The Role of Apology Proclivity and Perceived Apology Sincerity in Predicting Romantic Relationship Satisfaction among Filipino Young Adults
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11594/ijmaber.07.09.07Keywords:
Apology proclivity, Filipino young adults, Perceived sincerity, Relationship satisfactionAbstract
Despite the importance of apologies in repairing interpersonal conflict and restoring relational harmony, limited empirical research has examined whether apology proclivity and perceived apology sincerity predict romantic relationship satisfaction among Filipino young adults. This study investigated the predictive roles of apology proclivity and perceived apology sincerity in predicting romantic relationship satisfaction among 418 Filipino young adults aged 21–35 years who were in committed romantic relationships. A quantitative, correlational-predictive research design was employed using the Proclivity to Apologize Measure (PAM), the Perceived Apologizer Sincerity measure, and the Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI-16). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rho, and multiple linear regression with heteroskedasticity-consistent (HC3) robust standard errors. The respondents obtained a mean score of 65.70 (SD = 12.90) in relationship satisfaction, a mean score of 5.89 (SD = 1.08) in apology proclivity, and a mean score of 74 (SD = 11.60) in perceived apology sincerity. Relationship satisfaction was positively correlated with apology proclivity (ρ = .47, p < .001) and perceived apology sincerity (ρ = .62, p < .001), while apology proclivity was also positively correlated with perceived apology sincerity (ρ = .44, p < .001). A multiple linear regression analysis revealed that apology proclivity (β = .12, p = .031) and perceived apology sincerity (β = .70, p < .001) significantly predicted relationship satisfaction, with the model explaining 57.0% of the variance (R² = .570). Perceived apology sincerity emerged as the stronger predictor of relationship satisfaction.
Downloads
References
Abreu-Afonso, J., Ramos, M. M., Queiroz-Garcia, I., & Leal, I. (2021). How couple’s relationship lasts over time? A model for marital satisfaction. Psychological Re-ports, 125(3), 1601–1627. https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941211000651
Akmad, A., & Abatayo, A. V. L. (2024). Couples under one roof: A quantitative analysis on cohabitation and relationship dynam-ics. Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Science., 1(3), 38–44.
https://doi.org/10.69739/jahss.v1i3.162
Alampay, L. P. (2024). Cultural values, parent-ing and child adjustment in the philip-pines. International Journal of Psychology, 59(4). 568-777.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.13117
Ali, F. (2023). The relationship between cul-ture and conflict: A multidimensional analysis. (2023). Liberal Journal of Lan-guage & Literature Review, 1(1).
https://llrjournal.com/index.php/11/article/view/22
Allen, J. A., Eden, E., Castro, K. C., Smith, M., & Mroz, J. E. (2023). “So, why were you late again?”: Social account’s influence on the behavioral transgression of being late to a meeting. Merits, 3(3), 459–477. https://doi.org/10.3390/merits3030027
Armentano, L. A. (2021). How do words and body language diverge? Perceptions, an-tecedents, and consequences of verbal and nonverbal emotional expressions in close relationships. In Yale University, Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dissertations.
https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/gsas_dissertations/9
Audita, B.N. & Zulkaida, A. (2020). Conflict resolution style and romantic relation-ship satisfaction among young adults who are dating. International Journal of Re-search, 07(09), 1-3.
https://journals.eduindex.org/index.php/ijr
Barry, C. M., Madsen, S. D., Nelson, L. J., Car-roll, J. S., & Badger, S. (2009). Friendship and romantic relationship qualities in emerging adulthood: Differential associa-tions with identity development and achieved adulthood criteria. Journal of Adult Development, 16(4), 209–222. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-009-9067-x
Beesley, S. M. (2010). Effect of apology focus on perceptions of sincerity, apology ac-ceptance and forgiveness. Edith Cowan University.
https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons/1326
Bishop, C. L. (2013). Psychosocial stages of development. The Encyclopedia of Cross‐Cultural Psychology, 1055–1061. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118339893.wbeccp441
Bolden, G. B., Hepburn, A., Potter, J., Zhan, K., Wei, W., Park, S. H., Shirokov, A., Chun, H. C., Kurlenkova, A., Licciardello, D., Cald-well, M., Mandelbaum, J., & Mikesell, L. (2022). Over-exposed self-correction: Practices for managing competence and morality. Research on Language and So-cial Interaction, 55(3), 203–221. https://doi.org/10.1080/08351813.2022.2067426
Bühler, J. L., Krauss, S., & Orth, U. (2021). De-velopment of relationship satisfaction across the life span: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 147(10), 1012–1053. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000342
Brown, J. G. (2004). Apology: The role of apol-ogy in negotiation. Marquette Law Re-view, 665. https://scholarship.law.marquette.edu/mulr/vol87/iss4/5
Cohen, T. R., Wolf, S. T., Panter, A. T., & Insko, C. A. (2011). Introducing the GASP scale: A new measure of guilt and shame proneness. Journal of Personality and So-cial Psychology, 100(5), 947–966. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022641
Chrdileli M., & Kasser, T. (2018). Guilt, shame, and apologizing behavior: A laboratory study. Personality and Individual Differ-ences, 135(304-306).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2018.07.035
Deniega, C. F. D., Revillo, T. C. A., & Villanueva, C. M. (2024). Defining the undefined: Ex-ploring the concept of situationship among Filipino adolescents. Sinaya, (3)2, 58–82.
https://doi.org/10.59588/3027-9283.1155
Du Rocher Schudlich, T. D., Stettler, N. M., Stouder, K. A., & Harrington, C. (2013). Adult romantic attachment and couple conflict behaviors: Intimacy as a multi-dimensional mediator. Interpersona an International Journal on Personal Rela-tionships, 7(1), 26–43. https://doi.org/10.5964/ijpr.v7i1.107
Dunlop, P. D., Lee, K., Ashton, M. C., Butcher, S. B., & Dykstra, A. (2015). Please accept my sincere and humble apologies: The HEX-ACO model of personality and the procliv-ity to apologize. Personality and Individ-ual Differences, 79, 140–145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2015.02.004
Hubbard, A. S. E., Hendrickson, B., Fehren-bach, K. S., & Sur, J. (2013). Effects of tim-ing and sincerity of an apology on satis-faction and changes in negative feelings during conflicts. Western Journal of Communication, 77(3), 305–322. https://doi.org/10.1080/10570314.2013.770160
Feeney, B.C. & Collin, N.L. (2015). A new look at social support: A theoretical perspec-tive on thriving through relationships. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 19(2), 113-147. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868314544222
Feist, G. J., Roberts, T.-A., & Feist, J., & (2021). Theories of personality (Tenth). McGraw-Hill Education.
Forster, D. E., Billingsley, J., Burnette, J. L., Lieberman, D., Ohtsubo, Y., & McCullough, M. E. (2021). Experimental evidence that apologies promote for-giveness by communicating relationship value. Scientific Reports, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-92373-y
Folmer, C. P. R., Wildschut, T., Haesevoets, T., De Keersmaecker, J., Van Assche, J., & Van Lange, P. a. M. (2021). Repairing trust between individuals and groups: the effectiveness of apologies in interperson-al and intergroup contexts. International Review of Social Psychology, 34(1). https://doi.org/10.5334/irsp.479
Funk. J. L. & Rogge, R. D. (2007). Testing the ruler item response theory: Increasing precision of measurement for relation-ship satisfaction with the Couple Satisfac-tion Index. Journal of Family Psychology, 21(4), 572-583. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.21.4.572
Gaertner, D. (2011). “The Climax of Reconcilia-tion”: transgression, apology, forgiveness and the body in conflict resolution. Jour-nal of Bioethical Inquiry, 8(3), 245–256. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11673-011-9317-z
Gao, S., & Yan, J. (2022). Verbal or written? The impact of apology on the repair of trust: based on competence- vs. integrity-based trust violation. Frontiers in Psy-chology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.884867
George, M., Guilfoyle, J. R., Struthers, C. W., & Steele, J. R. (2025). An investigation of how gender shapes the appearance and judgment of apologetic faces. Group Pro-cesses & Intergroup Relations. https://doi.org/10.1177/13684302251322754
Goffman, E. (1971). Relations in public: Mi-crostudies of the public order. New York: Basic Books, Inc.
Gómez-López, M., Viejo, C., & Ortega-Ruiz, R. (2019). Well-being and romantic rela-tionships: A systematic review in adoles-cence and emerging adulthood. Interna-tional Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(13), 2415. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16132415
Gottman, J. M. (1998). Psychology and the study of marital processes. Annual Review of Psychology, 49(1), 169–197. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.49.1.169
Gottman, J. M. & Levenson, R.W. (2004). A two-factor model for predicting when a cou-ple will divorce: Exploratory analyses us-ing 14-Year longitudinal data. Family Process, 41(1).
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1545-5300.2002.40102000083.x
Govender, R. (2022). ‘Bouncing back’ from conflict: The role of relationship resilience and hope for reconciliation in romantic couples following interpersonal transgres-sions. [Doctoral Dissertation, Flinders University].
Graziano, F., Mastrokoukou, S., Cattelino, E., Rollè, L., & Calandri, E. (2024). Conflict and intimacy in emerging adults’ roman-tic relationships and depressive symp-toms: the mediating role of identity and couple satisfaction. Behavioral Sciences, 14(11), 977. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14110977
Grunenberg, M., Esch, C., Toussaint, L. L., Maes, J., & Kals, E. (2025). Sincerity of apolo-gies: do it right or don’t do it at all. Inter-national Journal of Conflict Management. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijcma-03-2025-0078
Guilfoyle, J.R., Struthers, C.W., Monsjou, E.V., & Shoikhedbrod. (2019). Sorry is the hard-est word to say: The role of self-control in apologizing. Basic and Applied Social Psy-chology, 14(1), 72-90. https://doi.org/10.1080/01973533.2018.1553715
Hatcher, I. (2010). "Evaluations of apologies: The effects of apology sincerity and ac-ceptance motivation". [Doctoral Disser-tation, Marshall University].
https://mds.marshall.edu/etd/628/
Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychol-ogy, 52(3), 511–524.
https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.52.3.511
Hernandez, N. M., Tampus-Siena, M., & Rung-duin, T. T. (2024). Decoding love signs: The role of perceived relational red flags in mate selection criteria among Filipino young adults. International Review of So-cial Sciences Research, 4(3). 123-146. https://doi.org/10.53378/irssr.353103
Howell, A. J., Dopko, R. L., Turowski, J. B., & Buro, K. (2011). Proclivity to apologize measure [Dataset]. In PsycTESTS Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1037/t09886-000
Hopkins, L. (2013). Revenge or Reconciliation? A Rejection-Based Model of Firm-Induced Relationship Termination. [Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects, Kennesaw State University]. Paper 581.
https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1583&context=etd
Javier, J. R., Galura, K., Aliganga, F. a. P., Supan, J., & Palinkas, L. A. (2017). Voices of the Filipino community describing the im-portance of family in understanding ado-lescent behavioral health needs. Family & Community Health, 41(1), 64–71. https://doi.org/10.1097/fch.0000000000000173
Johnson, M. D., Lavner, J. A., Mund, M., Zemp, M., Stanley, S. M., Neyer, F. J., Impett, E. A., Rhoades, G. K., Bodenmann, G., Weidmann, R., Bühler, J. L., Burriss, R. P., Wünsche, J., & Grob, A. (2021). Within-Couple associations between communica-tion and relationship satisfaction over time. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 48(4), 534–549. https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672211016920
Józefacka, N. M., Szpakiewicz, E., Lech, D., Guzowski, K., & Kania, G. (2023). What Matters in a Relationship—Age, sexual satisfaction, relationship length, and in-terpersonal closeness as predictors of re-lationship satisfaction in young adults. In-ternational Journal of Environmental Re-search and Public Health, 20(5), 4103. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054103
Kelley, D. L., & Waldron, V. R. (2005). An in-vestigation of forgiveness-seeking com-munication and relational outcomes. Communication Quarterly, 53(3), 339–358. https://doi.org/10.1080/01463370500101097
Landolt, S. A., Weitkamp, K., Roth, M., Sisson, N. M., & Bodenmann, G. (2023). Dyadic coping and mental health in couples: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 106, 102344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2023.102344
Lahiri, A., & Padmakumari, P. (2025). Beyond apologies: A systematic review of for-giveness in different relationship con-texts. Current Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-025-08246-4
Leonard, D. J., Mackie, D. M., & Smith, E. R. (2011). Emotional responses to inter-group apology mediate intergroup for-giveness and retribution. Journal of Ex-perimental Social Psychology, 47(6), 1198–1206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2011.05.002
Lewicki, R. J., Polin, B., & Lount, R. B. (2016). An exploration of the structure of effec-tive apologies. Negotiation and Conflict Management Research, 9(2), 177–196. https://doi.org/10.1111/ncmr.12073
Lewis, J. T., Parra, G. R., & Cohen, R. (2015). Apologies in close relationships: A review of theory and research. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 7(1), 47–61. https://doi.org/10.1111/jftr.12060
Lin, Y., Caluori, N., Öztürk, E. B., & Gelfand, M. J. (2022). From virility to virtue: the psy-chology of apology in honor cultures. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(41). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2210324119
Ma, F., Wylie, B. E., Luo, X., He, Z., Jiang, R., Zhang, Y., Xu, F., & Evans, A. D. (2019). Apologies repair trust via perceived trustworthiness and negative emotions. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00758
Maddux, W. W., Kim, P. H., Okumura, T., & Brett, J. M. (2011). Cultural differences in the function and meaning of apologies. International Negotiation, 16(3), 405–425. https://doi.org/10.1163/157180611x592932
Medina, B. T. G. (2020). The Filipino family (4th ed.). University of the Philippines Press.
Meltzer, A., Muir, K., & Craig, L. (2016). Being trusted: The perspectives of trusted adults about engaging with young people. Children and Youth Services Review, 63, 58–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.02.010
Mohajan, H. (2020). Quantitative research: A successful investigation in natural and social science. Journal of Economic Devel-opment, Environment and People, 9(4), 52-79. [Retrieved from https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/105149/
Ohtsubo, Y., & Watanabe, E. (2008). Do sincere apologies need to be costly? Test of a costly signaling model of apology. Evolu-tion and Human Behavior, 30(2), 114–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2008.09.004
Ohtsubo, Y., Yamaura, K., & Yagi, A. Develop-ment of japanese measures of reconcilia-tory tendencies: The japanese trait for-givingness scale and the japanese procliv-ity to apologize measure. Japanese Jour-nal of Social Psychology, 31(2). 135-142. https://doi.org/10.14966/jssp.31.2_135
Painter-Morland, M. (2006). Redefining ac-countability as relational responsiveness. Journal of Business Ethics, 66(1), 89–98. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-006-9046-0
Patalita, C. F., & San Jose, D. B. S. (2025). Cou-ple satisfaction and relationship duration in the Philippines: A quantitative inquiry. International Journal of Innovative Stud-ies in Humanities and Social Sciences, 1(3). 29-30.
https://doi.org/10.71123/3067-7319.010304
Rauer, A. J., Pettit, G. S., Lansford, J. E., Bates, J. E., & Dodge, K. A. (2013). Romantic rela-tionship patterns in young adulthood and their developmental antecedents. Devel-opmental Psychology, 49(11), 2159–2171. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031845
Reis, H.T. & Shaver, P.R. (1988). Intimacy as an interpersonal process. In S. Duck (Ed.) Handbook of personal relationships: The-ory, research and interventions (pp. 367-389). John Wiley & Sons. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347687013_Intimacy_as_an_interpersonal_process
Rilveria, J. R. C. (2024). Towards a culturally sensitive model of therapeutic alliance: Exploring the role of filipino values and shared realities. Philippine Social Science Journal, 6(4), 19–32.
https://doi.org/10.52006/main.v6i4.875
Robles, A. A., Bote, E.D., & Flores, E.R. (2020). An investigation of apology strategies employed by filipino business manage-ment learners. DLS Research Congress 2020. Retrieved from https://www.dlsu.edu.ph/wp-con-tent/uploads/pdf/conferences/research-congress-proceedings/2020/LLI-11.pdf
Rumbaut, R. G. (2004). Young adults in the United States: A profile. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1887827
Rungduin, D. C., Rungduin, T. T., & Acopio, J. R. B. (2020). Role of shared identity (kap-wa) in forgiving others: A collectivistic approach in understanding forgiveness. Pakistan Journal of Psychological Re-search, 35(4), 617–636.
https://doi.org/10.33824/pjpr.2020.35.4.33
Rusbult, C. E. (1983). A longitudinal test of the investment model: The development (and deterioration) of satisfaction and com-mitment in heterosexual involvements. Journal of Personality and Social Psychol-ogy, 45(1), 101–117.
https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.45.1.101
Salmela, M. (2005). What is emotional authen-ticity? Journal for the Theory of Social Be-haviour, 35(3), 209–230.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-5914.2005.00273.x
Schober, P., Boer, C., & Schwarte, L. A. (2018). Correlation coefficients: Appropriate use and interpretation. Anesthesia & Analge-sia, 126(5), 1763–1768.
https://doi.org/10.1213/ane.0000000000002864
Schumann, K., & Ross, M. (2010). Why women apologize more than men. Psychological Science, 21(11), 1649–1655.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797610384150
Schumann, K. (2012). Does love mean never having to say you’re sorry? Associations between relationship satisfaction, per-ceived apology sincerity, and forgiveness. Journal of Social and Personal Relation-ships, 29(7), 997–1010.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407512448277
Schumann, K., & Orehek, E. (2017). Avoidant and defensive: Adult attachment and quality of apologies. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36(3), 809–833. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407517746517
Schumann, K. (2019). Apologies as signals for change? Implicit theories of personality and reactions to apologies during the #MeToo movement. PLoS ONE, 14(12), e0226047. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0226047
Schumann, K., Ritchie, E. G., & Forest, A. (2021). The social consequences of fre-quent versus infrequent apologizing. Per-sonality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 49(3), 331–343. https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672211065286
Stanley, S. M., Rhoades, G. K., & Whitton, S. W. (2010b). Commitment: functions, for-mation, and the securing of romantic at-tachment. Journal of Family Theory & Re-view, 2(4), 243–257.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1756-2589.2010.00060.x
ten Brinke, L. T., & Adams, G. S. (2015). Saving face? When emotion displays during pub-lic apologies mitigate damage to organi-zational performance. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 130, 1–12.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obhdp.2015.05.003
Takahashi, R., & Mifune, N. (2022). Sincerity is better than forgiveness: What the trans-gressor expects in an apology. Letters on Evolutionary Behavioral Science, 13(2), 40–44. https://doi.org/10.5178/lebs.2022.97
Valipour, M., Golfam, M., Soheili, F., Lanz, M., Amani, A., & Hosseinian, S. (2025). Apol-ogies in couple relationships: A thematic analysis. Contemporary Family Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-025-09734-2
Vazhappilly, J. J., & Reyes, M. E. S. (2016). Cou-ple’s communications as predictor of marital satisfaction among selected Fili-pino couples. Psychological Studies, 61(4), 301-306. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-016-0375-5
Vazhappilly, J. J., & Reyes, M. E. S. (2016). Non-violent communication and marital rela-tionship: Efficacy of ‘emotion-focused couples’ communication program among filipino couples. Psychological Studies, 62(6).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-017-0420-z
Wood, D., Crapnell, T., Lau, L., Bennett, A., Lot-stein, D., Ferris, M., & Kuo, A. (2018). Emerging adulthood as a critical stage in the life course. Handbook of life course health development. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47143-3_7
Wubante, M. (2020). Review on correlational research. International Journal of English Literature and Culture, 8(4), 99-106. https://doi.org/10.14662/IJELC2020.085
Xia, M., Fosco, G. M., Lippold, M. A., & Fein-berg, M. E. (2018). A developmental per-spective on young adult romantic rela-tionships: Examining family and individ-ual factors in adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 47(7), 1499–1516.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-018-0815-8
Yao, S. (2024). Your apology violates my expec-tation, so i will (not) forgive you.”—An in-vestigation of apology and forgiveness communication in intercultural romantic relationships. [Doctoral Dissertation, The University of Texas].
Yamamoto, K., Kimura, M., & Osaka, M. (2021). Sorry, not sorry: Effects of different types of apologies and self-monitoring on non-verbal behaviors. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.689615
Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Madsen, S. D., & Hanisch, M. (2011). Connecting the in-trapersonal to the interpersonal: Auton-omy, voice, parents, and romantic rela-tionships in emerging adulthood. Europe-an Journal of Developmental Psychology, 8(5), 509–525.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Eunice Lumibao
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See the Effect of Open Access).
