The Effects of Partner Similarity on Relationship Duration and Satisfaction

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between perceived partner similarity and relationship intimacy among university students. A web-based survey was administered at a private humanities university in Japan, yielding 110 respondents, with 44 participants reporting past or current romantic relationships. The survey instrument assessed partner similarity across multiple dimensions including attributes, personality traits, lifestyle factors, and preferences, while simultaneously measuring relationship satisfaction and perceived importance. Statistical analyses, including correlation and covariance structure analyses, indicated that although relationship satisfaction and importance demonstrated strong association, the majority of similarity dimensions failed to show significant correlation with intimacy measures. Only select factors, specifically fashion preferences and relationship prioritization, exhibited modest correlations. These results suggest that perceived partnersimilarity does not function as a robust predictor of relationship intimacy among university students.