distress had higher self monitoring scores than those who had low levels of perceived relationship distress.