Abstract
<p>Romantic relationships are critically important for a range of psychosocial outcomes across the lifespan, but few studies have examined relationship happiness in midlife. We investigate the trajectories of relationship happiness of romantic couples in midlife and examine whether children in the household, work status, and gender predict these trajectories. Dyadic latent growth curve models were applied to six waves of longitudinal data from N = 2,363 mixed-gender romantic couples (Mage = 48.28, SD = 7.27) in the Swiss Household Panel. A random-intercept cross-lagged panel model was run to investigate interconnections within couples. Relationship happiness decreased slightly, with steeper declines among younger participants. Female gender, having children and continuously not working were associated with less happiness. At some waves fluctuations in men’s happiness predicted fluctuations in women’s happiness and vice versa. We discuss the need for further research on interindividual differences as well as implications for improving relationship happiness during midlife.Keywords: couples, dyads, relationship satisfaction, midlife, contextual development</p>