Washington, Aug 12, 2017: According to a recent study, it's a supportive relationship that makes people more likely to give themselves the chance to succeed.
The Carnegie Mellon University psychologists found that people with supportive partners were more likely to take on potentially rewarding challenges and experienced more personal growth, happiness, psychological well-being and better relationship functioning months later after accepting those challenges.
Lead author of the study, Brooke Feeney said, "We found support for the idea that the choices people make at these specific decision points, such as pursuing a work opportunity or seeking out new friends, matter a lot for their long-term well-being", mentioned ANI.
The research was carried on 163 married couples that provided one member of each couple with a choice- either to solve a simple puzzle or compete for a prize by giving a speech. The researchers then recorded the couples' communications as they decided whether to take challenges.
It was noted that participants with more supportive and encouraging partners were more in favor of competing for the prize, while those with discouraging partners expressed a lack of confidence. Six months later, those who attempted the more challenging task reported having more personal growth, happiness, psychological well-being, and better relationships than those who didn't.
The researchers found that the most supportive partners showed enthusiasm about the opportunity, encouraged their partners, and talked about the potential benefits of taking on the challenge.
Feeny adds, "Significant others can help you thrive through embracing life opportunities. Or they can hinder your ability to thrive by making it less likely that you'll pursue opportunities for growth."
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