Remembering for Relationships: Brief Cognitive-Reminiscence Therapy Improves Young Adults’ Perceptions About Self and Others in Relationships

Reminiscence-based interventions involve the guided recall and interpretation of autobiographical memories to promote adaptive thinking. This study involved secondary analyses of a recent trial of a positively focused, three-session version of cognitive-reminiscence therapy (CRT) on generalised perceptions of relationship quality and interpersonally related psychological resources in young adults. A community sample (N = 62, Mage = 24.6 [SD = 3.1], 71% females) of young adults were randomised into a CRT and wait-list condition. Participants completed assessments measuring perceived relationship quality (relationship satisfaction, emotional intimacy, commitment, and trust) and perceptions of self and others within relationships (relationship self-esteem, relationship self-efficacy, relationship optimism and meaning in relationships). The CRT group, relative to the control group, scored significantly higher on perceived relationship quality (d = 0.62), and higher on generalized relationship self-efficacy (d = 0.70), relationship self-esteem (d = 0.59), and relationship optimism (d = 0.57) at the follow-up. Group differences for relationship meaning were non-trivial (small to moderate), but not statistically significant. A brief, positive-focused, intervention of guided recall of autobiographical memories was generally effective in improving perceptions about self and others within the context of relationships in young adults. Replication studies with larger samples are needed. Future research may expand CRT to target other relationship variables, assess the impacts of different doses, explore relationships in specific populations, and better understand the mechanisms for change.

The Relational Wear and Tear of Everyday Racism Among African American Couples

The wear and tear of adapting to chronic stressors such as racism and discrimination can have detrimental effects on mental and physical health. Here, we investigate the wider implications of everyday racism for relationship quality in a sample of 98 heterosexual African American couples. Participants reported on their experiences of racial discrimination and positive and negative affect for 21 consecutive evenings. Using dyadic analyses, we show that independent of age, gender, marital status, income, racial discrimination frequency, neuroticism, and mean levels of affect, participants’ relationship quality was inversely associated with their partner’s negative affective reactivity to racial discrimination. Associations did not vary by gender, suggesting that the effects of affective reactivity were similar for men and women. These findings highlight the importance of a dyadic approach and call for further research examining the role of everyday racism as a key source of stress in the lives of African American couples.

An Investigation of Repurchase Intentions in the Banking Industry: What Reason Do They Return?

In an increasingly competitive market, customer retention is imperative for businesses in the services sector, particularly banks. This study aims to understand how relationship quality as second-order impacts repurchase intentions based on the Theory of Repurchase Decision Making (TRD). The switching cost moderating role is addressed. The model was validated using empirical data from Pakistan. A regression modeling was adopted to measure the research hypotheses that underpinned a proposed conceptual model. Results show that relationship quality positively and significantly influences the repurchase intentions. Switching cost determined to be a moderator between relationship quality and repurchase intentions. The implication is that services industry professionals should not overlook the importance of relationship quality and switching costs, as they have a significant impact on repurchase intentions.

Multisensory VR Experiences in Destination Management

The rapid development of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and the high level of consumer acceptance have made it increasingly complex to retain loyal customers. Virtual Reality (VR) has become a solution that allows tourism providers to design technology-enhanced experiences along the entire customer journey. While most VR offers focus on pre-travel experiences, the potential of VR in the post-travel phase is still little explored. Considering that multisensory tourism experiences contribute to memory formation, the multisensory extension of VR (4D VR) in post-travel experiences is of interest. Thus, through a quantitative field experiment, this study aims to detect what effect the stimulation of different senses during the use of VR has on the overall experience and how this influences the brand relationship quality. The results revealed elevated levels of technology acceptance, which consequently enhances the traveler’s overall VR experience. The multisensory component positively affects one realm of an experience in the area of escapism and thus correlates with the overall experience. However, there is no significant difference between 3D and 4D regarding the level of brand relationship quality. The study expands the literature on 4D VR experiences and supports tourism practitioners in the implementation to strengthen the relationship between a destination and its guests.