Barriers to Participating in Self-Expanding Relationship Activities and the Role of Growth and Destiny Beliefs

Abstract

New and exciting activities with a partner have been linked to a variety of benefits for intimate relationships; however, less is known about what hinders these activities. The goal of the present research was to examine the barriers that people face when planning shared new and exciting (i.e., self-expanding) relationship activities with their intimate partner and whether some people have traits (i.e., destiny and growth beliefs) that promote persistence in the face of these barriers. Across two studies, participants in intimate relationships reflected on barriers associated with participating in self-expanding activities that they planned with their partner in the past and identified the frequency of these barriers in the past six months (Study 1), and then rated the extent to which barriers interfered with their ability to carry out the activities (Study 1 and 2). In Study 2, participants completed measures of destiny and growth beliefs, and identified their level of enjoyment and desire to participate in similar self-expanding activities in the future. In both studies, we found that participants rated finances, limited resources, and obligations as barriers that interfered the most with activities. Our findings suggest that barriers were more likely to interfere with activities for people higher in destiny beliefs (vs. growth beliefs). Growth beliefs were significantly associated with greater enjoyment from self-expanding activities and a greater likelihood of participating in similar activities in the future (vs. destiny beliefs). Our findings have implications for understanding barriers that couples face when engaging in self-expanding activities in their intimate relationships.

Keywords

• self-expansion
• shared activities
• romantic relationships
• growth and destiny beliefs