Lower Levels Of Relationship Satisfaction Research Articles

Gendered-Racial Stereotypic Beliefs about African American Women and Relationship Quality

There is limited research examining factors that impact the quality of African American heterosexual intimate relationships. While scholars have theorized that the endorsement of stereotypes negatively impact these relationships, no previous studies have examined this claim. This study aimed to fill a gap in the literature by exploring the effect of gendered-racial stereotypes of African American women on relationship satisfaction. Using a community sample of 137 African Americans, who were married or in a committed dating relationship, it was found that for both African American men and women higher levels of endorsement of the Jezebel stereotype predicted lower levels of relationship satisfaction. The researchers discuss the implications of this finding and provide suggestions for future research.

The relation between dyadic coping and relationship satisfaction in couples dealing with haematological cancer.

Couples' ability to cope with cancer is significantly associated with how satisfied they are with their relationship. However, little evidence specific to haemato-oncological patients exists. The objective of this study was to examine how dyadic coping (DC) affects relationship satisfaction among couples facing haematological cancer. Furthermore, we tested complex interactions between distress, disease-related and socio-demographic factors. In a multicentre study, 327 patients (haemato-oncological cancer; mean age: 57years, 63% male) and their partners responded to surveys examining their relationship satisfaction, DC and distress. The Actor-Partner-Interdependence-Model (APIM) and moderator analyses were used to assess interactions between these concepts. In the APIM, positive DC was significantly related to greater levels of relationship satisfaction, and negative DC was related to lower levels of relationship satisfaction (all p<.001). The partners' distress was significantly related to lower levels of relationship satisfaction of the partners (p<.05). Furthermore, distress, age and relationship duration had significant moderating effects on the association between DC and relationship satisfaction (p<.05). Our results enable describing patient and partner as an interactional unit in which positive DC supports a satisfying relationship. They imply that strengthening positive DC in a couple facing haematological cancer can contribute to them having a well-functioning and sustaining relationship.

Life satisfaction in women with epilepsy during and after pregnancy.

The aim of this study was to investigate life satisfaction in women with epilepsy during and after pregnancy. The study was based on the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study, including 102,265 women with and without epilepsy from the general population. Investigation took place at pregnancy weeks 15-19 and 6 and 18months postpartum. Women with epilepsy were compared with a reference group without epilepsy. The proportion of women with epilepsy was 0.6-0.7% at all three time points. Women with epilepsy reported lower life satisfaction and self-esteem both during and after pregnancy compared with the references. Single parenting correlated negatively with life satisfaction in epilepsy during the whole study period. Epilepsy was associated with lower levels of relationship satisfaction and higher levels of work strain during pregnancy and lower levels of self-efficacy and satisfactory somatic health 18months postpartum. Adverse life events, such as divorce, were more common in women with epilepsy compared with the references, and fewer women with epilepsy had a paid job 18months postpartum. Reduced life satisfaction associated with epilepsy during and after pregnancy showed that, even in a highly developed welfare society, women with epilepsy struggle. Mothers with epilepsy and their partners should be examined for emotional complaints and partnership satisfaction during and after pregnancy. Validated screening tools are available for such measures.

(Step)Parenting Attitudes and Expectations: Implications for Stepfamily Functioning and Clinical Intervention

Stepfamilies face many challenges. Research and clinical work with stepfamilies have tended to use the family systems or developmental perspectives, while overlooking how cognitive processes may influence stepfamily functioning. We fill this gap in the literature by analyzing a sample from the Relationship Evaluation (RELATE) questionnaire database to examine the influence of (step)parenting cognitions on stepparenting issues and relationship satisfaction. Results indicate that individuals who report placing top priority on their own biological children expect their stepchildren to be obedient to them, and those who believe that the children interfere with the new parental relationship report higher levels of stepparenting issues and lower levels of relationship satisfaction. Clinical implications and limitations are discussed.

Parent perceptions of autism severity: Exploring the social ecological context

BackgroundHealth professionals incorporate parent reports into the diagnosis and treatment of children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Yet little is known about the contextual forces that may shape parents' perceptions of their child. ObjectivesThe current study seeks to: 1) compare the social ecological contexts of parents of children with ASD and parents of non-autistic children, and 2) explore the social ecological influences on parents' perception of their child's ASD severity. MethodsThis study employed a cross-sectional analysis of data from the 2007–2008 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) in the United States. Social ecological factors of interest included variables depicting family physical environment, family social environment, and individual parent characteristics. ResultsResults indicate that parents of children with ASD had increased odds of reporting poor neighborhood social capital, greater aggravation, more difficulty coping, and lower levels of relationship satisfaction and mental health. Parents' perceptions of their child's ASD severity were associated with several factors of their social ecological context. More severe parent-reported ASD was associated with aspects of the physical environment (rundown housing and garbage on the street), the social environment (parent relationship satisfaction) and individual parent characteristics (parent aggravation and mental health). ConclusionsResults suggest ways that professionals can contextualize parent reports to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of children with ASD. Findings also highlight a need for longitudinal research using well-characterized measures to determine the nature and direction of relationships between contextual factors and parents' perceptions.

The work–family interface and turnover intentions over the course of project-oriented assignments abroad

The work–family interface is a highly relevant, yet underexposed issue in project management. When projects require family-separation, work demands are likely to conflict with family life and the consequences may be neither beneficial for (project) organizations nor for families. The aim of this study was twofold: a) to assess within-person changes over time in employees' work–family conflict experiences, relationship satisfaction, and turnover intentions and b) to examine the interrelations between these variables, over the course of a project that requires family-separation. Quantitative data were collected among military personnel before and after their four to six months assignments abroad. The results revealed that relationship satisfaction among military personnel had decreased significantly and turnover intentions had increased significantly over time. Moreover, employees who experienced higher levels of work–family conflict reported lower levels of relationship satisfaction and higher levels of turnover intentions. Understanding the interrelations may help managing projects in a way that benefits project organizations as well as employees and their families, who are critical to its performance and success.

Childhood Conduct Problems Are Associated with Increased Partnership and Parenting Difficulties in Adulthood

This paper uses data from a sample of 337 parents studied at age 30 to examine the linkages between childhood conduct problems assessed at ages 7-9 and later partnership and parenting outcomes. The key findings of this study were: 1) increasing levels of childhood conduct problems were associated with increased risk of partnership difficulties, including relationship ambiguity, inter-partner conflict/violence and lower levels of relationship satisfaction; 2) increasing levels of childhood conduct problems were associated with increased risk of parenting difficulties, including over-reactivity, lax and inconsistent discipline, child physical punishment and lower levels of parental warmth and sensitivity. These findings were consistent across both parent reports and interviewer ratings, and in nearly all cases remained after extensive adjustment for confounding and selection bias. Study findings add to the growing body of evidence documenting the adverse consequences of early conduct problems for later adult interpersonal relationships and parenting behaviors.

Marital Satisfaction and Communication Behaviors During Sexual and Nonsexual Conflict Discussions in Newlywed Couples: A Pilot Study

The way couples communicate during conflict discussions has been found to be a reliable predictor of marital satisfaction. However, in previous research, there has been little experimental control over the selection of topics. The present study examined, in a sample of 15 newlywed couples, whether affective displays during the discussion of a sexual and a nonsexual conflict topic differentially predict current marital satisfaction. Communication behaviors were coded using an adaptation of the Specific Affect Coding System, resulting in composite “negative behavior” and “positive behavior” categories. Data were analyzed using multilevel modeling. Negative behaviors displayed during the nonsexual conflict discussions were not significantly related to concurrent self-reported relationship satisfaction. In contrast, for wives, negative behaviors displayed during the discussion of a sexual problem were significantly related to lower levels of relationship satisfaction. For the sexual and nonsexual conflict discussions, positive behaviors were positively associated with relationship satisfaction, although this effect did not reach statistical significance. Overall, the authors’ findings emphasize the importance of incorporating sexual variables in the study of marriage. Furthermore, their study represents an important step in recognizing that marital research benefits from an examination of specific topics of conflict as a factor to consider in studies of marital functioning.

Self- and Partner-objectification in Romantic Relationships: Associations with Media Consumption and Relationship Satisfaction

Few studies have examined objectification in the context of romantic relationships, even though strong theoretical arguments have often made this connection. This study addresses this gap in the literature by examining whether exposure to mass media is related to self-objectification and objectification of one’s partner, which in turn is hypothesized to be related to relationship and sexual satisfaction. A sample of undergraduate students (91 women and 68 men) enrolled in a university on the west coast of the United States completed self-report measures of the following variables: self-objectification, objectification of one’s romantic partner, relationship satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and exposure to objectifying media. Men reported higher levels of partner objectification than did women; there was no gender difference in self-objectification. Self- and partner-objectification were positively correlated; this correlation was especially strong for men. In regression analyses, partner-objectification was predictive of lower levels of relationship satisfaction. Furthermore, a path model revealed that consuming objectifying media is related to lowered relationship satisfaction through the variable of partner-objectification. Finally, self- and partner-objectification were related to lower levels of sexual satisfaction among men. This study provides evidence for the negative effects of objectification in the context of romantic relationships among young adults.

Relationship Satisfaction, Sexual Satisfaction, and Sexual Problems in Sexsomnia

ABSTRACT Relationship and sexual satisfaction, sexual functioning, and sexual desire were examined in an Internet sample of 32 individuals reporting engagement of sexual behavior during sleep (i.e., sexsomnia). Individuals with sexsomnia reported lower levels of sexual satisfaction, lower levels of relationship satisfaction, and similar levels of sexual desire compared with controls. More frequent incidence of sexsomnia resulted in lower sexual satisfaction; however, frequency was not found to impact relationship satisfaction or level of sexual desire. Individuals with sexsomnia reported high instances of sexual problems with 81% reporting at least one problem.

Gender, topic, and time in observed demand–withdraw interaction in cross- and same-sex couples.

The demand-withdraw interaction pattern has been extensively studied and consistently linked to relationship quality in cross-sex relationships, but it has received little study using observational data in same-sex relationships. Demand-withdraw behavior, which occurs when 1 partner makes a complaint or request for a change and the other partner avoids the request or withdraws from the discussion (Christensen, 1988), was observationally coded in the problem-solving interactions of 75 (20 unmarried lesbian, 15 unmarried gay male, 20 unmarried straight cohabiting, and 20 married straight) couples. Results revealed that same- and cross-sex couples engage in demanding and withdrawing behaviors in highly similar ways. For all couples, partners demanded at a higher level during their own issue than during their partner's issue, and withdrew at a higher level during their partner's issue than during their own issue. Women demanded at higher levels than men, and men withdrew at higher levels than women. All partners were more likely to be in a demanding role during their own topic than during their partner's topic. Polarization was greater in woman-selected than in man-selected topics. Demanding increased over the course of the interaction, whereas no time effect was found for withdrawing. Higher levels of each partner's demanding were associated with lower levels of their own withdrawing and higher levels of their partner's withdrawing. Finally, higher levels of total demand-withdraw behaviors were associated with lower levels of relationship satisfaction for all couple types. Implications of results for refinement of models of demand-withdraw behavior are discussed.

Perceived Match or Mismatch on the Gottman Conflict Styles: Associations with Relationship Outcome Variables

Gottman has proposed that there are 3 functional styles of conflict management in couple relationships, labeled Avoidant, Validating, and Volatile, and 1 dysfunctional style, labeled Hostile. Using a sample of 1,983 couples in a committed relationship, we test the association of perceived matches or mismatches on these conflict styles with relationship outcome variables. The results indicate that 32% of the participants perceive there is a mismatch with their conflict style and that of their partner. The Volatile-Avoidant mismatch was particularly problematic and was associated with more stonewalling, relationship problems, and lower levels of relationship satisfaction and stability than the Validating matched style and than other mismatched styles. The most problematic style was the Hostile style. Contrary to existing assumptions by Gottman, the 3 matched functional styles were not equivalent, as the Validating Style was associated with substantially better results on relationship outcome measures than the Volatile and Avoidant styles.

Cannabis use and later life outcomes

To examine the associations between the extent of cannabis use during adolescence and young adulthood and later education, economic, employment, relationship satisfaction and life satisfaction outcomes. A longitudinal study of a New Zealand birth cohort studied to age 25 years. Measures of: cannabis use at ages 14-25; university degree attainment to age 25; income at age 25; welfare dependence during the period 21-25 years; unemployment 21-25 years; relationship quality; life satisfaction. Also, measures of childhood socio-economic disadvantage, family adversity, childhood and early adolescent behavioural adjustment and cognitive ability and adolescent and young adult mental health and substance use. There were statistically significant bivariate associations between increasing levels of cannabis use at ages 14-21 and: lower levels of degree attainment by age 25 (P < 0.0001); lower income at age 25 (P < 0.01); higher levels of welfare dependence (P < 0.0001); higher unemployment (P < 0.0001); lower levels of relationship satisfaction (P < 0.001); and lower levels of life satisfaction (P < 0.0001). These associations were adjusted for a range of potentially confounding factors including: family socio-economic background; family functioning; exposure to child abuse; childhood and adolescent adjustment; early adolescent academic achievement; and comorbid mental disorders and substance use. After adjustment, the associations between increasing cannabis use and all outcome measures remained statistically significant (P < 0.05). The results of the present study suggest that increasing cannabis use in late adolescence and early adulthood is associated with a range of adverse outcomes in later life. High levels of cannabis use are related to poorer educational outcomes, lower income, greater welfare dependence and unemployment and lower relationship and life satisfaction. The findings add to a growing body of knowledge regarding the adverse consequences of heavy cannabis use.

The Role of Trait Forgiveness and Relationship Satisfaction in Episodic Forgiveness

Given the positive individual and relationship benefits associated with interpersonal forgiveness, the present study examines the association of trait forgiveness and relationship satisfaction with episodic forgiveness. One hundred and eighty participants in romantic relationships answered questions about forgiving the most serious transgression in their relationship. Both trait forgiveness and relationship satisfaction were related to forgiveness of the transgression. For participants in the process of forgiving, relationship satisfaction moderated the link between trait forgiveness and episodic forgiveness. At relatively higher levels of relationship satisfaction, trait forgiveness and episodic forgiveness were positively related whereas they were negatively related at lower levels of relationship satisfaction. Results are discussed in terms of the roles that trait forgiveness and relationship satisfaction play in regard to episodic forgiveness in romantic relationships.

Protective buffering and psychological distress among couples coping with breast cancer: The moderating role of relationship satisfaction.

This study examined whether the association between protective buffering and psychological distress was moderated by relationship satisfaction. Protective buffering is defined as hiding worries, denying concerns, and yielding to one's partner in an effort to avoid disagreement and reduce one's partner's upset and burden. Two hundred thirty-five women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer and their partners completed measures of protective buffering, psychological distress, and relationship satisfaction at 3 time points over an 18-month period after cancer diagnosis. The authors hypothesized that protective buffering would result in more distress among patients and partners reporting higher relationship satisfaction than among patients and partners reporting lower levels of relationship satisfaction. Patients' protective buffering predicted more distress among patients rating their relationships as more satisfactory, whereas the patients' buffering did not predict distress among patients rating their relationships as less satisfactory. Partner relationship satisfaction also moderated the association between patients' buffering and partners' distress. These findings elucidate conditions under which protective buffering may have detrimental effects.

Extreme relationship standards in the context of discordant and nondiscordant couples

Research suggests that extreme relationship standards are both positively and negatively associated with relationship satisfaction. This study tested the hypothesis that the association between relationship satisfaction and extreme standards is moderated by the status of the couple (i.e., discordant versus nondiscordant). Sixty-two couples completed a thought-listing task designed to assess relationship standards. Regression analyses supported the study hypothesis. Extreme standards were associated with higher levels of relationship satisfaction among nondiscordant wives but with lower levels of relationship satisfaction among discordant husbands and discordant wives. This study helps clarify the role of extreme standards in relationship functioning, and their potential contributions to both theoretical constructs of relationships as well as the increased efficacy of couples therapy.

Relational Identity and the Division of Household Labor

Data collected from an area probability sample of 90 unmarried and 148 married couples were used to determine whether the degree to which individuals viewed themselves in relational terms (relational identity) was associated with the types of household responsibilities they reported performing. For both males and females, relational identity was found to be a significant predictor of the performance of those tasks typically carried out by women. However, for those tasks typically carried out by men, relational identity significantly pre-dicted non-performance for women only. Additionally, more hours worked outside the home led to lower levels of relationship satisfaction for women high in relational identity compared with women low in relational identity. The performance of household tasks is discussed in terms of their relevance to proper maintenance and care of the relationship.