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Vocational Personality in Romantic Relationships: How Vocational Similarity Contributes to Couple Functioning

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Kristel Mayrand at Université Sainte-Anne
Kristel Mayrand
Stéphane Sabourin at Université Laval
Stéphane Sabourin
Claudia Savard at Université Laval
Claudia Savard
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In the early 1980s, three studies had found that vocational similarity between romantic partners was significantly associated with couple adjustment. However, given that these studies had important methodological and statistical limitations that compromised their validity, the contribution of vocational similarity to couple functioning needs to be further explored. This study aimed to examine the potential mechanisms explaining vocational similarity within couples and the extent to which vocational similarity contributes to couple functioning, using two similarity indices: The C index and the profile similarity correlation (PSC). A sample of 104 cohabiting couples was recruited and completed online questionnaires. Results showed that vocational similarity between partners was low to moderate and was mainly explained by mating preferences. Moreover, higher vocational similarity was significantly associated with greater couple adjustment and relational stability, especially when partners were similar on the Artistic or Enterprising type. The PSC was a stronger predictor of couple adjustment and relational stability than the C index. Sharing similar vocational interests and competencies seems to help in creating and maintaining well-adjusted romantic relationships.
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Vol:.(1234567890)
Contemporary Family Therapy (2023) 45:172–185
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-021-09620-7
1 3
ORIGINAL PAPER
Vocational Personality inRomantic Relationships: How Vocational
Similarity Contributes toCouple Functioning
KristelMayrand1,3· StéphaneSabourin2,3· ClaudiaSavard2,3
Accepted: 15 November 2021 / Published online: 25 November 2021
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2021
Abstract
In the early 1980s, three studies had found that vocational similarity between romantic partners was significantly associated
with couple adjustment. However, given that these studies had important methodological and statistical limitations that
compromised their validity, the contribution of vocational similarity to couple functioning needs to be further explored. This
study aimed to examine the potential mechanisms explaining vocational similarity within couples and the extent to which
vocational similarity contributes to couple functioning, using two similarity indices: The C index and the profile similarity
correlation (PSC). A sample of 104 cohabiting couples was recruited and completed online questionnaires. Results showed
that vocational similarity between partners was low to moderate and was mainly explained by mating preferences. Moreover,
higher vocational similarity was significantly associated with greater couple adjustment and relational stability, especially
when partners were similar on the Artistic or Enterprising type. The PSC was a stronger predictor of couple adjustment and
relational stability than the C index. Sharing similar vocational interests and competencies seems to help in creating and
maintaining well-adjusted romantic relationships.
Keywords Vocational personality types· Couple similarity· Couple adjustment· Relational stability· Holland’s typology
Introduction
In Canada, 61% of adults aged 20 to 64 are either married
(46%) or in a common-law union (15%; Statistics Canada,
2021). Despite the fact that most people generally aspire to
a satisfying and long-term romantic relationship (Roberts
& Robins, 2000), a large proportion of married couples had
divorced (43%), and common-law couples separated (85%),
before their 10th wedding or couple anniversary (Statistics
Canada, 2019). Couple dissatisfaction and dissolution may
lead to poorer mental and physical health among partners
(Hawkins & Booth, 2005; Wu & Hart, 2002; Zella, 2017)
and their children (Auersperg etal., 2019), as well as indi-
vidual and societal high divorce-related costs (Schramm,
2006; Schramm etal., 2013). Thus, clarifying how romantic
partners select each other and how their respective charac-
teristics contribute to a well-adjusted relationship could help
prevent couple dissatisfaction and dissolution.
The research literature showed that numerous factors con-
tribute to couple adjustment and dissolution in individuals,
such as premarital cohabitation (Jose etal., 2010), love (Gra-
ham, 2011), parenthood and number of children (Twenge
etal., 2003), personality traits (Malouff etal., 2010; Solo-
mon & Jackson, 2014), conflict behaviors (Gottman & Gott-
man, 2017; Woodin etal., 2011), dyadic coping (Falconier
etal., 2015), attachment (Li & Chan, 2012), and stress (Ran-
dall & Bodenmann, 2009). However, a fundamental way to
study couple functioning, given its dyadic nature, is to exam-
ine couple compatibility. This construct refers to the degree
to which both partners’ characteristics match and favor a
well-adjusted relationship, no matter if partners are simi-
lar or dissimilar on these characteristics (Luo etal., 2008;
* Kristel Mayrand
kristel.mayrand@usainteanne.ca
Stéphane Sabourin
stephane.sabourin@psy.ulaval.ca
Claudia Savard
claudia.savard@fse.ulaval.ca
1 Université Sainte-Anne, 1695 Trunk 1, ChurchPoint,
NSB0W1M0, Canada
2 Université Laval, 2325 Rue de l’Université, Québec,
QCG1V0A6, Canada
3 The Interdisciplinary Research Center onIntimate
Relationship Problems andSexual Abuse, Montréal, QC,
Canada
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