Dyadic Associations Between Discrepancies in Self‐ and Partner‐Perceptions of Empathy and Relationship Satisfaction Among US Couples

Although previous work has identified empathy as a consistent correlate of romantic relationship satisfaction, the dyadic nuances of this association remain unclear. Using data drawn from a parent project that involved a cross‐sectional online survey among US community couples with a history of alcohol‐related intimate partner aggression, the present study ( N = 67 mixed‐sex couples; M age = 39.27; 63% married) examined discrepancies between men's and women's reports of their own empathy (i.e., self‐perceptions of empathy), compared to men and women's perceptions of their partners' empathy (i.e., partner‐perceptions of empathy), and how such discrepancies may be linked with both partners' relationship satisfaction. Results of Actor‐Partner Interdependence Models confirmed the hypothesis that there would be more positive associations between partner‐perceptions of empathy, as compared to self‐perceptions of empathy, and relationship satisfaction. Moreover, men and women were more satisfied with their relationships when they rated their partners' empathy higher than what would be expected based on partners' self‐perceptions. These results underscore that partner‐perceptions of empathy, especially when positively skewed, may be more relevant to relationship satisfaction than self‐perceptions.