Negative Communication Patterns Research Articles

Understanding the patient-spouse communication experience during chemotherapy for gastric cancer: A qualitative study

Purpose This study examines how patients with gastric cancer and their spouses communicate about the illness, assessing the impact of positive or negative communication on their psychological adaptation and the intimacy of their relationship as a couple. Method Employing The Relationship Intimacy Model of Couple Adaptation to Cancer, this study used purposive sampling with the principle of maximum variation to select participants. Sixteen pairs of patients with gastric cancer and their spouse caregivers, hospitalized in the oncology department of a tertiary hospital in Jingjiang City, Jiangsu Province, from March to July 2023, were chosen for semi-structured face-to-face interviews. The recorded data were transcribed within 24 h following each interview and supplemented with field notes. Directed content analysis was employed for the qualitative content analysis. Results The interview data revealed three themes and six subthemes. Theme 1: The impact of negative patient-spouse communication, with the subthemes being (i) a decline in couples’ relationship intimacy and (ii) reduced psychological adaptation. Theme 2: The impact of positive patient-spouse communication, with the subthemes being (i) enhanced couples’ relationship intimacy and (ii) increased psychological adaptation. Theme 3: The impact of protective concealment, with the subthemes being (i) declined couples’ relationship intimacy and psychological adaptation, and (ii) increased couples’ relationship intimacy and psychological adaptation. Throughout the chemotherapy period, patients with gastric cancer and their spouses experienced both positive and negative forms of patient-spouse communication. This underscores the significance of acknowledging protective concealment within couples. Moreover, the study highlights how the dynamics of couples’ relationship intimacy and psychological adaptation are influenced by both positive and negative communication patterns surrounding the illness. Conclusions For patients with gastric cancer and their spouses, it is crucial for nurses to emphasize the importance of spousal disease communication during chemotherapy. Efforts should be made to mitigate one-sided, conflictual communication and avoidance behaviors, and to adopt appropriate communication strategies in terms of content and timing to deeply promote couple communication. Additionally, there is a need to focus on the physical and psychological stress of protective concealment in couples.

Positive Communication Practices for Enhancing Collaboration

Collaboration is the process of people working together toward a common goal and occurs in a wide range of contexts. When done well, almost anything is possible. Because of its potential, collaboration is touted as one of the most promising ways to address today’s most difficult and complex problems. However, not all collaborative efforts realize their potential for a variety of reasons, including the relational aspects of collaboration. Central to collaboration and its efficacy, interpersonal relationships can be enhanced through positive communication. This research explores positive and negative communication patterns in collaborative contexts. Thematic analysis is applied to qualitative data collected from 278 participants involved in varied collaborative efforts. Fifteen collaborative communication practices emerge as playing an important role in fostering collaboration. Findings from this research contribute to the growing field of positive communication scholarship by offering positive communication practices that people can employ to strengthen interpersonal relationships in collaborative efforts. Guidance on ways practitioners can apply these findings is provided.

Relationship between stigma and infertility-related stress among couples undergoing AID: The mediating role of communication patterns.

Infertility can be stressful for infertile couples. This study aims to examine the intra-dyadic associations between stigma, communication patterns, and infertility-related stress in couples undergoing artificial insemination by donor semen (AID). This cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2021. Two hundred and three couples undergoing AID were recruited from a reproductive centre in China. All of the couples completed a two-item stigma questionnaire, Communication Pattern Questionnaire, and Fertility Problem Inventory. The actor-partner interdependence mediation analysis was performed using AMOS 23.0. The analysis demonstrated significant actor-actor effects for couples undergoing AID. More specifically, higher levels of stigma among wives and husbands were associated with more negative communication patterns, thereby increasing their own infertility-related stress. Simultaneously, there was a significant partner-actor effect among infertile wives, demonstrating that the husband's stigma can affect his wife's infertility-related stress by influencing her communication patterns. Couples undergoing AID experience increased infertility-related stress when they have high levels of stigma and negative communication patterns, and husbands' stigma is correlated to wives' communication patterns. Therefore, dyadic interventions aiming to improving stigma and enhancing positive communication may be conducive to reducing infertility-related stress.

Marital negativity’s festering wounds: The emotional, immunological, and relational toll of couples’ negative communication patterns

BackgroundDyadic stress theories and research suggest that couples’ negative communication patterns threaten immune and emotional health, leaving partners vulnerable to illness. Spouses’ relationship perceptions can also color how they see and react to marital discussions. To identify pathways linking distressed marriages to poor health, this study examined how self-reported typical communication patterns augmented discussion-based behavioral effects on spouses’ blister wound healing, emotions, and discussion evaluations. MethodsMarried couples completed two 24-hour in-person visits where they had their blood drawn to measure baseline interleukin-6 (IL-6), received suction blister wounds, reported their typical communication patterns (demand/withdraw strategies, mutual discussion avoidance, mutual constructive communication), and engaged in marital discussions. Discussions were recorded and coded for positive and negative behaviors using the Rapid Marital Interaction Coding System (RMICS). Immediately after the discussions, spouses rated their emotions and evaluated the discussion tone and outcome. Wound healing was measured for 12 days. ResultsCouples who reported typically using more demand/withdraw or mutual avoidance patterns had higher baseline IL-6, slower wound healing, greater negative emotion, lower positive emotion, and poorer discussion evaluations. In contrast, couples reporting more mutual constructive patterns reported more favorable discussion evaluations. Additionally, couples’ more negative and less positive patterns exacerbated behavioral effects: Spouses had wounds that healed more slowly, reported lower positive emotion, and evaluated the discussions less positively if their typical patterns and discussion-based behaviors were more negative and less positive. ConclusionsCouples’ typical communication patterns—including how often they use demand/withdraw, mutual avoidance, and mutual constructive patterns—may color spouses’ reactions to marital discussions, amplifying the biological, emotional, and relational impact. These findings help explain how distressed marriages take a toll on spouses’ health.

Sexual communication mediates cognitive-behavioral couple therapy outcomes: A randomized clinical trial for provoked vestibulodynia.

Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is a chronic vulvovaginal pain condition affecting 8%-10% of women and is associated with negative sexual sequalae. Our randomized clinical trial comparing cognitive-behavioral couple therapy (CBCT) to a medical intervention (lidocaine) found that both treatments improved affected women's pain and both affected women's and partners' sexual outcomes, with CBCT demonstrating more benefits (Bergeron et al., 2021). The goal of this study was to examine two putative mediators of CBCT's treatment effects: collaborative and negative sexual communication patterns (SCPs). Women with PVD and their partners were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of CBCT (N = 53) or lidocaine (N = 55). Outcome measures (sexual satisfaction, function, and distress) were collected at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 6-month follow-up, and in-treatment measures of the mediators were taken at Weeks 1, 4, 8, and 12 of treatment. Results showed that affected women's reports of improving collaborative communication mediated the effect of CBCT, but not lidocaine, on post-treatment sexual satisfaction (women with PVD and partners), sexual function (women with PVD), and sexual distress (women with PVD). For partners, collaborative communication improved equally in both treatments. Given that there were no differences in negative SCPs between the CBCT and lidocaine conditions, it was not possible to examine negative communication as a potential mediator. From the perspective of women with PVD, CBCT helped couples communicate about their sexual problems in more collaborative ways, which was in turn beneficial for improving the sexual well-being of both members of the couple. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Behavioral Couples Therapy untuk memperbaiki pola komunikasi pada pasangan suami istri

The family is the smallest unit of society that lives under one roof and is interdependent physically, psychologically and socially. In the family there are problems that can develop from the relationship between husband and wife. One of the problems that often arise in husband-wife relationships is communication patterns that hurt each other.Negative communication patterns that are repeated in everyday life form a person's assessment of others to become increasingly negative. If the negative communication pattern is maintained, the more severe the problems will be faced so that it can affect marital satisfaction in the household. Subjects are husband and wife who have problems with negative communication patterns. Data was collected using interviews, observations and the ENRICH marital satisfaction scale. Problems with negative communication patterns can be corrected with behavioral couples therapy (BCT).Interventions were carried out to improve communication patterns that were originally aversive and hurt each other to become more positive, thereby increasing marital satisfaction. BCT consists of 6 sessions. The results of the intervention show that the problem of negative communication patterns can be overcome effectively using behavioral couple therapy. Communication skills improve negative communication in partners. While the behavior exchange technique is effective in overcoming problems in interaction.

The Effectiveness of a Counseling Program Based on the Model of Virginia Satir in Improving Quality of Life and Reducing Negative Communication Patterns among a Sample of Wives in Irbid Governorate

This study aimed at identifying the effectiveness of a counseling program based on the Virginia Satir Model in improving the quality of life and reducing negative communication patterns among a sample of wives in the governorate of Irbid. The study sample consisted of (24) wivesfrom Irbid governorate who were chosen purposefully. The quality of life scale and the negative communication patternsScale were applied to achieve the objectives of the study. The results indicated that there were statistically significant differences at the level of significance (α= 0.05) in improving the quality of life between the control group and the experimental group due to the application of the program and for the benefit of the members of the experimental group.The results also indicated that there were statistically significant differences at the level of significance (α= 0.05) in improving negative communication patterns between the control group and the experimental group due to the application of the program.The study results also showed that the members of the experimental group retained the effect of the program on the quality of life and reduce negative communication patterns a month after its application.The study recommended using the counseling program to improve quality of life and minimize negative communication patterns among wives and using strategies of Virginia Satir in working with them. Keywords: consulting program, Virginia Satir model, quality of life, negative communication patterns. DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/10-12-10 Publication date: June 30th 2020

Clinical nurses' encounters of feeling disrespected: A phenomenological study.

The purpose of this inquiry was to explore the lived experience of clinical nurses' encounters with feeling disrespected. This phenomenological study used a hermeneutic approach to interview seven registered professional nurses who self-identified as feeling disrespected. All participants have worked in the clinical areas for at least 2 years. A phenomenological approach utilizing Giorgi's method was used to analyze the data, interpret and reflect on the findings for this study. The Parse method was used as a guiding paradigm. New knowledge about feeling disrespected contributes to nursing science and may help nurses and organizations that employ them, provide a healthy work environment that supports and retains them. The experience of feeling disrespected was illuminated by the following themes: "powerless, feeling like a nobody, treated like you are "stupid", "utter discouragement", and "broken connections". The ethical dilemmas experienced by these nurses resulted from negative behavioral and communication patterns, from those whom they didn't expect. It was not the patients who disrespected these nurses, it was nurses with whom they worked.

Facebook Addiction and Emerging Adults: The influence of sociodemographic variables, family communication, and differentiation of self

The growing use of social networking sites places them among the most popular online activities. In particular, Facebook is gaining increasing numbers of users. For some individuals, such activity can develop into addictive online behaviour. The main objective of this study was to assess the influence of sociodemographic (e.g., gender, age), individual (e.g., differentiation of self), and family (e.g., family communication) factors on Facebook addiction in Portuguese emerging adults aged between 18 and 30 years. The study included 403 participants, who followed a protocol in which several instruments were administered (e.g., COMPA, BSI, DSI-R, and BFAS). The results showed higher Facebook use and a higher risk of addiction in individuals with the following characteristics: (1) female gender; (2) aged between 24 and 30 years; (3) lower differentiation of self; (4) physically or emotionally distanced from significant others (emotional cut-off); and (5) negative communication patterns with their parents. An association was also found between other psychopathological indicators (e.g., depression, anxiety, and interpersonal sensitivity) and Facebook use. Thus, the present study contributes to the field of research on online addictions and has implications for prevention and clinical intervention.

A Dyadic Analysis of the Associations Between Cumulative Childhood Trauma and Psychological Intimate Partner Violence: The Mediating Roles of Negative Urgency and Communication Patterns.

Prior research has suggested associations between cumulative childhood trauma (CCT), negative urgency, communication patterns, and psychological intimate partner violence (P-IPV), but no study has examined these links using a dyadic approach. This study examined the sequential mediation of negative urgency and communication patterns in the link uniting CCT and P-IPV in a sample of 501 heterosexual couples. Results suggest that more CCT events are associated with higher levels of negative urgency, which in turn are associated with a higher tendency to endorse a demand/withdraw and/or demand/demand communication pattern, and to perpetrate P-IPV. Findings support the need to assess CCT, emotional self-control, dyadic and communication patterns, and P-IPV perpetration and victimization in couples seeking help in order to select interventions that will take into account the individual and dyadic nature of P-IPV.

Relational Uncertainty and Interference from a Partner as Predictors of Demand/Withdraw in Couples with Depressive Symptoms

This study examines associations between mechanisms of relational turbulence and demand/withdraw in couples with depressive symptoms. One hundred twenty-six couples in which one or both partners were professionally diagnosed with depression completed an online questionnaire. Actor effects appeared for relational uncertainty and interference from a partner. Partner effects were evident for self uncertainty and interference from a partner. The findings illustrate connections between qualities of the relationship and communication behaviors and illuminate interdependence in partners’ experiences. The results have pragmatic value for helping couples with depressive symptoms reduce negative communication patterns.

Formation of Communication Facilities in the Media

The article concerns the factors of the formation of communicative attitudes, linguistic security, and speech aggression in the media. Studying the language characteristics of modern society, the authors analyze regressive phenomena in the information and communication environment. The influence of journalistic texts on the worldview of readers of the modern press is manifested in the changing information background. Of particular interest is the influence of connotations on the media text and on postindustrial society in general. Considering the communicative process in the media taking into account the linguistic traditions, the connection of generations, ethnic unity, the authors identify specific ways of communication that evolve under the influence of a changing information environment. The relevance of the study consists in revealing the forms of manifestation of speech aggression in the texts of print media. Given that the perception of media text takes into account background information, it is assumed that negative communication patterns are being formed in the society, with special focus on the examples containing a violation of communicative and ethical norms. The practical importance of the study of the formation of communicative attitudes in the media is connected with the careful study of journalistic materials and the definition of the quality characteristics of means of influence on the audience of the media.

Communication Deficits Among Surgical Residents During Difficult Patient Family Conversations

To qualitatively analyze videotaped data of surgical residents and fellows interacting with standardized patients to identify communication weaknesses. To correlate our qualitative data with their quantitative scores. We used discourse analysis to identify negative communication patterns among 10 surgical residents and fellows who were tested on interpersonal competencies during an objective structured clinical examination in 2014. We then correlated our findings with the validated evaluation outcomes. Descriptive statistics were then used to quantify our findings. The setting was an objective structured clinical examination performed in 2014 using standardized patient surrogate family members. The participants were a mix of first and third year surgical residents and critical care fellows. The item that most strongly differentiated the bottom 5 from the top 5 performers was not answering the patient appropriately. This was exhibited in 3 ways among the lowest performers in our study: (1) paternalism, (2) vagueness, and (3) dehumanization. Our statistical analyses showed that the overall number of negative communication behaviors correlated with negative staff scores (r = -0.653, p < 0.05). Dehumanization and paternalism were the 2 behaviors most strongly correlated with negative staff scores (r = 0.796 and 0.781 respectively, p < 0.01). We found the lowest performers responded inappropriately to the patient, which we further delineated into vagueness, paternalism, and dehumanization. We propose positive communication strategies be taught to residents to improve how they are perceived by patients.

Spouse criticism and hostility during marital interaction: effects on pain intensity and behaviors among individuals with chronic low back pain.

Individuals with chronic pain may experience negative responses from spouse, family, and friends. Responses such as overt criticism and hostility may be associated with worsening pain and function for chronic pain sufferers. We used a laboratory procedure to evaluate whether variability in spouse criticism/hostility exhibited toward chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients during a conflictual discussion predicted variability in patient pain and function during a subsequent pain-induction task. Chronic low back pain patients (n = 71) and their spouses (n = 71) participated in a 10-minute discussion followed by the patient undergoing a 10-minute structured pain behavior task (SPBT). Spouse criticism/hostility perceived by patients and patient Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI) scores correlated significantly and positively with pain intensity during the SPBT, whereas perceived spouse hostility, patient BDI scores, and spouse trait hostility correlated significantly and positively with observed pain behaviors during the SPBT. Spouse criticism/hostility coded by raters from video recordings interacted significantly with patient BDI scores, such that observed spouse criticism/hostility was related significantly and positively with pain behaviors only for patients with high BDI scores. Patient sex interacted significantly with observed spouse criticism/hostility, such that observed spouse criticism/hostility was related significantly and positively with pain behaviors only for female patients. Results support the hypothesis that spouse criticism and hostility-actually expressed or perceived-may worsen CLBP patient symptoms. Further, women patients and patients high in depressive symptoms appeared most vulnerable to spouse criticism/hostility. Thus, negative marital communication patterns may be appropriate targets for intervention, especially among these 2 at risk groups.

Moderate dementia: relational social engagement (RSE) during family visits

ABSTRACTObjective: This qualitative study seeks evidence of retained social awareness in individuals with moderate dementia residing in care-homes, when engaged in interactive family visits.Method: Speech/non-speech data collected from 10/15-minute video-recorded family interactions of five family groups (12 individuals; 2 sessions per family group) were coded using thematic analysis.Results: Interactional patterns embedded in familiar bonds provided the context for the superordinate theme: relational social engagement (RSE). This overarched two subthemes: in-step and out-of-step; highlighting that RSE, can occur as a result of both positive and negative familial communication patterns. When familial communication was in-step, despite changed communication pathways, the resident's attempts at social engagement appeared open, relaxed, and responsive. A sense of trust, and familiarity appeared to facilitate reciprocal understanding and the striving of resident family members to retain family group membership. When familial communication was out-of-step, active attempts at reciprocity or open engagement from visiting family members were not observed. At such times, communication became discordant, and frustrated in their efforts to remain an integral part of the family group, the resident appeared disinterested or guarded often retorting with annoyance at visiting family members.Conclusion: The construct of RSE appears specific to prior meaningful relationships, where optimal social awareness and communication, positive and negative, can occur. Currently, dementia assessment and care does not include RSE during family interactions. Implications are discussed.

It Takes Two: Sexual Communication Patterns and the Sexual and Relational Adjustment of Couples Coping With Provoked Vestibulodynia

IntroductionProvoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is a prevalent vulvovaginal pain condition that is associated with sexual and relational consequences for women and their partners. Greater perceived quality of sexual communication has been associated with women's lower pain during intercourse and with couples' better sexual and relational well-being. Whether couples' collaborative (eg, expressing feelings or problem solving) and negative (eg, withdrawing or criticizing) sexual communication patterns (SCPs) are differentially associated with couples' adjustment to PVD is unknown. AimTo examine associations between collaborative and negative SCPs and women's pain and the sexual and relationship adjustment of women with PVD and their partners. MethodsWomen diagnosed with PVD (N = 87) and their partners completed the Sexual Communication Patterns Questionnaire and measurements of pain (women only), sexual functioning, sexual satisfaction, sexual distress, and relationship satisfaction. Main Outcome Measures(i) Numerical rating scale of pain during intercourse, (ii) Female Sexual Function Index and International Index of Erectile Function, (iii) Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction, (iv) Female Sexual Distress Scale–Revised, and (v) Couple Satisfaction Index. ResultsWhen women reported greater collaborative SCP, they also reported higher sexual and relationship satisfaction. When women reported greater negative SCP, they reported less relationship satisfaction and had partners who reported greater sexual distress. When partners reported greater collaborative SCP, they also reported higher relationship satisfaction and had female partners who were less sexually distressed. When partners reported higher negative SCP, they also reported less relationship satisfaction. There were no associations between SCP and women's or partners' sexual functioning or women's pain. ConclusionCollaborative SCP may benefit couples' sexual and relational well-being, whereas negative SCP may impede sexual and relational adjustment to PVD. Findings provide preliminary support for the need to assess and target collaborative and negative SCPs in psychological interventions for couples affected by PVD.Rancourt KM, Flynn M, Bergeron S, Rosen NO. It Takes Two: Sexual Communication Patterns and the Sexual and Relational Adjustment of Couples Coping With Provoked Vestibulodynia. J Sex Med 2017;14:434–443.

Relationship quality predicts online sexual activities among Chinese heterosexual men and women in committed relationships

In this study, we examined the online sexual activities (OSAs) of Chinese men and women in committed relationships, with a focus on the characteristics of OSAs and the factors prompting men and women with steady partners to engage in OSAs. OSAs herein were categorized as viewing sexually explicit material (SEM), sexual partner seeking, cybersex, and online flirting. We hypothesized that individuals not satisfied with their current relationship would seek gratification via OSAs. Participants (N = 344) completed measures of OSA experience within the past 12 months and relationship quality (i.e., relationship satisfaction, adult attachment, and communication patterns). Almost 89% of the participants reported OSA experiences in the past 12 months even when they had a real-life partner. Men showed higher rates and frequencies of engaging in all subtypes of OSAs compared to women. As predicted, individuals with lower relationship quality in real life, including low relationship satisfaction, insecure attachment, and negative communication patterns, engaged in OSAs more frequently. Overall, our results suggest that variables influencing offline infidelity may also influence online infidelity.

The Relation Between Contempt, Anger, and Intimate Partner Violence: A Dyadic Approach.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a persistent problem in our society, and there is strong evidence for the existence of bidirectional violence in heterosexual romantic relationships. Couples' research has long focused on conflict and distressed communication patterns as a source of relationship distress and eventual dissolution. In addition to relationship dissatisfaction, dysfunctional communication also appears to be associated with elevated risk of IPV. In fact, one study found that communication difficulties were one of the most frequently self-reported motivations for committing partner violence in a sample of both males and females arrested for IPV. The current study sought to explore the association between the expression of distressed communication (contempt and anger) during a laboratory conflict discussion and reports of IPV perpetration using a dyadic data analysis method, the Actor Partner Interdependence Model, in a large ethnically diverse sample of heterosexual couples. We found that negative communication in the form of contempt was not only associated with one's own physical assault perpetration, but it was also associated with physical assault perpetration of the other partner. In contrast, anger was only associated with one's own physical assault perpetration. Therefore, our results highlight the potential efficacy of treatments for IPV that target negative communication patterns and affect.

Financial Wellness and Relationship Satisfaction: Does Communication Mediate?

This research investigated if married couples' positive and negative communication patterns mediate the association between financial wellness and relationship satisfaction. Data were collected from married individuals in a southern state in 2007 (N = 515) and 2011 (N = 489). Guided by social exchange theory, structural equation models isolated the mediating effects of positive and negative communication patterns. In concert with a consistent and positive direct path from financial wellness to relationship satisfaction, financial wellness was positively associated with positive communication patterns and negatively associated with negative communication patterns. Although a mediating role for positive communication was not identified, negative communication patterns indicated full mediation with the 2007 sample and partial mediation with the 2011 sample. Implications for understanding the effects of finances and couple communication processes on relationship satisfaction are discussed.

Effect of the origin family's patriarch atmosphere on marital satisfaction of the newlywed couples: mediating effect of negative communication patterns

Effect of the origin family's patriarch atmosphere on marital satisfaction of the newlywed couples: mediating effect of negative communication patterns