Sexual communication, communication satisfaction, and solidarity in the developmental stages of intimate relationships

Abstract

This study examines sexually intimate relationships (n = 312) in terms of developmental phases of relationship development. Communication‐related indices —specific communication satisfaction, general communication satisfaction, sexual communication satisfaction, and interpersonal solidarity—were used as criteria for the level of relationship development. Significant nonlinear relationships among relationship phases were found on all four criteria. Differences on criteria means differentiated among six of seven developmental stages. Solidarity differentiated most finely (45% of the variance) among the phases and, together with sexual communication satisfaction, indicated disengagement stages more clearly.