Relational-Interdependent Self-Construal as a Predictor of Relationship Quality: The Mediating Roles of One's Own Behaviors and Perceptions of the Fulfillment of Friendship Functions

Relational-interdependent self-construal (RISC) is the tendency to think of oneself in terms of relationships with close others, and it influences relationship cognitions (e. g., closeness, commitment, perceived similarity). The authors expected individuals high in RISC to report more relationship supportive behaviors (RSB; e. g., higher levels of trust, more intimate disclosures), experience greater fulfillment of friendship functions (FrFu; e. g., help, emotional security, stimulating companionship), and report higher relationship quality than individuals low in RISC. The authors also hypothesized that RSB would mediate the RISC-friendship function and the RISC-relationship quality relations and that FrFu would mediate the relation between RSB and relationship quality. Structural equation modeling supported the authors' hypotheses. These effects did not differ across friendship type (same or cross sex). The authors discuss the importance of self-construal for relationship research.