Lovers With Happy Feet: The Interdependence of Relationship and Activity Factors for Individuals Dancing With a Romantic Partner

The significance that romantic partners ascribe to joint activities and the impact these activities have on relationship quality were examined in the context of self‐determination theory. Individuals who practice ballroom dancing with a romantic partner were invited to complete measures of motivation and perception of dyadic adjustment for their relationship and when dancing. Results from path analyses suggested direct and indirect effects of relationship motivation on satisfaction when dancing with a partner. Additionally, direct and indirect effects of motivation for dancing with a partner on relationship satisfaction were also found. Overall, this study suggests that couple functioning plays a role in joint activity functioning and satisfaction. Satisfaction in joint activities can also contribute to the overall quality of the relationship.