Abstract
Although engaging in exciting, shared activities with a partner is one strategy for warding off relational boredom, people might be less likely to pursue these activities when they are bored, which could have implications for the maintenance of passion in romantic relationships. In the current study, we assessed couple members’ (N = 122 couples) daily experiences of relational boredom, the occurrence and quality of exciting, shared activities, and passion in a 21-day daily diary study and followed up with participants 3 months later. Overall, there was evidence that relational boredom obstructed the occurrence and quality of exciting, shared activities. In turn, less enjoyable shared activities were associated with lower daily passion, and engaging in fewer exciting, shared activities accounted for declines in passion over time. Implications of the findings for passion decay are discussed.