Shared Awe May Bring Couples Closer and Deepen Their Relationships, Study Suggests

Couples who regularly experience moments of awe together tend to report more satisfying and meaningful relationships, according to new psychological research. The findings suggest that shared experiences of wonder may be particularly relevant to romantic connection, beyond a person’s general tendency to experience awe alone.

The study, titled United in wonder: shared awe is associated with satisfaction and depth in romantic relationships and published in The Journal of Positive Psychology, adds to research examining how self-transcendent emotions relate to interpersonal connection. Led by Matteo Perini, the research explored awe as an emotion that can arise when people encounter something vast or striking that challenges their existing understanding of the world, from dramatic landscapes and moving music to profound ideas.

What the new research found

Researchers conducted two online studies involving more than 500 adults in romantic relationships. Participants completed questionnaires measuring how frequently they experienced awe generally, how often they experienced awe with their partner and different aspects of relationship quality.

In the first study, involving 198 participants, shared awe was associated with greater relationship satisfaction and passionate love. It was also linked to greater self-other overlap, or the extent to which people perceive their partner as incorporated into their sense of self.

When general awe and shared awe were considered simultaneously, shared awe remained associated with relationship quality, while the individual tendency to experience awe did not provide the same additional predictive value.

Beyond fun and novelty with a partner

A second study involving 306 adults examined additional aspects of relationship quality, including relationship flourishing, willingness to sacrifice for a partner and relational quiet ego.

Relationship flourishing reflects dimensions such as shared meaning, growth and purpose. Relational quiet ego describes a less self-focused orientation involving perspective-taking and an effort to balance personal interests with those of the relationship.

The researchers also considered shared amusement and participation in activities that might generate awe, including travel, cultural experiences and visits to unfamiliar places. Shared awe remained associated with relationship satisfaction even when these factors were included in the analysis.

This suggests that the association was not explained simply by couples having fun together or participating in novel activities.

Shared awe was linked to relationship depth

Shared awe was associated with relationship flourishing, willingness to sacrifice and greater psychological closeness. Statistical mediation analyses indicated that these factors accounted for part of the association between shared awe and relationship satisfaction.

Relationship flourishing emerged as the strongest statistical pathway. Perini noted that the strength of the association was particularly striking because shared awe and flourishing represent conceptually different constructs. Shared awe accounted for approximately half of the variance in flourishing in the analysis.

Relational quiet ego was also associated with shared awe but did not independently explain relationship satisfaction when the other factors were considered.

These results are consistent with the possibility that shared awe is connected not only with enjoyment but also with feelings of meaning, growth and connection within romantic relationships.

Is experiencing awe alone different?

After accounting for shared awe, a person’s general tendency to experience awe showed a negative association with relationship satisfaction in some analyses.

The authors cautioned against drawing strong conclusions from this finding. It does not demonstrate that experiencing awe alone harms relationships or that independently pursuing meaningful experiences creates emotional distance.

One possibility is that the statistical pattern reflects differences between people whose awe experiences frequently include their partners and those whose experiences do not. The finding will require replication and further research before its meaning becomes clear.

Previous research has linked awe with feelings of connection to larger groups and communities. The new study suggests that similar processes may also be relevant within romantic relationships when partners experience awe together.

Important limitations remain

Both studies were cross-sectional and relied on self-reported information from one member of each couple. As a result, they cannot establish that shared awe causes greater relationship satisfaction or flourishing.

The reverse relationship is also possible: people in already satisfying and connected relationships may be more likely to experience activities with their partners as awe-inspiring.

The researchers have also conducted a separate experiment in which pairs were exposed to awe-inducing stimuli, with preliminary findings suggesting that the experience may increase interpersonal connection. However, those findings have not yet been formally published and should therefore be considered preliminary.

Future studies involving both members of a couple, longitudinal designs and daily assessments could help determine whether repeated shared moments of awe predict changes in relationship quality over time.

Shared wonder does not require dramatic experiences

The findings do not mean couples need to continually pursue extraordinary adventures. Perini suggested that shared awe can potentially emerge through experiences ranging from nature and art to music, learning and reflective activities.

What may matter is not simply participating in an activity together but experiencing a sense of wonder or expanded perspective in one another’s company.

The researchers are also studying “partner-induced awe” — experiencing awe in response to one’s romantic partner. Preliminary findings suggest that this form of awe may remain relevant in established relationships, although further research is needed.

Overall, the study suggests that shared awe is closely associated with several dimensions of romantic relationship quality, particularly flourishing, closeness and satisfaction. Whether deliberately creating more moments of wonder can produce lasting improvements in relationships remains an open question, but the findings provide a new perspective on how shared emotional experiences may relate to intimacy and meaning between partners.

Article prepared by Victoria Caldwell.