Predicting romantic relationship satisfaction in young adults: The roles of self-compassion, gratitude, and forgiveness
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29329/pedper.2025.140Keywords:
Romantic relationship satisfaction, Self-compassion, Gratitude, Forgiveness, Positive psychological traitsAbstract
Romantic relationships significantly influence the well-being of young adults; however, the psychological dimensions underlying relationship satisfaction remain a central topic of scholarly exploration. This study aimed to examine whether self-compassion, gratitude, and forgiveness—as core positive psychological traits—are associated with and predictive of satisfaction in romantic partnerships. The study utilized data from 333 young adults in Turkey (aged 20–40) who completed validated measures of romantic satisfaction, self-compassion, gratitude, and forgiveness. Data analyses included Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyses. The findings revealed that while all three traits were positively associated with romantic relationship satisfaction, their individual predictive power was limited. Notably, only forgiveness emerged as a significant predictor in the final regression model. These results highlight the potential relational value of these psychological traits, particularly forgiveness, while also emphasizing the influence of broader psychological and contextual factors. Implications for therapeutic practice and relationship enhancement interventions are discussed.
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