I Want Our Relationship to Last: Strategies That People Employ in Order to Improve Their Intimate Relationships

Abstract

Intimate relationships are not always easy to keep. Accordingly, the current research has attempted to identify the strategies that people employ in order to improve their relationships with their partners. In particular, by using open-ended questionnaires in a sample of 219 Greek-speaking participants, we have identified 81 acts that people were likely to perform toward this end. Subsequently, using quantitative research methods in a sample of 511 Greek-speaking participants, we classified these acts into 14 broader relationship enhancement strategies. Trying to understand partners' needs, discussing problems with partners and showing more interest in a partner, were among the most likely to be used strategies. Moreover, we asked a sample of 367 Greek-speaking participants to rate how effective these strategies would be on them, and we found that, trying to understand partners' needs, discussing problems with partners, and showing one's love to a partner, were rated as the most effective strategies. Men and women, and people of different ages, were generally in agreement over what strategies they were willing to use, and how effective these strategies would be on improving their relationship with their partners.