Cross-sectional survey reveals that need fulfillment mediates the link between feeling known and relationship quality in couples, highlighting key interpersonal mechanisms.
Although prior research has linked the feeling of being known to couple quality, the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. This study tested whether self-perceived need fulfillment mediates the association between the feeling of being known and couple quality. The sample ( n = 270) consisted of adults in romantic relationships recruited from the southeastern United States who completed self-report measures. Findings showed that the feeling of being known was positively associated with couple quality, and that need fulfillment partially mediated this association. These findings, grounded in Attachment and Self-Determination Theory (SDT), suggest that understanding how relational processes contribute to relationship functioning offers implications for theory, clinical practice, and couples.
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March et al. (2026) studied this question.
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