Seeing I to I Makes Sparks Fly: Daily Diary Investigation of I-Sharing and Relationship Quality

I-sharing (i.e., the perception that one shares the same subjective experience) with a romantic partner positively predicts relationship satisfaction and perceptions that one’s partner knows one’s true self (i.e., perceived partner true self knowledge. The current work extends the research on I-sharing in romantic relationships by investigating whether daily fluctuations in perceptions of I-sharing with a romantic partner positively relate to daily romantic relationship outcomes such as relationship quality (i.e., relationship flourishing and satisfaction), perceived partner true self knowledge (PTSK), and perceived compassionate acts towards one’s romantic partner. The current work also investigates whether these relationships are independent of Me-sharing (e.g., perceiving one has similar personality traits with one’s partner). The study included a cross-sectional intake survey ( N = 204), followed by a daily diary component ( N = 162, K = 850). Perceived I-sharing frequency does have positive relationships with all the aforementioned romantic relationship outcomes, independent of Me-sharing. These results suggest that daily perceptions of I-sharing frequency are positively associated with several distinct daily aspects of people’s romantic relationships, such as the satisfaction and the sense of fulfillment people derive from a romantic relationship.