The association between financial strain and volatility in daily relationship uncertainty: A dyadic investigation

Prior research suggests that financial strain negatively impacts relational outcomes and that fluctuations (i.e., volatility) in daily reports of relationship aspects may be detrimental for relational outcomes. Daily relational uncertainty may also be associated with financial stressors; however, little is known about the association between financial strain and levels of daily relational uncertainty, as well as the volatility in day-to-day relational uncertainty. The current study includes both members of 100 adult different-sex couples (relationship length M = 7.0 years, SD = 7.1) who completed 14 days of daily diaries. We examined whether greater baseline financial strain is associated with higher levels of daily relational uncertainty and greater day-to-day volatility in relational uncertainty among actors and partners. Individuals who reported greater financial strain also reported higher overall levels of daily relationship uncertainty, as well as greater volatility in daily relationship uncertainty. The association between actor financial strain and volatility in daily relationship uncertainty was moderated by gender and marital status, such that financial strain was only associated with greater volatility in daily relationship uncertainty for men (but not for women) and for unmarried (but not married) individuals. Evidence for partner effects were also found, where partners’ higher levels of financial strain was associated with less volatility in actors’ daily relational uncertainty; however, this relationship was moderated by income, gender, and marital status. Individuals with lower income levels (versus high income levels) reported less volatility in their daily relationship uncertainty when their partners reported higher financial strain. Males rather than women reported lower volatility in daily relational uncertainty when their partners reported greater financial strain. In addition, unmarried rather than married individuals reported greater volatility in daily relationship uncertainty when their partners reported higher financial strain. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

Uncertainty management in engineering-service development: the role of organisational capabilities

PurposeEngineering-service (ES) development is characterised by high uncertainty, the management of which is crucial for the success of the offering during the provision of ESs. This paper studies suitable organisational capabilities to address different uncertainty types.Design/methodology/approachBased on conceptualisation of individual uncertainty types and organisational capabilities, this study investigated their empirical links through six case studies of ES development projects. The data consisted of 64 semi-structured interviews, 10 weeks of observational data and 166 supporting documents describing the projects.FindingsThe findings provide empirical evidence for four distinct uncertainty types (environmental, organisational, technical and relational uncertainty) and the organisational capabilities needed for addressing them. The authors identified unique dominant capabilities for each uncertainty type (commercialisation for environmental uncertainty, coordination for organisational and technical uncertainty, and relational capabilities for relational uncertainty), which were complemented with supporting capabilities, including project management and integration.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the service operations literature by merging previously separate research streams on uncertainty and organisational capabilities in ESs and servitization. Through this merge, this study offers a more coherent understanding by extending previously sporadic insights into specific links between individual uncertainty types and individual capabilities.

Caregiving spouses’ experiences of relational uncertainty and partner influence in the prolonged relational transition of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias cause gradual cognitive and communicative decline over a period of several years creating a prolonged transitional period in the lives of people with the disease and their spouse. Relational turbulence theory served as a lens to examine 18 in-depth interviews with caregiving spouses regarding their experiences of relational uncertainty, and interference and facilitation from their partner throughout this prolonged relational transition. Counterintuitively, the experience of relational uncertainty was greatly influenced by the certainties of relational change and termination (death) that shifted the temporal focus of uncertainty to the future. Communicative symptoms and aggressive behavior were a main source of interference. Despite the impairment of the disease, caregiving spouses recognized their partners’ expressions of gratitude, moments of recognition, and simple expressions of love as facilitation.

Caregivers' Loss of the Dyadic Experience After Their Care Partner's Death

One emerging dyadic concept is the experience of family caregivers when their care partner dies and their dyadic relationship comes to an end. This study qualitatively examined and characterized the loss of the dyadic experience for the caregiver after the death of their care partner. Data was accrued as part of a randomized clinical trial in 29 older hospice caregivers. Iterative thematic analysis focused on dyadic processes before, during and post death. Using two relational parameters from Relational Turbulence Theory resulted in a preliminary characterization of a new concept - dyadic dissolution as a cognitive and affective process whereby a remaining member of a dyad experiences relational uncertainty and partner interference while adapting (or not) to the death of their care partner. Findings suggest that asking several open-ended questions about the dyadic relationship will enable assessment for any continuing impact of relational uncertainty and partner interference on bereaved caregivers.

The role of identity uncertainty in predicting relational turbulence and perceived partner communication for women coping with infertility

Infertility can change the way people see themselves and their relational roles. This study examined how changes to identity following reproductive hardship are associated with identity uncertainty and relationship outcomes. Drawing on relational turbulence theory, we position identity uncertainty as an antecedent condition for relational uncertainty and interdependence processes in the context of infertility and examine these relationship mechanisms as predictors of relational turbulence and perceptions of partner communication during this relationship transition. We surveyed 152 women who have been unsuccessful at conceiving for at least 12 months about their identity and perceptions of their relationship. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Consistent with hypotheses, identity change was positively associated with identity uncertainty, which, in turn, predicted increased relational uncertainty. Relational turbulence was positively predicted by relational uncertainty, but not partner interference or facilitation. Perceptions of a partner’s communication were predicted by relational turbulence and partner facilitation. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

Relational turbulence during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal analysis of the reciprocal effects between relationship characteristics and outcomes of relational turbulence

This study offers a longitudinal and dyadic test of relational turbulence theory during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, this study highlights the severity of irritations and the aggressiveness and openness of relational communication as outcomes of relational turbulence that both shape and reflect relationship characteristics during this transition. Romantic dyads ( N = 151) completed four weekly surveys during the pandemic’s early stages. We used multilevel modeling to document between- and within-person effects and evaluate reciprocal effects over time. Results indicated that relational uncertainty and partner interference were positively associated with relational turbulence, whereas partner facilitation was negatively associated with turbulence. Relational turbulence was positively associated with the severity of irritations and the aggressiveness of communication, and negatively associated with the openness of communication, above and beyond the effects of the relationship mechanisms. Over-time analyses showed that relational turbulence, severity of irritations, aggressive communication, and open communication predicted subsequent levels of relationship qualities. These findings showcase the theoretical utility of relational turbulence theory for explaining how relationships are affected by the pandemic and highlight relationship processes to target in helping couples manage their relationship during these stressful times.

Relational Uncertainty Within Relational Turbulence Theory: The Bifactor Exploratory Structural Equation Model

Relational uncertainty consists of self, partner, and relationship uncertainty, which are core parameters in relational turbulence theory (RTT). Advances in latent variable modeling allow researchers to examine the multidimensional construct as a bifactor model, including a general factor of relational uncertainty and residualized factors of self, partner, and relationship uncertainty. This advance is theoretically consequential because RTT maintains the importance of distinctions among the facets of relational uncertainty, even while empirical evidence demonstrates considerable overlap among them. In two data sets (college sample, N = 513; married sample, N = 354), competing measurement models specified Relational Uncertainty Scale items as a unidimensional confirmatory factor model, 3-factor independent clusters confirmatory factor model, 3-factor exploratory structural equation model (ESEM), bifactor confirmatory factor model, and bifactor-ESEM. The bifactor-ESEM provided the best fit in both samples, and bifactor statistics clarified how variance from the scale is partitioned to yield essential unidimensionality for the general factor of relational uncertainty, controlling for its residualized factors. Tests of a latent predictive model using a bifactor specification of relational uncertainty were consistent with RTT. Implications for testing communication theory using bifactor-ESEM are discussed in light of these findings.

Dyadic coping and discrete emotions during COVID-19: Connecting the communication theory of resilience with relational uncertainty

The current study applies the communication theory of resilience (CTR) to assess married individuals’ utilization of resilience communication during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines pathways between communicative resilience processes, relational uncertainty, discrete emotions, and evaluations of dyadic coping. Married individuals ( n = 625) were surveyed during April 21–April 29, 2020 using Qualtrics panels. Structural equation analyses revealed that most of the resilience communication processes impacted evaluations of dyadic coping via three indirect pathways, including (a) relational uncertainty, (b) relational uncertainty → anger, and (c) relational uncertainty → fear. The alternative logic of humor did not impact dyadic coping through these indirect pathways, but instead directly, positively impacted dyadic coping. Theoretical and practical implications, limitations, and future research directions are discussed.

Caregivers’ Loss of the Dyadic Experience after Their Care Partners’ Death

Little is known about the experience of family caregivers when their care partner dies and their dyadic relationship comes to an end. This study qualitatively examined and characterized the loss of the dyadic experience for the caregiver after the death of their care partner. Data was accrued as part of a randomized clinical trial in 29 older hospice caregivers. Iterative thematic analysis focused on dyadic processes before, during and post death. Using two relational parameters from Relational Turbulence Theory resulted in a preliminary characterization of a new concept—dyadic dissolution as a cognitive and affective process whereby a remaining member of a dyad experiences relational uncertainty and partner interference while adapting (or not) to the death of their care partner. Findings suggest that asking several open-ended questions about the dyadic relationship will enable assessment for any continuing impact of relational uncertainty and partner interference on bereaved caregivers.