Communication characteristics of relationships with differential growth rates

Abstract

One hundred sixteen relationships were monitored over a two‐week time period with structured diaries kept by one party to the relationship. Based on respondent perceptions of relationship change, the relationships were categorized as no growth, low growth, or high growth in nature. MANOVA results revealed a significant effect for relationship growth, with no, low, and high growth groups displaying progressively more perceived encounter effectiveness, personalness, importance, and satisfaction. Sex differences were also found on encounter personalness, topic breadth, encounter importance, and enactment of talk for talk's sake, all compatible with traditional sex role socialization. The implications of the study are discussed in terms of social penetration theory.