Differences In Relationship Quality Research Articles

Testing intergroup contact theory through a natural experiment of randomized college roommate assignments in the United States.

Many colleges and universities seek to leverage the promise of intergroup contact theory by adopting housing policies that randomly assign first-year students to roommates, with the goal of increasing intergroup contact. Yet, it is unclear whether random roommate assignment policies increase cross-race contact, whether this (potentially involuntary, but sanctioned by authorities) contact improves racial attitudes or behaviors, or how these effects may differ for racial majority and minority students. The present studies used a natural experiment of random roommate assignment to directly test roommate relationship, attitudinal, and behavioral changes based on roommate race. Across three samples drawn from two student cohorts, the random assignment policy increased the likelihood that students had a cross-race roommate because without the policy, students tended to self-segregate by race. Moreover, selecting (Study 1) or being randomly assigned (Study 2) a cross-race roommate was associated with having more racial outgroup friends and demonstrating more positive verbal and nonverbal behavior during a novel cross-race interaction (Study 3). There were no roommate group (same vs. cross-race roommates) differences in relationship quality, and the results were largely independent of participant race. These findings suggest randomized roommate assignment is a promising avenue for universities to promote cross-race contact amid persistent racial segregation on college campuses with limited negative consequences for relationship quality. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Differences in Minority Stress Experiences, Mental Health, and Relationship Quality Outcomes Among Bisexual, Pansexual, and Queer Women.

The majority of sexual minority women in the United States today identify as bi+. Recent research suggests that "non-traditional" bi+ labels such as pansexual and queer are being adopted more frequently than ever before, making it increasingly important to evaluate whether these women have unique needs. In the current study, we explored differences in minority stress experiences, mental health, and relationship quality outcomes by sexual identity label among women who identify with the most common bi+ labels: bisexual, pansexual, and queer. Participants were 285 bi+ cisgender women in romantic relationships. They completed online measures of minority stress (antibisexual experiences, identity concealment, disconnection from the sexual and gender minority (SGM) community, and internalized stigma), mental health (depression and anxiety), and relationship quality (satisfaction and commitment). Overall, participants reported similar experiences of minority stress and few differences in their mental health outcomes. However, there were differences in antibisexual experiences by sexual identity label, such that pansexual women reported more frequent antibisexual experiences than bisexual and queer women. There were also differences in relationship quality by sexual identity label, such that bisexual women reported higher satisfaction than pansexual women and higher commitment than both pansexual and queer women. Findings suggest that pansexual and queer women may be facing their own unique challenges, even compared to bisexual women. Clinical prevention and intervention efforts can be tailored for these women to include strategies to cope with more frequent exposure to antibisexual experiences, as well as relationship education and skill-building to promote healthy romantic relationships.

Romantic Relationships Among Emerging Adults With and Without Type 1 Diabetes.

We compared the romantic relationships of emerging adults with type 1 diabetes to those without type 1 diabetes. We examined whether there were group differences in romantic relationships and relationship quality and whether aspects of romantic relationships were connected to psychological and diabetes health. Emerging adults (mean age 27 years) with (n = 88) and without (n = 99) type 1 diabetes took part in the study. Participants completed an online questionnaire that assessed romantic relationships, psychological health, and diabetes health. Results showed that males with type 1 diabetes were significantly less likely than males without diabetes and either group of females to be involved in a romantic relationship. Among those in a relationship, there were no group differences in relationship quality. For both groups, being in a relationship was associated with less loneliness and greater life satisfaction. Among those in a romantic relationship, the quality of the relationship was more strongly related to psychological outcomes for those with than for those without diabetes. There was modest evidence that relationship quality was linked to better diabetes outcomes. When partner supportive and unsupportive diabetes interactions were examined, there was more evidence that unsupportive interactions were harmful (i.e., related to worse psychological and diabetes outcomes) than there was evidence that supportive interactions were beneficial. These findings underscore the importance of romantic relationships for health among emerging adults in general and suggest that there may be an even greater impact for those with type 1 diabetes.

Intergenerational relationships and marriage in China: Within‐family longitudinal associations and between‐family differences

AbstractMarriage is embedded in the web of spouses' broader social ties, and relationship quality with parents and parents‐in‐law is associated with marital quality. Guided by Family Systems theory and using three waves of dyadic data from 268 Chinese different‐sex couples across the first several years of marriage, we first conducted a Random‐Intercept Actor‐Partner Interdependence Cross‐lagged Panel Model (RI‐APIM‐CLPM) to examine the within‐family longitudinal associations among husbands' and wives' relationship quality with parents, parents‐in‐law, and spouse. Then, husbands' and wives' filial obligations were added as predictors of between‐family differences in their own and their partner's relationship quality in the three social ties. Among husbands, increased relationship quality in one social tie (e.g., with parents) predicted reductions in relationship quality in the other social ties (e.g., relationships with parents‐in‐law and marital quality). Our examination of between‐family differences demonstrated that high levels of filial obligations predicted higher intergenerational relationship quality and marital quality. By simultaneously considering the within‐family associations of multiple social ties and how filial obligations account for between‐family differences in relationship quality, we contribute to a nuanced understanding of how Chinese couples' romantic partnerships are embedded in their broader family system.

Maternal satisfaction with joint and sole child physical placement arrangements following separation in Wisconsin and Finland.

Families (and sometimes courts) make important decisions regarding child physical custody arrangements post-separation, and shared parenting arrangements are increasingly common in most developed countries. Shared arrangements may be differentially associated with parental satisfaction, and these associations may vary across countries. Using data from surveys of separated mothers in Wisconsin and Finland, the present study explores this possibility and is guided by three aims: (a) to identify child and family characteristics associated with sole and shared child placements 6 or more years after separation; (b) to estimate associations of children's post-separation placements with maternal satisfaction with placements and expense sharing; (c) to examine whether the relationship between post-separation placement and maternal satisfaction varies by mothers' earnings and the quality of parents' relationships. We find that Finnish mothers with shared placement are more satisfied with their placement than are their counterparts with sole placement, while we find the inverse is true for Wisconsin mothers. Moreover, parental satisfaction with shared placement, overall and relative to sole placement, varies greatly depending on the quality of a mother's relationship with the other parent; and differences in relationship quality in Wisconsin and Finland may help explain the difference in satisfaction with shared placement in the two locations. In both Finland and Wisconsin, we find mothers with shared placement are more satisfied with the way expenses are shared between parents than are mothers with sole placement. Associations between placement and satisfaction are robust to extensive controls for child and maternal characteristics.

Stigma and Relationship Quality: The Relevance of Racial-Ethnic Worldview in Interracial Relationships in the United States.

The current study explored the associations between relationship stigma, Racial-ethnic Worldview (REW; a construct developed as a comprehensive assessment of individual's perceptions of race and ethnicity), and relationship quality among those in interracial relationships (i. e., participants indicated their race was different than the race of their partner). One type of REW (Color-blind Achieved) was especially susceptible to the negative consequences of stigma from family members. Other significant differences in relationship quality and relationship stigma were found based on REW. Most notable is that individuals who acknowledge institutional racism, have positive intergroup attitudes, and a positive ethnic identity reported better relationship quality than those who denied institutional racism and/or had less positive attitudes toward their own ethnic group. These results demonstrate the utility of REW in contextualizing the experiences of individuals in interracial relationships as it relates to perceived stigma and relationship quality. The study offers a critical account of how individuals understanding of the racial and ethnic social context shapes relationship outcomes for those in interracial relationships in the United States.

How Do I Get on With my Teacher? Affective Student-Teacher Relationships and the Religious Match Between Students and Teachers in Islamic Primary Schools.

BackgroundDespite the growing body of research concerning affective relationships between teachers and ethnic minority students, very little is known about student‐teacher relationship (STR) quality for religious minority students. Many Islamic schools have a mixed workforce consisting of both Muslim and non‐Muslim teachers. This means that the quality of religiously congruent and religiously incongruent STRs can be directly compared.AimsWe investigated whether the quality of the STR experienced by Dutch Islamic school students depended on the religious background of their teacher (Muslim vs. non‐Muslim). We also examined the role of teachers’ implicitly measured attitudes towards Muslims as a possible explanation for differences in relationship quality.SampleParticipants were 707 students (56.9% female) from 35 classes (Grade 3–6) (M age = 10.02 years, SD = 1.25) and their 35 teachers (85.7% female; M age = 32.94 years, SD = 6.37).MethodsStudents reported on the quality of the relationship with their teacher (closeness, conflict, and negative expectations), and teachers’ implicit attitude towards Muslims (vs. non‐Muslims) was measured with an Implicit Association Test.ResultsStudents reported relatively high levels of closeness and low levels of conflict and negative expectations for both Muslim and non‐Muslim teachers. Conflict was slightly higher in religiously incongruent STRs, but only when teachers’ implicitly measured attitude towards Muslims (vs. non‐Muslims) was included in our model.ConclusionResults of this study indicate that religious incongruence does not play a major role in STR quality in Islamic primary education.

Verbal Ability, Behavior Problems, and Mother-Child Relationship Quality in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

This study examined differences in mother-child relationship quality and parent-rated child behavior problems based on child verbal status (i.e., minimally verbal versus verbal) in mothers and their adolescent and adult children with autism spectrum disorder (n = 219 dyads; child Mage = 25.38years, SD = 10.22). Relationship quality was assessed via parent-reported maternal burden and mother-child closeness, and coded speech samples ascertaining maternal critical and positive remarks regarding the child. Groups did not differ in relationship quality. The verbal group was more likely to display disruptive and socially inappropriate behaviors, but otherwise the groups did not differ in behavior problems. Verbal status moderated the relationship between behavior problems and negative (maternal burden, critical remarks) but not positive (mother-child closeness, positive remarks) aspects of relationship quality.

The immediate impact of lockdown measures on mental health and couples’ relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic - results of a representative population survey in Germany

BackgroundLockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic are expected to have negative effects on mental health and relationship quality. However, little is known about the magnitude of these psychological effects on a population level and for vulnerable subgroups. MethodsA representative sample (N = 2503; 50.2% female; mean age = 49.5) of the German population was assessed face-to-face during the COVID-19 pandemic (February 10-April 25, 2020). They were examined for differences in mental health (BSI-18) and relationship quality (PFB) in a pre-lockdown and lockdown subsamples. After testing and establishing the measurement models in confirmatory factor analyses, we added covariates as predictors of the factors to the regression model to investigate the impact of the lockdown measures. ResultsOverall, participants included after the introduction of lockdown measures reported significantly fewer mental health problems than participants included before the lockdown. Predictor analyses revealed that this effect was larger for participants of younger age and those with higher household income. There was no significant difference in relationship quality between pre-lockdown and lockdown. However, relationship quality improved for younger participants after the lockdown measures started, but deteriorated for older participants. ConclusionsThe German population was found to be largely resilient to the immediate effects of lockdown on mental health and relationship quality. Older participants and those with lower socio-economic status might constitute risk groups during times of lockdown. Further studies in countries affected by more drastic lockdown measures and the long-term consequences of the pandemic are needed to inform decision makers about the psychological effects of lockdown.

Relationship quality, dyadic coping, and depression in couples with left ventricular assist device implantation.

Living with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) can be associated with many burdens and worries for patients. They are often dependent on the support of their spouses. This can also be a burden on the spouses and the relationship. However, the relationships quality of LVAD couples has so far scarcely been investigated. Couple's mutual coping with stress (dyadic coping, DC), as well as depression are important factors influencing relationship quality. To examine patients' with an LVAD and their partners' ability to cope with stress and levels of depression, and the impact these have on relationship quality. The study investigates relationship satisfaction in couples after LVAD implantation as well as influencing factors such as DC or depression. Differences in relationship quality, DC, and depression between patients and spouses are examined using validated questionnaires. N = 39 heterosexual couples with male patients participated. Relationship quality of patients was higher than that of their spouses. The actor-partner-interdependence model provided for spouses actor effects on relationship satisfaction of their own DC, partner DC, and depression. For patients, actor effects of partner DC and depression as well as a partner effect of depression were found. In addition, DC of patients was estimated by both partners to be lower than DC of spouses. The results indicate a high rate of depression among LVAD patients and spouses. This study contributes to the knowledge about the mental state of LVAD couples and demonstrates that the spouses should be considered during treatment.

Sexual Agreements Among Young Sexual and Gender Minorities Assigned Male at Birth: Associations with Relationship Quality and Break-Up.

Previous studies have shown that sexual non-monogamy is not associated with lower relationship satisfaction among adult male same-sex couples and may therefore be a viable alternative to monogamy. However, sexual minority men with non-monogamous agreements have reported lower commitment and trust in their relationships than those with monogamous agreements-potentially raising their risk of break-up. In this study, we investigated whether sexual agreements (monogamous, non-monogamous, or no sexual agreement) were associated with relationship quality and rates of break-up over 1year in a sample of 338 young sexual and gender minorities assigned male at birth (SGM-AMAB). Participants reported their sexual agreement and indices of relationship quality (satisfaction, trust, and commitment) at baseline, as well as their relationship status (intact or broken up) at 6- and 12-month follow-up. Results showed no significant differences by sexual agreement in concurrent trust, but participants with monogamous agreements reported higher satisfaction and commitment than those with non-monogamous agreements or no sexual agreement. Despite these significant differences in relationship quality, there were no significant differences in rates of break-up at 6- or 12-month follow-up across the sexual agreement types. However, having a monogamous agreement was indirectly associated with lower rates of break-up through relationship commitment. Although results were mixed, findings provide some preliminary support that young SGM-AMAB in relationships with monogamous agreements may have higher satisfaction and commitment at early relationship stages, and that monogamous agreements may be a protective factor against break-up over 1year through the mechanism of relationship commitment.

Marital Commitment and Relationship Quality in Fertile and Infertile Couples

Aims Infertility is among the main problems in a marriage. It is associated with various psychological consequences, including the inability to establish a quality couple relationship as well as an unstable marital commitment. The present study aimed to investigate marital commitment and the relationship quality in fertile and infertile couples in 2016-2017. Methods & Materials This was an analytical cohort study. The statistical population consisted of all couples admitting to Sarem subspecialty Hospital in 2016. Two hundred people (96 infertile, 104 fertile) have been randomly selected as the samples. The completed the marital commitment and the relation to quality scales. After checking the normality of the data, the statistical analysis was performed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient, Student t-test, and Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA). Findings The obtained data revealed a significant positive association between marital commitment and relationship quality in fertile and infertile couples (r=0.27 and r=0.18, respectively) (P<0.05). However, this association was stronger in the fertile couples, compared with the infertile ones (relationship quality and marital commitment: P<0.0121 and P<0.0416, respectively). Moreover, the Student t-test and MANOVA results indicated significant differences in relationship quality and marital commitment between the two groups (P<0.0001 and P<0.002, respectively). Conclusion Infertility reduces couples’ commitment and negatively affects the quality of their relationships.

Black Intimacies Matter: the Role of Family Status, Gender, and Cumulative Risk on Relationship Quality Among Black Parents

Studies show that married families report higher levels of relationship quality relative to unmarried families; yet, limited attention has been given to differences in relationship quality between married and unmarried Black families. The authors examined the interplay between family status, gender, and cumulative risk exposure on relationship quality among Black parents. The results suggest that (a) differences between married and unmarried parents only emerged on two measures of relationship quality, (b) married mothers report higher levels of cohesiveness and lower levels of distress compared to married fathers and unmarried parents; (c) cumulative risk exposure was associated with each relationship quality measure; (d) cumulative risk mediated differences in relationship quality between married and unmarried mothers but not for married and unmarried fathers; and (e) cumulative risk exposure moderated the association between family status and gender whereby the effect of cumulative risk on relationship quality was more detrimental for married mothers.

Investigating the Impact of Relationship Quality During an Internship on Millennials’ Career Decisions and Gender Differences

ABSTRACTThe hospitality industry has been struggling to attract and retain quality employees. Labor force demographics in the hospitality industry are changing. The first wave of Millennials has started to enter the workforce, and Millennials are the fastest growing segment of said workforce. In addition, the rate of participation of females in today’s hospitality workforce is growing. Even though several researchers have studied Millennials as hospitality employees, limited research has explored the importance of the quality of relationships Millennials have with colleagues and customers; in addition, gender differences among Millennials have not been extensively examined. The Commitment-Trust (CT) theory suggests that relationship commitment and trust encourage cooperative behaviors that sustain long-term relationships. This study attempted to investigate whether the relationship quality encountered by Millennials during their internships has an impact on their job satisfaction or career decisions based on commitment-trust theory; in addition, gender differences in relationship quality were examined.

How Social Network Size and Quality Affect End-of-Life Surrogate Preferences.

Older adults typically choose their next-of-kin to serve as surrogate on their behalf should they become decisionally incapacitated at the end of life. However, some older adults do not choose their closest relative, even if they are married or parents. We compared the social networks of these latter persons to their peers who prefer a next-of-kin surrogate, anticipating differences in relationship quality and network size. We used multinomial logistic regressions to investigate the quality and size of the social networks of 1,245 persons whose next of kin was a spouse and 723 persons whose next-of-kin was an adult child, and who participated in the 2005 National Social Life, Health and Aging Project. Twenty percent of those whose next-of-kin was a spouse and 32% of those whose next-of-kin was an adult child either bypassed that person in favor of a different surrogate, or preferred no surrogate at all. Low-quality next-of-kin relationships pushed older adults away from next-of-kin, and a greater number of high-quality relationships outside the immediate family pulled older adults toward a surrogate who was not next-of-kin. We discuss what is distinctive about the social networks of each group, and the implications for end-of-life support.

Sex and friendship in a multilevel society: behavioural patterns and associations between female and male Guinea baboons.

One key question in social evolution is the identification of factors that promote the formation and maintenance of stable bonds between females and males beyond the mating context. Baboons lend themselves to examine this question, as they vary in social organisation and male-female association patterns. We report the results from the first systematic observations of individually identified wild female Guinea baboons. Guinea baboons live in a multilevel society with female-biased dispersal. Although several males could be found within 5 m of females, each female chiefly associated with one “primary” male at the 2 m distance. Social interactions occurred predominantly with the primary male, and female reproductive state had little influence on interaction patterns. The number of females per primary male varied from 1 to 4. During the 17-month study period, half of the females transferred between different males one or multiple times. A subset of females maintained weaker affiliative nonsexual relationships with other “secondary” males. Units composed of primary males with females, and occasional secondary males, apparently form the core of the Guinea baboon society. The social organisation and mating patterns of Guinea and hamadryas baboons may have a common evolutionary origin, despite notable differences in relationship quality. Specifically, Guinea baboon females appear to have greater leverage in their association patterns than hamadryas baboon females. Although we cannot yet explain the lack of overt male control over females, results generally support the notion that phylogenetic descent may play an important role in shaping social systems.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00265-015-2050-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Relationship Quality Buffers Association Between Co-rumination and Depressive Symptoms Among First Year College Students.

Co-rumination, the tendency to dwell on negative events and feelings with a relationship partner, is an aspect of relationships that has been associated with socioemotional adjustment tradeoffs and is found to be associated with depressive symptoms. However, depending on the context in which it occurs, co-rumination is not necessarily associated with detriments to mental well-being. Differences in relationship quality within certain relationships may explain why co-rumination is not always associated with depressive symptoms. In the current study, we utilized self-report measures in an ethnically diverse sample (53.5% non-White) of 307 first term college students (65% female) in order to elucidate how co-rumination between roommates may be associated with depressive symptoms. We found that the association between co-rumination and depressive symptoms was moderated by relationship quality such that co-rumination in a high quality relationship was not associated with depressive symptoms whereas the opposite was true in low quality relationships. Moreover, we found moderated mediation, such that the variance in the association between co-rumination and depressive symptoms was explained via self-esteem, but only for those co-ruminating within a low quality relationship. These results suggest that relationship quality may impact the extent to which co-rumination is associated with depressive symptoms among first year college students.

Agreements About Extra-Dyadic Sex in Gay Men's Relationships: Exploring Differences in Relationship Quality by Agreement Type and Rule-Breaking Behavior

Research comparing the quality of monogamous and non-monogamous (“open”) relationships among gay men has produced mixed findings. In addition, little is known about the consequences of breaking the rules of relationship agreements about extra-dyadic sex. Results from a survey of 229 gay men in romantic relationships showed that open relationships were less passionate, but no less intimate or committed, than monogamous or “threesome-only” relationships. However, men who broke rules reported lower relationship quality overall, regardless of the relationship agreement. Thus, it is less the nature of the agreement itself than adhering to the conditions of it that influences relationship quality.

Relationship satisfaction and outcome in women who meet their partner while using oral contraception.

Hormonal variation over the menstrual cycle alters women's preferences for phenotypic indicators of men's genetic or parental quality. Hormonal contraceptives suppress these shifts, inducing different mate preference patterns among users and non-users. This raises the possibility that women using oral contraception (OC) choose different partners than they would do otherwise but, to date, we know neither whether these laboratory-measured effects are sufficient to exert real-world consequences, nor what these consequences would be. Here, we test for differences in relationship quality and survival between women who were using or not using OC when they chose the partner who fathered their first child. Women who used OC scored lower on measures of sexual satisfaction and partner attraction, experienced increasing sexual dissatisfaction during the relationship, and were more likely to be the one to initiate an eventual separation if it occurred. However, the same women were more satisfied with their partner's paternal provision, and thus had longer relationships and were less likely to separate. These effects are congruent with evolutionary predictions based on cyclical preference shifts. Our results demonstrate that widespread use of hormonal contraception may contribute to relationship outcome, with implications for human reproductive behaviour, family cohesion and quality of life.

Relationship Quality Between In-Groups And Out-Groups

This study aims to investigate the differences in relationship quality between in-group and out-group relational ties between providers and customers of personal life insurance service. Based on the model proposed by Crosby, Evans, and Cowles (1990), the relationship quality model used in this study is modified to be better fitted to the personal life insurance service context by incorporating communication behaviors as antecedent variables of relationship quality.The proposed model was tested with 286 life insurance customers. The results found different patterns of relationships between the in-group and the out-group relational ties between a salesperson and a customer. The results also found significant influence of communication behaviors on relationship quality together with other antecedent variables.