A.1. Passion and attraction for the spouse. The reports about the relationship included references to the physical and aesthetic aspects of the spouse, in addition to the passion, sexual attraction, and experience of sexuality by the couple: “I… am still in love with her, you know” (Man, Couple 1); “You have to be horny (...) the skin thing has got to work” (Woman 1, Couple 6); “Beautiful (…) she is still beautiful” (Man, Couple 8). Although they were mentioned as important at the present time, these aspects were identified as more relevant at the beginning of the relationship.

A.2. Intimacy and complicity. Intimacy appeared as the spouses’ experience of getting to know each other deeply, demystifying idealized aspects about the partner and favoring non-verbal communication, based on the familiarity with the other’s forms of expression in different situations: “because we’ve been together for quite a long time, right?... We already know, we know... if the other person needs this or that, if they want something.” (Man, Couple 8). From intimacy, it is possible to share experiences and feelings with the spouse, provided by openness to the partner, in addition to experiencing feelings of closeness, complicity, and belonging to the relationship: “Complicity... of knowing that you can share not only the good things with the person, but also the bad ones.” (Woman, Couple 2); “The feeling of belonging to someone, of making sense to someone” (Woman, Couple 4).

A.3. Expression of tenderness and affection. The importance of showing love, tenderness, and affection for the partner was also highlighted in the couples’ reports, covering behaviors such as performing activities together, talking and expressing affection in a physical way, exchanging hugs, kisses, and caresses: “when we are together, we sit down, have a drink, we get close and talk, hug, kiss” (Man 2, Couple 5). The expression of affection also included showing care and concern for the other and making small favors for the spouse: “I think we have a lot of that, these little niceties, like this (…) cooking what the other likes, buying what the other likes eating, likes making ”(Woman 1, Couple 6).

A.4. Commitment and investment in the relationship. Investment in the couple’s daily life appears with the role of maintaining the relationship. This investment requires commitment to the relationship, involving mutual support, companionship, effort, dedication and interest on the part of both spouses: “the couple has to be committed to work out” (Man, Couple 4); “It was very important for our relationship, thus, to walk together and try to support each other at times like these” (Woman, Couple 2); “This good coexistence, this family environment, and one compensates the other, companionship, partnership, the need for the help that you need” (Woman, Couple 8). Some reports also indicate the importance of clarity about expectations in relation to the relationship: “I am clear about what I want, she is clear about what she wants. (...) We know, from the beginning we knew that we wanted someone to be together, to have a child, to have a family, to... go camping on vacation, you know”(Woman 1, Couple 6).

A.5. Marital satisfaction. This theme comprises the contents related to the assessment that the participants make of the relationship. These assessments cover both current and past moments of the couple, analyzing the relationship as a whole and the impact of the relationship on their own life: “We are at the best time of all that we have ever lived” (Woman, Couple 1); “I say that I wouldn’t be the person I am, not without her, no way” (Man, Couple 8).

B.1. Personality Traits. This theme portrays specific characteristics that call the attention of the partner, such as pragmatism, rationality, and intellectual aspects. Personal characteristics that participants consider for relationships in general are also included. These characteristics are organized in the four sub-themes described below:

B.1.1 Pragmatic and proactive attitudes. With regard to proactivity and pragmatism, the role of taking the initiative, struggling, and being pragmatic for the couple to work out well is highlighted: “this will, this... restlessness to seek, to be always wanting new things. Whether or not he is doing one thing, he already wants two and, going forward, he is always going forward.” (Male 2, Couple 5); “Committed, hard-working” (Man, Couple 8).

B.1.2 Capacity for organization and rationality. Characteristics such as calmness, rationality, balance, management and organization skills were also highlighted by the participants: “it is the capacity for management, organization (…) I look at him and see him as someone important, as someone reliable” (Man 1, Couple 5).

B.1.3 Intellectual attributes of the partner. The intellectual aspects of the spouse, such as intelligence and articulation, were classified by the participants as attractive and important characteristics in the beginning and/or in maintaining interest in the partner: “it is a partnership that challenged me intellectually, so to say. I think this is cool, it still is like this, today” (Man, Couple 2).

B.1.4. Tolerance and flexibility. In this sub-theme, the participants emphasize the importance of tolerance, patience, the ability to act empathetically and reveal spouse characteristics or everyday attitudes and situations, acting in a thoughtful and flexible way: “The ability to overlook things that are, that are not important, you know, that’s are not worth it”(Woman 2, Couple 6); “The biggest challenge in the relationship is tolerance, patience. Without tolerance and patience, there is no marriage” (Woman, Couple 8).

B.2. Similarity and complementarity in the characteristics of the spouses. Participants refer to the importance of both similarity and characteristics in common between the couple and the existence of complementary aspects between spouses. The similarity refers to similarities in thinking and sense of humor, affinity, harmony and the existence of characteristics in common: “Yes. We liked the same things, we liked to go out…” (Woman, Couple 7). Despite the importance of affinity, the existence of antagonistic and complementary aspects in each spouse was also pointed out as favoring the relationship: “there are really antagonistic things that complement each other, I think we help each other in that sense” (Male 1, Couple 3). Rationality, for example, appears as a complement to proactivity, so that one spouse plays a considered role while the other takes the lead in the actions: “I am the one who says ‘no, calm down...’, ‘wait a minute...’ And then she says ‘no, no wait a minute, let’s do things’” (Man, Couple 2).

B.3. Values. Values, including individual, family, and cultural values, faith, and the way in which each spouse was raised were also considered important. Participants point out the role of similarity or difference in values, cultural traits, and ways of creating each one of them in the relationship: “if the values are in agreement, I think the rest... works” (Male 1, Couple 3 ). Faith and religion were identified as having an important role in the relationship by some couples. The reports express the strength and trust obtained through faith, the participation of the couple and/or the family in religious rituals and the importance of values linked to religion for the couple: “And something else is God, right, we have to, we try to follow a religion, right, the Catholic religion. We try to pass this on to the kids, we try to pray together as a family” (Man, Couple 8).

C.1. Joint learning. The participants made several references to the maturation of the relationship, to the learning obtained in the face of crisis situations by the couple and the adaptation to life as a couple that occurs as a result of living together and becoming familiar with each other: “because we got to know each other better, we discovered some qualities and other flaws of each other, and we also always aim to grow together”(Male 2, Couple 5). This theme also expresses the participants’ understanding that the marital relationship is a constant construction, which occurs from the couple’s daily life: “this battle that you live there, day by day, also ends up strengthening the relationship, right?”(Man, Couple 8).

C.2. Common goals and planning. The importance of having common plans and goals was also highlighted by the spouses. The existence of joint projects and the search for the growth of both help to unite the couple: “Focus... the same goal, the same target... you have to want the same thing. I want to get there...’, ‘ah, me too’, ‘so let’s do it together’.” (Woman, Couple 4). Although most of the interviewed couples pointed out the importance of long-term planning, some participants also warned of the importance of living in the present and focusing on short-term planning: “this thing of thinking too much about the future, planning things, ‘ah, when that happens’, I think it is harmful (...) it ends up... taking you away from the present, putting you ahead” (Man 1, Couple 3).

C.3. Conflict and decision making. The way in which spouses interact at times of conflict and decision making permeated all interviews. Generally speaking, spouses are divided between those who most often ignore the subject of conflict or keep it to themselves, trying“not to pay attention” and “keep quiet”, and those who tend to act more reactively, saying what they feel and, sometimes, “bursting out”: “I am much calmer, much more quiet (…) So... when he comes and speaks, he explodes like this, normally, I try ‘calm down, calm down”, but there are moments when we get out of your minds. But it happens, then it ends, we talk, we go back to normal.”(Male 2, Couple 3). In addition, couples report some recurring dynamics of conflict resolution. In many cases, there is first an argument, followed by a brief period of withdrawal and, finally, a moment of dialogue and attempt of resolution: “We get into a quarrel, have the argument, and... so... there is one of us that usually commits more mistakes than the other. And then we withdraw a little and then we talk again, like this” (Man, Couple 2). Another possibility is that one of the spouses perceives the discomfort of the other with some situation and tries to talk about it.

Finally, some couples report that initially there is withdrawal and tension in relation to the topic of conflict until there is a natural release from the tension and the two interact again: “So, sometimes, we don’t .. due to a fight, we don’t talk, right? (...) when one turns to one side in bed, and the other to the other (laugh), and sleeps. Then one day goes by two days go by, until the needs of everyday life make you talk again” (Woman, Couple 8). The couples’ reports also show that one spouse often has an easier time approaching the other and starting the dialogue in an attempt to negotiate or resolve the conflict. With regard to decision making, the participants report that they talk about the different possibilities until they reach a consensus: “we see several places like this, one mentions a place, another mentions another, then we look at what one has, then what the other has and together we …(make a decision)”(Woman, Couple 7).

C.4. Respect for individuality and privacy. The participants valued the preservation of the individual space of each spouse in the relationship, respecting the space of the other and maintaining their own space, maintaining a certain degree of independence and investment in aspects other than just life as a couple: “respecting the space of the other. Cultivating your space, but also letting the other have their own space” (Man 2, Couple 3). However, there are also reports that indicate that individuality gets blurred due to the marriage and/or the family: “I will forget my own self and I will turn the page, and we will find the better side of the other because they (the children) need the father present, they need me present (...) the “me” ends up disappearing from the person’s life, right”(Woman, Couple 8). Finally, the theme also brings together contents that refer to the lack of privacy, in which the preservation of individuality is hampered by issues of physical space or the constant presence of the spouse: “this space of being alone, which is something I have always valued a lot, because I lived a long of time alone, too, it was kind of difficult” (Woman, Couple 2)

C.5. Ability to overcome crises and resilience. This theme covers the contents related to the perception of solidity, stability, and security of the relationship that result from moments of overcoming crises: “(the relationship) has become more solid than we imagined. Because that’s it, when we needed it most, we knew we could count on this stability factor” (Man, Couple 2). In the reports included in this theme, the participants refer to marriage as a safe base and emphasize the importance of the decision to continue in the relationship at the difficult moments they face: “I think that still as a whole, it is good to be married, it is good to have a family. It is good to have this base, this security... Having somewhere to go back to, do you understand?” (Woman, Couple 8).

C.6. Leisure as a couple. The moments of leisure and relaxation appear in the couples’ statements as important for maintaining the health of the relationship. Leisure includes moments when they can be at ease with each other and invest time in activities such as watching movies, cooking, dancing, camping, and traveling: “we like to cook, to travel, we like to go camping”( Woman 1, Couple 6); “Then the weekend comes, we get ready and... and go out to dinner. Like, that is a relief from the week... it’s good for us”(Woman, Couple 7); “Staying together, relaxed, without worrying about commitments and problems... trying to have fun... playing” (Man, Couple 1).

D.1. Period of achievement of financial stability. Financial stability, including the couple’s and family’s income and money management, and material issues involving mainly the need for their own housing, was pointed out as an important factor by couples: “So until we build our house, the financial issue doesn’t allow us to leave and rent a place, so I’m stuck there” (Woman, Couple 4); “It is a matter of not having our own space. (…) We already realize that this creates a certain difficulty, that we cannot move forward, we cannot... impose or organize things our way” (Man 2, Couple 5). The reports included in this theme also deal with the financial management by couples and the positive impact of stability or increased income on the spouses’ daily lives: “this last (year) has been very good for me because... we have financial stability...”(Woman, Couple 1).

D.2. Labor Context. The work context seems to interact with the relationship in several ways. Overwork, the difficulty of coping with the demands of professional life, dissatisfaction with work, and the concern with unemployment are pointed out as ways of influencing this theme in the relationship: “I was unable to cope with my work, and I felt that I also left something to be desired in the relationship” (Man, Couple 2). The concern with work also appears as related to the need to provide for the family: “if you have a problem at work, it ends up giving you a certain fear of losing it and not being able to provide for, support the family. So, when there is a problem at work, it starts to bother you and, whether you like it or not, it gets into the house” (Man, Couple 8).

D.3. Unpredictable horizontal stressors. Unexpected events appeared as stressors at different moments in the marital trajectory. These stressors are the death or separation of family members, financial crisis, moments of transition and plans that could not be realized as expected for reasons beyond the couple: “this change, because it involves closing an apartment, closing things here, is leaving us a lot anxious” (Man, Couple 2). The financial crisis and unemployment appear prominently among these events: “our financial crisis started, and we sold the house, went to pay rent with two young children, and that was very difficult” (Woman, Couple 7).

D.4. Vertical stressors related to the family. This theme brings together contents related to the problems in the family of origin of one or both spouses. The participants report the impact of the events that happen in the families on the couple, the influence of family members who cohabit or live with the spouses day by day, and the existence of family conflicts: “And families, you know, I think families are always permeating the problems” (Man, Couple 1); “His mother doesn’t accept me (…) we don’t get along, so she does everything to keep the children away from me” (Woman, Couple 4).

D.5. Support from the family of origin. The support received by spouses from external sources, especially from the family, was highlighted by some participants: “The family too... the family is always there” (Woman, Couple 1). This support occurs in several ways, such as material assistance, help in the execution of daily tasks and emotional support: “I went out to work, she took care of them, or when they were sick I asked my mother for help. Or my sister also always came to help us out” (Woman, Interview 7).

D.6. Development of maturity. The participants also mentioned that the spouses’ maturity, which appears to be associated with age, is an important factor for the relationship: “I consider that I am a much better person today than I was back then, maturity, both of us met in our thirties” (Woman 2, Couple 6). Maturity, according to the participants, provides flexibility and emotional stability to the members of the couple: “I feel much more mature (…) affectivelly, emotionally, much more stable, because... I used to be much more insecure” (Male 2, Couple 5).

D.7. The family with children. The arrival of the children, in general, is pointed out as a moment of happiness and fulfillment of the dream of establishing a family: “we planned... and their arrival with health, exactly, even the way we thought they would come... their characteristics, so it was... wow, it was a lot of joy” (Woman, Couple 7). It also highlights the need to adapt to the demands and tasks inherent to raising children. Despite this, the presence of children is understood as generating gratification as parents perceive the success of transmitting their own values to their children and consider them as strengthening the marital bond: “Then when they begin to reward you for everything that you went through, I think it’s a very cool moment (...) we managed to pass the values on to them and they manage to keep them”(Woman, Couple 8). For remarried spouses, the importance of having a good relationship between the children and the new spouse for the success of the current relationship also appears: “He always treated my children very well, he always had affection for them, and they always realized that (…) this was very, very, very important to me”(Woman, Couple 4).