The Relationships between Love Styles and Satisfaction in Romantic Relationships: The Mediating Role of Intimacy

Abstract

Romantic relationships are among the important elements that enrich human life. These relationships begin to be shaped during adolescence and serve an important developmental role in the young adulthood years. Love is a pervasive topic within the field of research on romantic relationships. Theories of love offer various explanations and classifications, one of which includes Lee's Colors of Love Theory. This study aims to examine the mediating role of intimacy in the relationship between love styles and relationship satisfaction in university students. The study group comprised 349 students, 267 (76.5%) women and 82 (23.5%) men. The participants’ average age was 23.39 years (SD=4.57). Data were collected through the Love Attitudes Scale: Short Form, the Intimacy Scale in Romantic Relationships, the Relationship Assessment Scale, and the Personal Information Form. The hypothetical models designed in the study were tested using structural equation modeling. The findings suggest that eros and storge have a positive direct effect on relationship satisfaction, while mania has a negative effect. Intimacy plays a crucial role in romantic relationships. It serves as a mediator in the relationship between relationship satisfaction and ludus, agape, and storge. In conclusion, love styles other than pragma are important predictors of relationship satisfaction directly and/or through intimacy.