The stability and change of trait emotional intelligence, conflict communication patterns, and relationship satisfaction: A one-year longitudinal study Lynne Smith, Joseph Ciarrochi, Patrick C.L. Heaven * Department of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia article info Article history: Received 29 May 2008 Received in revised form 22 July 2008 Accepted 28 July 2008 Available online 11 September 2008 Keywords: Emotional intelligence Relationship satisfaction Trait EI Communication patterns Longitudinal abstract We examined the stability and change of trait emotional intelligence (EI), conflict communication pat- terns and relationship satisfaction in cohabiting heterosexual couples over a 12-month period. Partici- pants were 45 couples (n = 90) who completed the TEIQue – Short Form (Petrides & Furnham, 2006), the Communication Patterns Questionnaire (Christensen & Sullaway, 1984), and the Perceived Relation- ship Quality Components (PRQC) Inventory (Fletcher, Simpson, & Thomas, 2000). We examined both actor and partner effects. We found that, for individuals, the effect of self-rated EI on their own satisfac- tion was stable over the 12-month period and was not related to changes in satisfaction over time. We also found that women’s reports of avoidance and withholding predicted declines in both men’s and women’s satisfaction over time. We discuss the potential importance of EI and communication patterns in promoting relationship satisfaction. Ó 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction How stable are long-term cohabiting relationships? What fac- tors influence changes in couples’ satisfaction over time? In a re- cent cross-sectional study, we found that trait emotional intelligence (EI) and conflict communication patterns predicted the relationship satisfaction of cohabiting couples (Smith, Heaven, & Ciarrochi, 2008). The aim of this study was to extend that re- search by examining whether and to what degree EI and commu- nication patterns were associated with changes in relationship satisfaction over a 12-month period. 1.1. Emotional intelligence EI (or trait emotional self-efficacy) is a personality trait that en- tails self-perceived emotion-related abilities and dispositions that are typically measured via self-report instruments (Petrides & Furnham, 2001). The construct has been argued to capture individ- ual differences in affective self-evaluations and is said to integrate the emotion-related facets of the Giant Three and Big Five person- ality taxonomies (Petrides & Furnham, 2001). The construct valid- ity of EI has been supported through a program of research that has systematically demonstrated its discriminant, criterion and incre- mental validity (e.g. see Kluemper, 2008; Petrides, Pérez-González, & Furnham, 2007). To date, however, few studies have examined the longitudinal ef- fects of EI. Given that EI is conceptualised as a personality trait, it is assumed to be relatively stable over time like other personality traits (Petrides, Furnham, & Mavroveli, 2007). Personality traits have been shown to have high levels of stability across time (Roberts & DelVec- chio, 2000). In looking at this type of stability, an individual’s relative position in the sample is retained over time, and the stability is gen- erally measured by correlation (Caspi & Roberts, 2001). 1.2. Emotional intelligence and relationship satisfaction While EI would seem to have obvious conceptual relevance to couples, few studies have examined the connections between EI and relationship satisfaction. EI has correlated with relationship satisfaction in cohabiting couples (Smith et al., 2008), but the lon- gitudinal connections between EI and relationship satisfaction are unknown. Research in EI-related personality domains, however, may indicate possible relationships. For instance, when looking at the effects of personality on changes in relationship satisfaction, neuroticism (or trait anxiety) has received the most attention (Karney & Bradbury, 1995). Longitudinal studies have found that while neuroticism predicted initial levels of dissatisfaction in new- lyweds, it was not associated with changes in satisfaction (Caugh- lin, Huston, & Houts, 2000; Karney & Bradbury, 1997). Thus, it has been argued that personality creates the stable intrapersonal con- text of marriage and that its effect is constant over time (Karney & Bradbury, 1995). One aim of the present study is to examine whether EI has a constant and beneficial effect on relationship 0191-8869/$ - see front matter Ó 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2008.07.023 * Corresponding author. Tel.: +61 2 42214070. E-mail address: pheaven@uow.edu.au (P.C.L. Heaven). Personality and Individual Differences 45 (2008) 738–743 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Personality and Individual Differences journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/paid