The purpose of the research was to determine the relationship between love and psychological well-being and certain demographic data. For the purposes of the research, we used the Sternberg Triangular Love Scale (STLS), and Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWBS). STLS is based on Sternberg's triangular theory of love (Sternberg 1986, 119) and proposes three dimensions of love: intimacy, passion and commitment. STLS measures those three dimensions, respectively.
PWB is, according to Carol D. Ryff (1989), composed of six dimension: personal growth, autonomy, environmental mastery, self-acceptance, purpose in life, and positive relations with others. For the puposes of research four of total six dimensions were used (autonomy, environmental mastery, self-acceptance, and purpose in life).
In the research, 155 participants took part, of which 23˙2% were men and 76˙8% were women, aged 18 to 77. In addition to the aforementioned questionnaires, the respondents were also asked about their gender, age, relationship duration, cohabiting and marital status. Only persons in active relationship were included in the study.
The research found a statistically significant relationship between intimacy (STLS) and all dimensions of well-being, except autonomy, as well as a statistically significant relationship between passion (STLS) and self-acceptance (PWBS).
A statistically significant difference between the sexes was also found in the dimension of the purpose in life, and; the difference between married and unmarried couples in terms of environmental mastery.
The results indicate at least a partial connection between the expression of the individual dimensions of love and the positive well-being of the individual, whereby, according to the data, intimacy in particular plays a significant role.
Furthermore, the differences between certain groups indicate a certain dependence of the individual's well-being and the expression of love on the living conditions and characteristics of the relationship of certain individual, whereby gender, marital status and age suggest the greatest connections.
The research offers an insight into the correlation between the dimensions of well-being and love, and thus a better understanding of the interpersonal relationship, and factors, that contribute to their quality.
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