Measures of relationship power dynamics in romantic relationships

Power is central to understanding romantic relationship dynamics. Yet, the study of relationship power has suffered from a lack of consistent measurement or agreement on the latent construct. Valid measurement is essential for research to progress more rapidly due to the increased likelihood of replicability and comparability. We reviewed all power measures published in empirical articles (k = 319) before 2022. We categorized measures into nine categories based on operationalizations, theoretical considerations, and common themes. The most commonly studied aspects of power were sexual relationship power, structural power, and decision-making. We also summarized the study topics and sample characteristics to investigate when different types of power measures were used. Future research should test the construct validity, internal validity, and external validity of power measures. We discourage the use of proxy measures previously validated to measure constructs distinct from power dynamics in order to avoid conflating distinct constructs for power research.