Browsing by Subject "romantic relationships"
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Item Early Interpersonal Antecedents of Physiological Reactivity in Adult Romantic Relationships(2014-05) Raby, KennethThe 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.Item What’s Race Got to Do With It? Narratives of Asian Americans in Asian/White Interracial Relationships(2021-08) Wu, ChristineDespite 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.Item Young Adults’ Financial Socialization Processes as Influences of Conceptualization and Understanding of Financial Well-Being and Choice in Relationship Commitment(2017-05) Rea, JenniferThe 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).