Cognitive Jealousy and Constructive Communication: The Role of Perceived Partner Maintenance and Uncertainty

Abstract

The current study focused on how perceptions of a partner’s relational maintenance behavior relate to the degree to which an individual reports experiencing cognitive jealousy and using constructive communicative responses to jealousy. Additionally, this study examined the mediating role of relationship uncertainty in the associations between maintenance and cognitive jealousy, as well as maintenance and constructive responses. Participants were 192 individuals who were involved in a romantic relationship who completed surveys about their partners’ relational maintenance behaviors and their own levels of cognitive jealousy, relationship uncertainty, and constructive responses. Results revealed perceived partner relational maintenance behaviors were negatively associated with cognitive jealousy and relationship uncertainty. Additionally, relationship uncertainty mediated the associations between maintenance and cognitive jealousy, integrative communication, and compensatory restoration.