The features behind relationship satisfaction in friendship and romantic relationships

Sammanfattning: Relationship satisfaction is positively related to life satisfaction and subjective well-being. The main aim of this thesis was to investigate what features that may explain satisfaction and dissatisfaction in friendship versus romantic relationships, and to compare the results. This study also aimed to examine the association between perceived loneliness and the degree of satisfaction in friendship versus romantic relationships. A questionnaire was distributed to a group of 93 university students between the ages of 18 to 41 years. Through thematic analysis it was found that balance, communication, closeness, support, trust, understanding, safety and conflict management were satisfying features in both types of relationships. Lacks of these features were found to be dissatisfying. Other dissatisfying features in romantic relationships were worry, lack of time and stress and in friendship relationships feelings of alienation and superficial relationships were dissatisfying features. Statistical analyses showed a negative association between friendship satisfaction and perceived loneliness. A tendency to a similar association with romantic relationship satisfaction emerged. Yet, there were also indications of the reverse in regard to romantic relationship satisfaction. Moreover, the possibility that friendship relationships might be more important than romantic relationships for university students in order for them not to feel lonely was discussed.