Self-Expansion in Daily Life, 2012-2013

We recruited 118 mixed-sex couples through advertisements on the website Craigslist in 12 major U.S. cities. Interested participants emailed the researchers and if they met the inclusion criteria—in a relationship, living together, both partners interested in participating and aged 18 or older—they were sent the link and information for completing the background and daily surveys online. Participants ranged in age from 19 to 74 (M = 31.5, SD = 10.4) and had been in their current relationship from 4 months to 30 years (M = 4.9 years, SD = 5.3 years). All the couples were living together; 37% were married and 19% were engaged. About a third of the couples had children (31%), and of these, couples had two children on average (M = 2.2, SD = 1.1). Participants comprised a diverse range of ethnic backgrounds; 55% were White/European, 14% were African American, 8% were Asian, 5% were Latino, 3% were Native American, 1% were Indian, and 14% self- identified as ‘‘other.’’ Once couples agreed to participate, each partner was e-mailed a unique link. On the first day of the study, each partner completed a 30-minute background survey and then for the next 21 consecutive days, they completed a brief survey (5-10 minutes) each night before bed. The day after completing the final daily survey, participants completed a 10-minute follow-up survey. Participants completed a second follow-up approximately three months later. Participants were instructed to begin the study on the same day as their partner and not to discuss their responses with one another. Each partner was paid up to US$50 for participating; payment was pro-rated depending on the number of daily surveys completed. Participants completed 3,421 diary entries for an average of 18.2 (out of 21) entries per person. Project was approved by the University of Toronto research ethics board.