The link between sacrifice and relational and personal well-being: A meta-analysis

Francesca Righetti*, John K. Sakaluk, Ruddy Faure, Emily A. Impett

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

90 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Prosocial behavior is often thought to bring benefits to individuals and relationships. Do such benefits exist when prosocial behavior is costly for the individual, such as when people are sacrificing for their partner or relationship? Although different theoretical accounts would predict that sacrifice is either positively or negatively associated with personal and relational well-being, empirical work in this regard has been inconclusive. We conducted a meta-analytic synthesis of 82 data sets and 9,547 effect sizes (N = 32,053) to test the link between sacrifice and both personal and relationship well-being for both the individual who performs the sacrifice and their romantic partner. We examined four different facets of sacrifice (i.e., willingness to sacrifice, behavioral sacrifice, satisfaction with sacrifice, and costs of sacrifice). Results revealed that these facets were differently associated with well-being. Specifically, an individual's willingness to sacrifice was positively associated with their own personal and relationship well-being and with their partner's relationship well-being (.09 < rs <.27). However, behavioral sacrifice was negatively associated with own personal well-being (r =-.07). Satisfaction with sacrifice was positively associated with individual and partner well-being (.11 < rs <.43). Costs of sacrifice were negatively related to one's own personal and relationship well-being and to the partner's relationship well-being (-.10 < rs <-.26). Some moderators were also identified. We discuss the implications of these findings for research on prosocial behavior and relationships, address the implications of the methodologies used to study prosocial behavior, and suggest directions for future research.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)900-921
Number of pages22
JournalPsychological Bulletin
Volume146
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2020

Bibliographical note

Working title [?]: Sacrifice and personal and relationship well-being.

Keywords

  • Close relationships
  • Meta-analysis
  • Prosocial behavior
  • Sacrifice
  • Well-being

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The link between sacrifice and relational and personal well-being: A meta-analysis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this