Browsing by Subject "romantic relationships"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Early Interpersonal Antecedents of Physiological Reactivity in Adult Romantic Relationships
    (2014-05) Raby, Kenneth
    The current study drew on prospective, longitudinal data in order to investigate the long-term significance of early parent-child relationship experiences for adults' physiological responses in romantic relationships. Autonomic nervous system activity was recorded for 37 adults (ages 34-37 years) during a baseline task and while they were discussing a relationship conflict with their romantic partners. Results indicated that (a) observed maternal emotional support during childhood and early adolescence predicted lower skin conductance reactivity, a sign of inhibition and anxiety, and (b) maternal emotional support and infant attachment security predicted lower heart rate reactivity, a psychophysiological marker of behavioral approach, during romantic relationship interactions. Moreover, the predictive effects of early parent-child relationship experiences were not accounted by covariates related to child characteristic and early socioeconomic factors or indicators of adults' concurrent relationship quality. Results of more exploratory analyses regarding the role of adult attachment states of mind in mediating the predictive effects of early parent-child relationship experiences for adults' physiological responses were inconclusive. Altogether, the results of the current study indicate that interpersonal experiences with parents during childhood and adolescence assist in organizing adults' physiological responses during close relationship contexts. Findings are discussed with respect to our understanding of the long-term predictive effects of early interpersonal experiences for social and emotional development across the life-course.
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    Intraindividual Variability in Personality Research: Considering Time, Measurement, and the Interpersonal Context
    (2024-05) Nguyen, Le Phuong Linh
    Personality research has established robust associations between traits and a variety of life outcomes. Nevertheless, much of the literature relies on the Big Five traits, which broadly encapsulate important patterns of psychological individual differences. As a result, this broad conceptualization often leads to weaker associations with outcomes within specific domains. The current dissertation offers a comprehensive examination of different ways to expand upon traditional trait research. This includes combining multiple levels of personality constructs both within and outside of the Big Five framework, multiple perspectives through self and informant reports, and multiple timescales from one-time trait measures to dynamic state fluctuations and longitudinal trait changes. The primary focus is on intraindividual variability, or how people change in their psychological processes across time, and its relevance within the highly influential life domain of romantic relationships. Study 1 presents a preregistered meta-analytic review across k = 88 independent samples (N = 20,813) of the association between personality traits at both the domain (Big Five) and metatrait (Stability and Plasticity) levels with affective variability. We found a positive association between affective variability and Plasticity as well as its underlying traits. However, the pattern of findings was mixed and valence-specific for the Stability traits, and this metatrait itself was negatively associated with variability in Positive Affect but positively so for variability in Negative Affect. Study 2 further investigated intraindividual variability in psychological processes by examining assortative mating patterns in 138 established romantic couples using experience sampling methods of personality and affective states across 35 time points during a 7-day period. We found evidence for assortative mating based on both baseline traits and dynamic states. However, there was more evidence for perceived similarities than actual similarities at baseline, and there was much more evidence for dynamic similarities on states than baseline similarities on traits. There was also evidence for a complementarity effect or negative between-partner correlation on Volatility. Study 3 expanded the timescale from dynamic short-term state fluctuations to longitudinal trajectories of trait change across multiple months and years, examining assortative mating patterns in two complementary samples of early dating couples (N = 184) and married or cohabiting couples (N = 168). We found evidence for assortative mating across various relationship-specific characteristics both at baseline and longitudinally, which were often stronger in magnitude than assortment on Big Five traits. Consistent with Study 2, couples often perceived each other to be more similar than their actual similarity indicated. Nonetheless, in line with the literature, there was little evidence to support the benefits of between-partner similarity for relationship quality, especially after controlling for actor and partner effects of both partners’ individual characteristics. Altogether, this research program provides a broad and thorough examination of intraindividual variability in general as well as in the interpersonal context, and in doing so contributes to both the substantive body of literature and the methodological considerations needed when investigating these personality processes.
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    Precursors and Consequences of Partner Buffering of Attachment Insecurity for Agents in Romantic Relationships: An Examination of Two Longitudinal Studies
    (2022-06) Eller, Jami
    Insecurely attached people have less satisfying relationships, experience poorer psychological and physical health, and struggle to cope with stressful situations. Attachment insecurity, however, is modifiable. Indeed, individuals (agents) in romantic relationships can provide soothing comfort and tailored support that “buffers” or diminishes their partners’ (targets’) distress and insecurity. These supportive responses by agents are called buffering behaviors. Thus far, research has primarily examined how these responses allay insecurity and distress, thereby enhancing wellbeing and increasing security in many targets. Partner buffering, however, is a dyadic process that involves both targets and agents. Although some research has investigated targets, little is known about partner buffering from the agent’s perspective. Specifically, we do not know: (1) why some agents are more effective at buffering their partners than are other agents, or (2) what the long-term costs of engaging in buffering are for agents. Using data from two existing longitudinal studies, I documented whether and how certain personal and relational experiences shape agents' proclivity to engage in buffering behaviors (Studies 1 & 2), along with the long-term repercussions of buffering on agents’ individual and relationship wellbeing (Study 2). The current research suggests that agents are best equipped to engage in tailored and effective buffering behaviors when they (1) can regulate themselves, (2) have developed adequate social skills, and (3) are committed to maintaining their current relationship. Moreover, agents tend to benefit from engaging in buffering behaviors when their buffering is effective and when it is reciprocated.
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    What’s Race Got to Do With It? Narratives of Asian Americans in Asian/White Interracial Relationships
    (2021-08) Wu, Christine
    Despite high rates of Asian Americans in interracial romantic partnerships with Whites and the sociohistorical context of interracial relationships and race in the United States, there is limited empirical work regarding Asian Americans’ experiences of navigating race and racial differences in Asian/White romantic relationships. Drawing from the master narrative framework, this mixed-methods study aimed to describe Asian Americans’ experiences in Asian/White interracial relationships, identify master and alternative narratives of addressing racial differences within participants’ responses, and examine how narratives relate to psychological adjustment and relationship quality. Participants (N = 189) were self-identified Asian American young adults in committed relationships with White romantic partners. Using thematic analysis, I found that participants received three forms of cultural socialization about Asian/White relationships: Promoting Ethnic-Racial Pride, White Supremacy and Racism, and Racial De-Emphasis. Cultural socialization also informed four racial tropes about Asian/White relationships: Fetishization of Multiracial Children, Ethnic-Racial Betrayal, Asian Female/White Male Couples, and Asian Male/White Female Couples. Using thematic analysis, I also identified societal narratives of Color-Blindness, Multiculturalism, and Racial Awareness that were internalized in participants’ discussions of race and racial differences in their relationships. Quantitative coding of narrative internalization found that Multiculturalism had the highest mean rating, followed by Color-Blindness and then Racial Awareness. Multiple linear regressions were conducted to determine the main effects of narrative internalization on relationship quality, psychological distress, social belonging, and ethnic-racial identity affect. None of the main effects were significant except for the Multiculturalism narrative on ethnic-racial identity affect (B = .10, SE = .05, p = .04); however, this effect was no longer significant when analyses were repeated with a subsample (n = 186) that excluded inattentive responders (n = 3). Overall, results demonstrate that participants receive multiple, conflicting messages about race and interraciality that complicate how they perceive and discuss race and racial differences in their relationships.
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    Young Adults’ Financial Socialization Processes as Influences of Conceptualization and Understanding of Financial Well-Being and Choice in Relationship Commitment
    (2017-05) Rea, Jennifer
    The two studies presented in this dissertation provide an understanding of young adults’ perspective financial socialization processes and how the experiences influence a conceptualization of financial well-being and their choice of romantic relationship status (Study 1: N = 31, Study 2: N = 549). Study 1 has adapted Gudmunson and Danes’ (2011) Family Financial Socialization theory as a framework for organizing young adults’ (ages 20-23 years) personal reflections of how they conceptualized financial well-being. All interviews in Study 1 were coded and analyzed following Gilgun and colleagues’ (1992) pattern matching approach of analytical induction. Study findings suggested that parents and families have contributed to young adults’ financial well-being through financial socialization. Study 2 was guided by Deacon and Firebaugh’s (1988) Family Resource Management theory to examine how the combination of financial resources, financial management, and self-actualizing personal values influence young adults’ (ages 23-26 years) choice of relationship structure. Findings revealed that focusing on individual financial literacy and capability may not be enough to prepare young adults to be financially capable in a committed relationship. These studies suggest that familial socialization agents (e.g., parents, romantic partners) and social norms influenced young adults’ well-being (i.e., financial well-being) and their future life decisions (i.e., choice of committed relationship structure).