Psychologists have long been interested in how people dwell on and appreciate positive moments in their lives. However, much less is known about these moments when they are experienced with a romantic partner.
Previous studies have linked “savoring,” or focusing on positive experiences, to individual well-being while new research suggests that engaging in this practice together may also shape the health of romantic relationships.
The findings come from a nationwide survey conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign that examined what the team calls “joint savoring,” or shared attention to positive experiences within a relationship.
The study was led by Noah Larsen, a graduate student at Illinois, along with Human Development and Family Studies Professors Allen Barton and Brian Ogolsky.
The research analyzed 589 adults across the U.S. who were in committed romantic relationships. Through a questionnaire, participants reported how often both them and their partners focused on positive experiences in their relationship. The study measured relationship satisfaction, conflict and confidence in the couples’ future together.
The questionnaire asked participants how often they and their partners intentionally focused on positive experiences in their relationship. To capture this, the researchers used a measure called the Joint Savoring in Romantic Relationship scale, which was adapted from an existing tool designed to assess individuals’ reflection and appreciation of positive moments. The scale was designed to capture shared behaviors, like reminiscing about meaningful experiences, focusing on enjoyable moments and anticipating positive events.
The researchers found that participants who reported higher levels of joint savoring with their partners also reported greater relationship satisfaction, fewer communication conflicts and stronger confidence that their relationship would last.
These associations remained even after accounting for participants’ individual tendencies to savor positive experiences on their own.
In addition to relationship measures, the study examined how joint savoring related to stress and well-being. Participants who engaged more frequently in savoring shared experiences reported lower perceived stress and better self-rated health and higher quality of life.
“When couples face greater stress, savoring can serve as a buffer, helping protect their confidence in their relationship and their mental health,” Larsen said.
Because the study relied on self-reported data and included mostly married, white and relatively high-income participants, the researchers cautioned that the findings may not generalize to all couples. The participants’ partners were not surveyed, and the study design does not allow researchers to determine whether joint savoring causes better relationship outcomes or simply tends to occur more often in healthier relationships.
Further research, including studies that follow couples over time, would be needed to clarify how these patterns develop.
The results reveal a measurable association between how couples approach positive experiences together and how these experiences shape their perceptions of their relationship. By examining savoring as a shared process, rather than only an individual one, the study adds to growing research on everyday behaviors that may shape relationship quality and emotional well-being.
