This study used daily reports of interactions in marriage to examine predictions from the conceptualization of intimacy as the outcome of an interpersonal process. Both partners of 96 married couples completed daily diaries assessing self-disclosure, partner disclosure, perceived partner responsiveness, and intimacy on each of 42 consecutive days. Multivariate multilevel modeling revealed that self-disclosure and partner disclosure both significantly and uniquely contributed to the contemporaneous prediction of intimacy. Perceived partner responsiveness partially mediated the effects of self-disclosure and partner disclosure on intimacy. Global marital satisfaction, relationship intimacy, and demand-withdraw communication were related to daily levels of intimacy. Implications for the importance of perceived partner responsiveness in the intimacy process for married partners are discussed.

The need to establish and maintain close relationships and connections with others has been identified as a central and fundamental human motivation (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). Most individuals see marriage as the most intimate adult relationship they experience and the relationship that serves as their primary source of affection and support (Levinger & Huston, 1990). Difficulties with intimacy are frequently implicated in decisions to seek counseling for marital problems (Veroff, Kulka, & Douvan, 1981), whereas increasing or enhancing intimacy is often one of the goals of marital or couples-based therapy.

There is a lack of basic research on intimacy processes in marriage and how members of intimate relationships derive a sense of connectedness and support in their everyday lives. Intimacy is often conceived as an individual...