The association between romantic competence and couple support behaviors in emerging adult couples

2020 ◽  
pp. 026540752098053
Author(s):  
Jiaqi Zhou ◽  
Vickie Bhatia ◽  
Tamara Luginbuehl ◽  
Joanne Davila
Keyword(s):  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Attachment Security ◽  
Emerging Adult ◽  
Relationship Functioning ◽  
Relationship Education ◽  
Relationship Length ◽  
Romantic Competence ◽  
Security Relationship ◽  
Novel Target ◽  
Mixed Gender

This study examined the association between romantic competence and observed couple social support behaviors in a sample of 89 emerging adult mixed-gender couples ( M age = 20.65 for men, 20.16 for women). Across analyses, findings generally indicated that higher romantic competence was associated with both seeking and providing support in a more positive and less negative manner, even when controlling for attachment security, relationship satisfaction, and relationship length. The findings extend our understanding of how romantic competence affects dyadic processes, and identifies romantic competence as a novel target underlying the ability to effectively seek and provide support. Clinical implications for relationship education programs as well as psychotherapy that may be focused on improving relationship functioning is discussed.

Momentary sexual enjoyment: The dyadic roles of relationship satisfaction and contraception among mixed-gender dating couples

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 932-941
Author(s):  
Shari M. Blumenstock ◽  
Lauren M. Papp
Keyword(s):  
Young Adult ◽  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Condom Use ◽  
Sexual Experiences ◽  
Relationship Length ◽  
Contraception Use ◽  
Dating Couples ◽  
Sexual Enjoyment ◽  
Mixed Gender

Enjoyable sexual experiences with a romantic partner are a vital element of healthy lives and happy relationships, yet positive experiences of sex, and associated interpersonal and contraceptive factors, have not been extensively studied at the momentary level. In particular, little is known about how relationship quality and contraception use simultaneously relate to both women’s and men’s momentary sexual experiences within young adult romantic relationships. Using electronic diary reports collected three times per day for 10 days ( n = 293 reports of sexual activity), this study assessed own and partner relationship satisfaction and contraception (hormonal and condom) use as predictors of momentary sexual enjoyment in 43 mixed-gender young adult dating couples. Dyadic multilevel model results indicated that women’s relationship satisfaction positively predicted sexual enjoyment for both women and men, whereas men’s relationship satisfaction was not associated with own or partner’s sexual enjoyment. Women’s hormonal contraception use was associated with lower momentary sexual enjoyment for women and their male partners. Condom use was infrequent and not associated with sexual enjoyment, contrary to our (and many young adults') expectations. All analyses controlled for relationship length and sexual frequency. Findings underscore the simultaneous importance of hormonal and relational factors in sexual outcomes within young adult romantic relationships, as well as the complex and interdependent nature of partnered sexual experiences.

scholarly journals Alexithymia, Fear of Intimacy, and Relationship Satisfaction

2021 ◽  
pp. 0192513X2110102
Author(s):  
Michael Lyvers ◽  
Louisa Pickett ◽  
Katarina Needham ◽  
Fred Arne Thorberg
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Couples Therapy ◽  
Attachment Security ◽  
Insecure Attachment ◽  
Couple Relationship ◽  
Multiple Mediation ◽  
Fear Of Intimacy ◽  
Relationship Length ◽  
Relevant Covariates

Alexithymia, fear of intimacy, attachment security, and mood variables were examined as predictors of satisfaction in couple relationships after accounting for age, sex, relationship length, and marital status. Participants were 158 adults (52% women and 48% men) in an ongoing couple relationship for 1-19 years. They completed validated measures of the variables of interest online. Bivariate correlations were significant for all predicted associations. Multiple mediation modelling examined the hypothesis that the low relationship satisfaction reported by those with alexithymia can be explained by fear of intimacy, insecure attachment, and negative affect, after accounting for relevant covariates. Mediation was indicated for fear of intimacy and negative affect. Such factors may merit particular attention by clinicians working with alexithymic clients in couples therapy.

Time for love: Partners’ time perspectives predict relationship satisfaction in romantic heterosexual couples

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 552-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maciej Stolarski ◽  
Katarzyna Wojtkowska ◽  
Małgorzata Kwiecińska
Keyword(s):  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Sexual Satisfaction ◽  
Time Perspective ◽  
General Relationship ◽  
Relationship Functioning ◽  
Heterosexual Couples ◽  
Relationship Length ◽  
Time Perspectives ◽  
Balanced Time Perspective

The aim of the present research was to explore the role of individual differences in time perspective (TP) in predicting two relationship quality indicators: general relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction, in romantic heterosexual couples. A total amount of 100 dyads took part in the study. Our study revealed that relationship satisfaction indices are predicted by partners’ time perspectives; both actor and partner effects proved significant. For instance, past-negative was related to lower general relationship satisfaction, whereas past-positive proved detrimental to sexual satisfaction. Higher relationship (but not sexual) satisfaction was related to a more balanced time perspective. Moreover, we demonstrated that the role of some time perspective dimensions may change with relationship length, e.g., a relationship between future-positive (FP) time perspective and females’ relationship satisfaction proved to change across relationship course from significantly negative to strongly positive. Contrary to our hypotheses, we found no evidence for assortative mating effects for time perspective dimensions. The present results provide evidence for the role of psychological temporality in relationship functioning and suggests potential utility of time perspective theories in practical interventions aimed to improve romantic relationships’ quality.

Depressive Experience and Romantic Relationships in Young Adulthood

1998 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 339-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas L. Morrison ◽  
Anthony J. Urquiza ◽  
Beth L. Goodlin-Jones
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Young Adulthood ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Attachment Security ◽  
Relationship Distress ◽  
Sexual Dissatisfaction ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Relational Aspect ◽  
The Relationship

This study examined the associations between two factors of depressive experience (dependency and self-criticism) and satisfaction in adult romantic relationships. The Depressive Experiences Questionnaire, along with measures of attachment and relationship satisfaction, were administered to 107 men and 140 women attending local community colleges. Self-criticism was associated with global relationship distress and sexual dissatisfaction. In a combined regression equation, measures of self-criticism, attachment security, and attachment activation all contributed to predicting general relationship distress. Only scores on self-criticism predicted sexual dissatisfaction. The relationship dissatisfaction reported by those with high scores on self-criticism appears to be a relational aspect of the “destructiveness of perfectionism” described by Blatt.

scholarly journals Implementing Relationship Education for Emerging Adult College Students: Insights from the Field

2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 215-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Spencer B. Olmstead ◽  
Kay Pasley ◽  
Andrea S. Meyer ◽  
Paul S. Stanford ◽  
Frank D. Fincham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Emerging Adult ◽  
Relationship Education ◽  
Adult College Students

Understanding in transition: The influence of becoming parents on empathic accuracy

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (8-9) ◽  
pp. 2366-2385
Author(s):  
Jerica X. Bornstein ◽  
Eshkol Rafaeli ◽  
Marci E.J. Gleason
Keyword(s):  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Transition To Parenthood ◽  
Negative Mood ◽  
Empathic Accuracy ◽  
Relationship Functioning ◽  
Major Life ◽  
Daily Diary Study ◽  
First Child ◽  
Relationship Partners ◽  
Life Stressor

Empathic accuracy (EA), the ability to understand a close other’s thoughts and feelings, is linked to relationship satisfaction. Yet, it is unclear whether stress interferes with relationship partners’ ability to be empathically accurate. The present study investigates whether a major life stressor, the transition to parenthood (TTP), interferes with EA between partners. In a daily diary study of 78 couples expecting their first child, couples reported on their own and their partners’ daily mood for 3 weeks during three separate time periods across the TTP: pregnancy, infancy, and toddlerhood. Both mothers and their partners demonstrated EA across the TTP. However, there was evidence that the transition interfered with EA: Partners’ ability to track mothers’ negative mood dropped significantly during infancy and remained low in toddlerhood, whereas mothers’ ability to track their partners’ positive mood dropped significantly in infancy and recovered in toddlerhood. This suggests that one way in which a major life stressor, in this case, the TTP, may interfere with relationship functioning is by decreasing couples’ understanding of each other’s mood states.

Use and Experience of Recent Intimate Partner Violence Among Women Veterans Who Deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan

Partner Abuse ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 251-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzannah K. Creech ◽  
Alexandra Macdonald ◽  
Casey Taft
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Women Veterans ◽  
Intimate Relationship ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Relationship Functioning ◽  
Significant Variance ◽  
The Past

Background: Women veterans may be at high risk for intimate partner violence (IPV), which increases susceptibility for negative physical and mental health. IPV experiences and use have not previously been studied among the newest generation of women veterans who deployed to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Method: This study examined the correlates of IPV in a sample of 102 women veterans who had deployed to the conflicts in Iraq or Afghanistan and who were in current intimate relationships. Using an anonymous web-based survey, participants completed measures of combat and sexual harassment exposure during deployment, measures of mental health and substance abuse, intimate relationship satisfaction, and recent IPV. Results: Results indicated that 63% of the sample reported experiencing any IPV in the past 6 months, whereas 73% reported using IPV toward their partner in the past 6 months. Linear regressions indicated intimate relationship satisfaction explained significant variance in recent psychological IPV, whereas alcohol misuse and recent psychological IPV experiences explained significant variance in physical IPV experiences and use and sexual IPV experiences. Conclusion: Women veterans in this study reported high levels of recent IPV experiences as well as the use of IPV. Results suggest the need to assess for both IPV use and IPV experiences in medical settings, and that for some women veterans, IPV prevention that focuses on healthy relationship functioning may be beneficial.

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