Personality is related to satisfaction in friendship dyads, but similarity is not: Understanding the links between the big five and friendship satisfaction using actor-partner interdependence models

Abstract

Friendship is a central part of human life. However, little is known about how personality traits are related to satisfaction with friendships. Using an Actor-Partner-Interdependence framework, we analyzed actor, partner, partner perception, and similarity effects on friendship satisfaction in 190 friendship dyads. Agreeableness, extraversion, and emotional stability were positively related to an actor’s friendship satisfaction (actor effect). The actor’s agreeableness was positively linked to the friend’s friendship satisfaction (partner effect). People who described their friends as open, extraverted, or conscientious experienced higher satisfaction (partner perception effect). Yet, indices of trait-wise and profile similarity were not related to friendship satisfaction. The findings highlight that personality is relevant for understanding happiness in close relationships for both actors and their friends.