Conventional wisdom holds that equality in power between partners is key to a happier, more fulfilling relationship. However, new research featured in Social Psychological and Personality Science offers a fresh perspective, indicating that relationship satisfaction may hinge less on an equitable power balance and more on each individual’s personal sense of empowerment. This study provides evidence that the crux of relationship quality lies not in possessing equal power with one’s partner but in the strength of each person’s perceived influence within the partnership.
Prior research had posited a direct correlation between the balance of power and the quality of romantic bonds. This notion aligns with modern ideals of egalitarian partnerships, where both individuals have equal say and influence over joint decisions, theoretically leading to less conflict and greater harmony.
However, these past studies faced significant methodological challenges, such as reliance on difference scores, which could distort the true nature of power dynamics’ impact on relationships. Furthermore, many of these studies did not adequately account for the dyadic nature of relationships — that is, the interconnectedness and mutual influence between partners.
“An overwhelming literature on power in romantic relationships reports that power balance is associated with positive relationship outcomes (e.g., couples with a power balance are more satisfied with their relationship),” explained study author Robert Körner, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bamberg. “However, several studies used outdated analysis techniques or methodologies. Therefore, we wanted to examine if power balance is indeed positively linked to relationship quality using the most up-to-date analysis technique and using four different samples of German couples.”
For their study, the researchers analyzed data from 879 heterosexual couples. These couples varied widely in terms of their relationship status (e.g., married, engaged, or unmarried), the length of their relationship, and their age ranges.
Participants in the study were asked to report on their felt power, which refers to their subjective experience of being able to influence their partner, using the Personal Sense of Power Scale. In addition to assessing felt power, the study also explored various dimensions of relationship quality through a series of questionnaires.
The researchers employed a sophisticated statistical method known as dyadic response surface analysis to analyze the interdependent nature of romantic partners’ experiences. This approach enabled a detailed examination of both linear and nonlinear relationships between partners’ felt power and their relationship quality, as well as the interactive effects of both partners’ perceptions of power.
The researchers observed that felt power had a direct, positive impact on relationship quality. Rather than finding evidence that a balance of power contributes to relationship satisfaction, the data showed that what truly matters is how empowered each partner feels. Notably, this effect was robust across various dimensions of relationship quality, including trust, admiration, sexual fulfillment, and the perceived long-term potential of the relationship.
Importantly, the analysis did not find evidence of a significant similarity effect — meaning that couples with similar levels of felt power did not necessarily report higher relationship quality than those with differing levels of power.
“Being happy with your relationship is less a matter of having equal power to your partner,” Körner told PsyPost. “What matters is your absolute level of experienced power. It seems that individuals desire to make decisions within their relationship and have influence.”
“A possible explanation for this might be as follows: There are different domains in which power can be exercised (e.g., how to spend money, how to spend time with friends, where to go on vacation). Some people may wish to have more influence in certain domains than others.”
Additionally, the study explored the possibility of gender differences in how power dynamics affect relationship satisfaction but found that the associations between power and relationship quality were generally not dependent on gender. This challenges some previous assumptions about the gendered nature of power in relationships, suggesting that the positive effects of feeling powerful are similarly beneficial for men and women.
However, one intriguing nuance emerged in the context of sexual satisfaction: men reported higher sexual satisfaction when power levels were balanced at high extremes, indicating that for men, a certain parity in felt power—specifically at higher levels—might contribute to greater satisfaction in the sexual aspect of the relationship.
But as with any study, there are some limitations to consider. The study’s cross-sectional nature restricts the ability to infer causality. While it establishes associations between felt power and relationship quality, it cannot definitively say whether having a sense of power leads to better relationship outcomes or if high-quality relationships enhance an individual’s sense of power.
The research also focused predominantly on heterosexual couples in Germany, potentially limiting the generalizability of its findings across different cultural backgrounds and relationship types.
“The couples participating in psychological studies on romantic relationship are mostly above-average happy and are in functional relationships,” Körner noted. “Thus, in couples with dysfunctional dynamics and where large power imbalances exist, the findings may look different. Moreover, we only studied man-woman couples and are not able to generalized the findings to same-sex couples.”
To address the limitations of the cross-sectional design, future research could employ longitudinal methods to trace the evolution of power dynamics and relationship quality over time. Future research could also examine how power dynamics within specific domains impact overall relationship satisfaction.
“We want to understand how social power operates in close intimate relationships,” Körner said. “Current projects involve the links of relationship power to attachment and sexuality.”
The study, “Power Balance and Relationship Quality: An Overstated Link,” was authored by Robert Körner and Astrid Schütz.