Equity and social exchange in dating couples : Associations with satisfaction, commitment, and stability

A longitudinal study with romantic couples was conducted to examine the importance of equity relative to other social exchange variables (i.e., rewards, investments, and alternatives) in predicting relationship satisfaction, commitment, and stability. Underbenefiting inequity (but not over-- benefiting inequity) was associated with a lower level of satisfaction and commitment and a greater likelihood of breakup. However, little evidence was found that equity at one time predicted change in satisfaction and commitment. Slightly more evidence was found for a reverse causal direction: Satisfaction and commitment contributed to a decrease in underbenefiting inequity, although these results were not consistent across time. Women's commitment was the strongest predictor of relationship stability. In addition, women's underbenefiting inequity and alternatives and men's alternatives were associated with breakups in some of the analyses, and women's rewards and satisfaction and men's satisfaction were associated with relationship stability in some of the analyses. Because of the multiple waves and the extended length of the longitudinal study, the findings make a unique contribution to the literature on equity and exchange. Key Words: equity, exchange, investment model, premarital relationships. Some relationships develop, are maintained, and last a lifetime. Other relationships become dissatisfying to one or both partners and are terminated. Considerable prior research has focused on identifying the factors associated with relationship satisfaction and success. Among the factors considered have been social exchange elements of the relationship, which include two categories of theoretical variables. One set of variables refers to the distributive justice norms, particularly equity (e.g., Walster [Hatfield], Walster, & Berscheid, 1978). The second set derives from Thibaut and Kelley's interdependence theory (Kelley & Thibaut, 1978; Thibaut & Kelley, 1959) and more recently has been represented in Rusbult's (1980, 1983) investment model. The central focus of the present research is on the importance of equity in predicting relationship satisfaction, commitment, and stability, but its importance is assessed relative to other social exchange variables (rewards, investments, and comparison level for alternatives). These associations are examined with a longitudinal sample of couples, all of whom were dating at the first wave of the study. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND Equity refers to the perceived balance in the partners' contributions and outcomes. An individual is underbenefited in a relationship if he or she contributes more but receives less than his or her partner. The state of overbenefit occurs when one is contributing less but receiving more than one's partner. (The two partners may not agree in their perceptions of equity.) Equity theorists (e.g., Hatfield, Utne, & Traupmann, 1979; Walster et al., 1978) predict that both underbenefiting inequity and overbenefiting inequity cause distress, but that underbenefiting inequity is more distressing. The theory further predicts that the distress is likely to strain the relationship and decrease overall satisfaction and commitment. This distress leads an individual to seek to restore equity by either changing his or her own contributions, convincing the partner to change his or hers, or convincing him or herself that the inequity does not exist (i.e., change perceptions and expectations of each partner's contributions and outcomes). If these attempts fail, the relationship is likely to end. The variables included in investment theory (e.g., Rusbult, 1980, 1983; Rusbult & Buunk, 1993; Rusbult, Drigotas, & Verette, 1994) are rewards, costs, comparison level (general expectations of what one deserves), comparison level for alternatives (expectations of rewards one could obtain elsewhere), and investments (what one gives to the relationship that cannot be retrieved if the relationship were to end). …