Subscribe
The latest psychology and neuroscience discoveries.
My Account
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Neuroscience
  • About
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home Exclusive Relationships and Sexual Health

Psychologists pinpoint a subtle sign of relationship quality

by Eric W. Dolan
January 28, 2025
in Relationships and Sexual Health, Social Psychology
(Photo credit: Adobe Stock)

(Photo credit: Adobe Stock)

Share on TwitterShare on Facebook
Stay on top of the latest psychology findings: Subscribe now!

A recent study published in Emotion reveals a connection between the synchrony of smiles in romantic partners and their overall relationship satisfaction. By examining the timing and coordination of smiles during partner interactions, the researchers discovered that couples who reported high relationship satisfaction exhibited greater levels of smile synchrony compared to couples seeking therapy for relational distress. The findings position smile synchrony as a potential behavioral marker of relationship quality.

Close romantic relationships significantly impact both physical health and psychological well-being. Satisfying partnerships have been linked to benefits such as reduced depression risk and enhanced life satisfaction, whereas distressed relationships may contribute to poor mental health outcomes. Researchers have increasingly explored how emotional processes, such as emotional synchrony, influence the connection between relationship quality and well-being.

Emotional synchrony occurs when partners’ emotional experiences align, whether through shared physiological states or synchronized behaviors. While previous studies have documented synchrony in verbal communication and physiological responses, the role of facial expressions, particularly smiles, had received less attention. Smiles are universally recognized nonverbal signals that convey positive emotions and affiliation, making them an ideal focus for examining emotional synchrony in romantic relationships.

“The inspiration for this research stemmed from a deep curiosity about the world of nonverbal communication between romantic partners,” said study author Reut Machluf-Ruttner, a PhD student at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

The researchers recruited 61 cohabiting couples, including 30 nondistressed couples and 31 couples seeking therapy for relationship distress. Nondistressed couples were selected based on high relationship satisfaction scores, while therapy-seeking couples reported satisfaction levels within the clinical range for relational distress. The nondistressed couples were younger, with an average age of 25.6 years for women and 26.4 years for men, whereas the therapy-seeking couples were older, averaging 37 and 39 years, respectively.

During the study, each couple participated in a laboratory session involving four six-minute discussions. These interactions alternated between positive topics, such as relationship strengths, and negative topics, such as sources of disagreement. The partners’ facial expressions were recorded using high-definition cameras, and their smiles were analyzed using advanced facial recognition software. This software continuously coded the presence and intensity of smiles, allowing the researchers to track the timing and synchrony of smile exchanges between partners.

To quantify smile synchrony, the researchers calculated how closely aligned the timing of partners’ smiles was and how quickly one partner responded with a smile after the other. These measures were compared across nondistressed and therapy-seeking couples, as well as between positive and negative discussion contexts.

The researchers found that nondistressed couples displayed higher levels of smile synchrony, with an average synchrony score of 0.46 (on a scale from 0 to 1) compared to 0.32 for therapy-seeking couples. This means their smiles were more closely aligned in timing and intensity. They also reciprocated each other’s smiles more quickly, achieving their peak synchrony in an average of 0.62 seconds, whereas therapy-seeking couples took 1.07 seconds to reach the same level. These findings suggest that nondistressed couples are more emotionally attuned to each other, while therapy-seeking couples exhibit less alignment in their nonverbal communication.

“Despite being automatic and largely uncontrollable, findings from this study—and others in the field—highlight that these signals are highly indicative and can serve as markers of relationship quality,” Machluf-Ruttner told PsyPost. “In this particular study, we discovered notable differences in the patterns of smile synchrony between couples who are satisfied with their relationships and those seeking therapy due to relationship difficulties.”

Interestingly, smile synchrony was greater during discussions of positive relationship aspects than during negative discussions for both groups. However, the difference was more pronounced in nondistressed couples, who showed faster and more consistent smile coordination during positive interactions. This pattern highlights the importance of emotional connection through smiles, particularly in fostering positive relational dynamics.

The researchers also noted that smile synchrony showed a high degree of consistency across interactions within the same couple, with approximately 45% of the variance in synchrony explained by stable couple-level factors. This stability suggests that smile synchrony may be a characteristic of the relationship itself rather than a fleeting response to specific situational factors, further reinforcing its potential as a marker of relationship quality.

“Currently, I am working on follow-up studies exploring the relationship between couples’ subjective reports of closeness and their facial expression synchrony,” Machluf-Ruttner said. “Additionally, I aim to examine whether smile synchrony might predict which couples are more likely to benefit from couple therapy or from certain approaches to couple therapy. Beyond my research, I am also a clinical psychology intern, and I find the integration of research findings with clinical practice both fascinating and valuable.”

The study, “The Dance of Smiles: Comparing Smile Synchrony in Nondistressed and Therapy-Seeking Couples,” was authored by Reut Machluf-Ruttner, David A. Sbarra, Ben Shahar, Carmel Sofer, and Eran Bar-Kalifa.

TweetSendScanShareSendPin2ShareShareShareShareShare

RELATED

Bullshit is deemed more credible if attributed to a scientist, compared to a spiritual guru
Social Psychology

Scientists who relocate more often start Nobel research up to two years earlier

July 8, 2025

A new study of Nobel Prize winners suggests that scientists who change locations or work in multiple places tend to begin their groundbreaking research earlier, highlighting how exposure to diverse environments may help spark innovative, high-impact ideas.

Read moreDetails
The most popular dementia videos on TikTok tend to have the lowest quality, study find
Addiction

People with short-video addiction show altered brain responses during decision-making

July 8, 2025

People who frequently use short-video apps like TikTok may show reduced loss sensitivity and impulsive decision-making, according to a new neuroimaging study that links addictive use patterns to changes in brain activity during risky choices.

Read moreDetails
Being adopted doesn’t change how teens handle love and dating
Relationships and Sexual Health

Being adopted doesn’t change how teens handle love and dating

July 7, 2025

In one of the first large-scale studies on adopted adolescents’ romantic experiences, researchers found that adoption status had little effect on whether teens were dating, how long relationships lasted, or how relationship quality shaped well-being.

Read moreDetails
People with psychopathic traits fail to learn from painful outcomes
Narcissism

National narcissism linked to emotional impairments and dehumanization, new study finds

July 7, 2025

A new study suggests that people who see their nation as uniquely important often struggle with recognizing emotions and experience more anger and contempt—factors that may help explain why they’re more likely to dehumanize both outsiders and fellow citizens.

Read moreDetails
Anxious and avoidant attachment are elevated among individuals with eating disorders
Developmental Psychology

Personality may be a key factor connecting negative parenting experiences to adult challenges

July 7, 2025

New research finds a link between how adults recall being parented and their current life difficulties. These challenges may be partly explained by personality traits, such as lower conscientiousness, that are connected to early family environments and adult well-being.

Read moreDetails
Loneliness predicts an increase in TV viewing for older women, but not for men
Sexism

New study finds link between sexism and denial of male victimhood in relationships

July 6, 2025

New research shows that many people endorse myths that minimize abuse against men in relationships. These myths are closely tied to sexist attitudes about masculinity, gender roles, and who is believed to be a “real” victim of violence.

Read moreDetails
Fascinating study reveals how Trump’s moral rhetoric diverges from common Republican language
Donald Trump

Viral AI-images highlight how Trump engages in “victimcould,” scholar argues

July 6, 2025

How can one of the world's most powerful men also be its biggest victim? A new paper argues it’s a political strategy based on hypothetical, not actual, harm—a concept the author calls “victimcould” used to justify present-day aggression.

Read moreDetails
Stress disrupts gut and brain barriers by reducing key microbial metabolites, study finds
Infidelity

Othello syndrome: Woman’s rare stroke leads to psychotic delusions of infidelity

July 5, 2025

After suffering a rare type of stroke, a woman with no psychiatric history became convinced her husband was cheating. This case reveals how brain damage can trigger Othello syndrome, a form of delusional jealousy with potentially violent consequences.

Read moreDetails

SUBSCRIBE

Go Ad-Free! Click here to subscribe to PsyPost and support independent science journalism!

STAY CONNECTED

LATEST

Neuroscientists decode how people juggle multiple items in working memory

Inside the bored brain: Unlocking the power of the default mode network

Choline imbalance in the brain linked to with cognitive symptoms in young depression patients

Scientists who relocate more often start Nobel research up to two years earlier

Sedentary time linked to faster brain aging in older adults, study finds

People with short-video addiction show altered brain responses during decision-making

New study uncovers a surprising effect of cold-water immersion

Being adopted doesn’t change how teens handle love and dating

         
       
  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms and Conditions
[Do not sell my information]

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • Drug Research
  • Relationship Research
  • About PsyPost
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy