Perceived Relationship Quality Research Articles

Student-athletes’ perceptions of relationship quality and life skills development

Positive developmental outcomes for youth are likely to occur when adults intentionally design environments to facilitate that development. However, in sport, studies typically examine only one adult relationship at a time, as opposed to the many that exist. The purpose of this study was to examine high school student-athletes’ perceptions of how a variety of stakeholders in their sport-ecosystem contribute to their life skills development and well-being. Bronfenbrenner’s Bio-Ecological Model and Prilleltensky’s concept of psychopolitical validity served as a guiding framework for interviews conducted with student-athletes (N = 46) in three different states in the United States of America. Themes suggested that the student-athletes’ relationships have a reciprocal interaction with their developmental experiences to create three different forms of development. Student-athletes had basic life skills recognition when learning without meaning was fostered by low-engagement relationships, development through adverse experiences when learning through necessity occurred through challenging relationships, and meaningful development when anchored learning experiences were supported by transformative relationships in their sport world. Lay summary: High school student-athletes were asked about their life skills development and how adults in their sport system influenced or hindered that development. Student-athletes favored highly engaged adults that supported opportunities by anchoring their learning in meaningful experiences. The relationship with the adult and the meaningful experience reciprocally influenced each other. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Coaches, parents, and athletic directors should aim to provide opportunities for athletes to practice life skills in a meaningful way. Fostering positive relationships with student-athletes and being highly engaged in their development is favored by student-athletes. Transformative relationships and meaningful learning experiences may promote a better sense of community well-being.

The Association Between Perceived Relationship Quality and Psychological Symptoms in Refugees

Introduction: Relationship quality plays an important role in mental health, but little is known about its importance among resettled refugees. We investigated the association between perceived relationship quality and psychological symptoms among refugees resettled in Australia. Methods: Participants were 738 adult refugees (principal applicants, 83.5% male, M = 43.2 years, SD = 12.3) and their partners who participated in the Building a New Life in Australia (BNLA) study across 5 years from 2013 to 2017. Participants were assessed for psychological distress, posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), and perceived relationship quality, using the Kessler scale (K6), the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder-8 (PTSD-8), and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale-4 (DAS-4), respectively. Results: Multiple regression analyses found that, among principal applicants, perceived relationship quality predicted psychological distress (p = .0006) at post-arrival, and changes in perceived relationship quality predicted changes in PTSS (p = .0003) across a one-year interval. When partners were analyzed, results were broadly consistent with those of the principal applicants, except that changes in relationship quality did predict changes in psychological distress, but not changes in PTSS. Discussion: Relationship quality appeared to be associated with psychological distress, but improvements in relationship quality may have particular utility for reductions in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. These results highlight the importance of relationship quality as a key correlate of refugee mental health.

How Grandparents Inform Our Lives: A Mixed Methods Investigation of Intergenerational Influence on Young Adults.

While it is well documented that grandchildren benefit from strong, positive relationships with grandparents, less is known about the influence of these relationships as individuals establish their lives in early adulthood. Further, how this impact varies based on grandparent type (i.e., whether grandparents take on a "traditional" non-caregiving or "custodial" caregiving role) has not been investigated, despite the growing number of youth raised, at least in part, by their grandparents. Using an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, this study explores the influence of grandparent type during childhood on life satisfaction, perceived relationship quality, and life building in early adulthood. Descriptive and comparative analyses of survey data captured in the quantitative strand (N = 94) informed the subsample that completed semi-structured interviews in the emphasized qualitative strand (N = 9). The integrated findings revealed that past and present grandparent relationships remain salient in early adulthood, though the context and substance of these relationships is often nuanced with shifts over time and across individuals. Despite the importance of context, we failed to observe significant differences in life satisfaction or perceived relationship quality by grandparent type. Taken together, the findings suggest the substance of the relationship, more so than the structure, may be impactful for individuals building their life and reflecting on their values in early adulthood. In addition to elucidating areas for continued exploration, this work highlights the need for researchers and practitioners to consider variation in family structure when designing research and developing supports to reinforce positive, mutually beneficial grandparent-grandchild relationships.

The perceived relationship quality with migrant domestic workers is correlated with a lower level of loneliness among community-dwelling older adults: A cross-sectional study

PurposeTo explore older adults’ perceived relationship quality with migrant domestic workers (MDWs) and examine the correlation between older adult/MDW (O-M) relationship quality and loneliness of community-dwelling older adults. Materials and methodsIn this cross-sectional study, older adults living with MDWs were conveniently recruited from neighbourhood elderly centers in Hong Kong. Loneliness and O-M relationship quality were assessed by the 6-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale and the mutuality scale, respectively. Older adults’ demographic and functional characteristics, and MDW's nationality, spoken language and years of service in the dyad were also collected. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the contributions of 1) demographic variables and functional status, 2) MDW characteristics, 3) perceived social network and 4) perceived O-M relationship quality on loneliness. ResultsThe 178 participants [mean age 83.44 (SD 7.05 years); 155 (87.1%) women and 23 men (22.9%)] were socially lonely (1.07 ± 1.15) and close to being lonely overall (1.90 ± 1.68), and emotionally (0.84 ± 0.97). The mean O-M relationship quality was poor (1.42 ± 0.79), which was significantly correlated with overall (β= -0.33, 95% CI: -0.65 to -0.01, P value = 0.045), and social (β= -0.24, 95% CI: -0.46 to -0.01, P value = 0.04) loneliness, but not significantly correlated to emotional loneliness. ConclusionBetter perceived O-M relationship quality is correlated with a lower level of loneliness among older adults. Strategies to improve O-M relationship quality may alleviate loneliness among older adults.

Longitudinal associations between relational and sexual well-being in couples transitioning to parenthood.

There is limited understanding of the dynamic between relational and sexual well-being as couples adjust to new parenthood, despite this being a vulnerable period for couples' relationships. This study was aimed at examining the bidirectional links between relationship quality and sexual well-being (i.e., sexual satisfaction, sexual distress) across the transition to parenthood. We assessed new parent couples (N=257) across four time points (two prenatal) from mid-pregnancy through 6 months postpartum. Parallel dyadic latent growth curve modeling was employed to examine the associations between trajectories of perceived relationship quality, sexual satisfaction, and sexual distress. New parents' declines in relationship quality were associated with declines in own and partners' sexual satisfaction and with increases in own sexual distress. Mothers' prenatal relationship quality and sexual distress predicted subsequent changes in own sexual distress and fathers' relationship quality, respectively. Results indicate that changes to new parents' relational and sexual well-being mutually influence each other over time. Current results indicate that the impact of the transition on couples' relationships is partly determined by own and partners' prenatal factors, to which clinicians and researchers can attend to early on. Cross-domain links between relational and sexual well-being should be considered in research and clinical practice.

The influence of different types of satisfaction on loyalty on C2C online shopping platform: From the perspective of sellers and the platform

With the rise and development of major types of platforms, the competition for resources has become extremely fierce, and the market share of C2C platforms has been seriously threatened by the loss of resources. Therefore, building and maintaining buyers’ satisfaction and loyalty to C2C platforms is critical to the survival and sustainability of C2C platforms in China. However, the current knowledge on how platform satisfaction and loyalty are constructed in the C2C e-commerce environment is incomplete. In this study, seller-based satisfaction and platform-based satisfaction are constructed separately. We further distinguish seller-based transaction satisfaction into economic and social satisfaction and explore their antecedents and consequences. To test our research hypotheses, we conduct a survey and collect data from a real online market (Taobao website). The results show that seller-based transaction satisfaction positively affects platform-based overall satisfaction and loyalty; perceived product quality, perceived assurance, and perceived price fairness all have a significant effect on economic satisfaction, whereas perceived relationship quality and perceived empathy significantly influence social satisfaction. These findings help us understand the literature related to customer satisfaction in the context of C2C in China and provide inspiration for online sellers and platforms.

Contributors to well‐being of Chinese left‐behind families: A dyadic perspective from family resilience and grandparent–grandchild relationship

AbstractThere is evidence that grandchildren and grandparents in Chinese left‐behind families (CLBF) suffer from immense life stressors. The well‐being of both generations is of great concern. Guided by the family adjustment and adaptation response model and ecological model of well‐being, the present study aimed to investigate the dyadic associations between family resilience and subjective well‐being (SWB) of left‐behind grandchildren and grandparents. Furthermore, we explored the extent to which relationship quality accounts for such reciprocal associations. A sample of 130 left‐behind grandparent–grandchild (GP–GC) pairs completed self‐reported questionnaires. Actor–partner interdependence model (APIM) revealed that both grandchildren's and grandparents' reported family resilience positively associated with their own SWB but not the other's SWB. Grandchildren's and grandparents' perceived relationship quality mediated the association between their perceived family resilience and their own SWB. Moreover, grandchildren‐perceived relationship quality mediated the association between grandchildren‐perceived family resilience and grandparents' SWB. Meanwhile, grandparent‐perceived relationship quality mediated the association between grandparent‐perceived family resilience and grandchildren's SWB. The findings highlighted the significance of family resilience and relationship quality in boosting the two generations' SWB in CLBF. The results also suggested that left‐behind grandchildren and their grandparents depend on each other. Future intervention programs could be benefitted from integrating the enhancement of family resilience and improvement of grandparent–grandchild relationship quality to promote the well‐being of left‐behind family members.

Associations between perceptions of relationship quality and markers of inflammation and insulin resistance among couples coping with cancer.

Couples' health and health behaviors are intertwined, where the health of one partner can influence the health of the other but the biologic underpinnings are not known. We examined the associations between relational health and markers of inflammation and insulin resistance in couples coping with breast or prostate cancer. Participants (90 cancer survivor-spouse dyads) completed self-report measures of relational health including Dyadic Adjustment Scale-7 (relationship quality), Dyadic Coping Inventory (communication), and shared physical activity, as well as Community Health Activities Model Program for Seniors (individual physical activity). Inflammation (C-reactive protein (CRP)) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were measured in serum samples. Structural equation modeling including demographic and clinical covariate controls was used to estimate separate actor and partner effects of relationship quality, communication, and physical activity on CRP and HOMA-IR. Participants were aged 63.1 ± 10.4years with an average relationship duration of 30.0 ± 1.1years. Higher survivor perceived relationship quality was associated with lower spouse CRP (b = - 0.07; 95%CI: - 0.13, - 0.01), whereas higher spouse perceived relationship quality was associated with lower survivor HOMA-IR (b = - 0.07; 95%CI: - 0.13, - 0.03). There were no other significant actor or partner effects observed. Among cancer survivor-spouse dyads, how one member of the couple perceives the quality of the relationship impacts disease biomarkers in the other, providing preliminary evidence for biological linkage between relational health and chronic disease risk. Relationship quality may positively influence biomarkers of inflammation and insulin resistance in couples coping with breast and prostate cancer. Dyadic approaches to optimize survivorship health may be warranted. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03630354, 08/14/2018; Open Science Framework ( https://bit.ly/3S4rUtJ ).

Feeling low and unhappy together? An actor-partner-interdependence model uncovering the linkage between different operationalizations of relationship quality and depression in different-sex couples.

Some studies suggest a bi-directional association between low relationship quality and depression. However, the social impact of depression and the potential preventative effects of healthy relationships are not yet sufficiently understood, as studies have shown heterogenous results for effects in both directions. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to differentiate the actor and partner effects of this association more comprehensively using two measures to capture characteristics of relationship quality-firstly regarding general aspects of social system quality and secondly considering specific aspects of the romantic relationship. 110 different-sex couples were included, being separated in partners with highly pronounced depressive symptoms in women (Cw/DW) versus partners with low depressive symptoms (LDCs). We investigated effects cross-sectionally using multi-group analyses to predict relationship (couple specific questionnaire: PFB) versus system quality (general system quality questionnaire: EVOS) in a step-by-step approach, modelling actor and partner effects with variation within and across both groups and then comparing the results to models with equal actor and partner effects. Depression was measured with the PHQ-9. With regard to the relationship between depressive symptoms and system quality, the model that constrained actor and partner effects to be equal across both groups was preferred and showed negative significant actor effects across gender and groups. Concerning the association between depressive symptoms and relationship quality, the model constraining actor and partner effects to be equal within groups had the best fit to the data and revealed a negative partner effect in LDCs. Conclusions Controlling for the moderating variable of clinically relevant depressive symptoms, we found evidence for actor and partner effects, which differed between the two relationship measures. This underlines the importance to reflect how relationship quality is operationalized. The negative partner effect on relationship quality in LDCs emphasizes that even in a non-clinical context, depressive symptoms negatively impact the perceived relationship quality of both women and men. This suggests that addressing the relationship is important in non-clinical preventive contexts and calls for integrating the partner into counselling or trainings.

Positive Relationships have Shades of Gray: Age is Associated with More Complex Perceptions of Relationship Quality During the COVID-19 Lockdown.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10804-022-09431-6.

Not All That Glitters Is Gold: Attractive Partners Provide Joys and Sorrows.

Through a 2 × 2 experimental vignette design, we tested if partner perceived attractiveness in interaction with appearance-related comments from one’s partner might affect women and men’s body dissatisfaction, body shame, acceptance of cosmetic surgery, and perceived relationship quality. Participants were 154 women and 157 men living in Italy (mean age = 30.97; all of them were in a couple relationship), who read a vignette describing the purchase of a swimsuit, through which partner attractiveness (poor versus high) and partner commentary (negative versus positive) were manipulated. Some ANCOVAs were performed on women and men separately. For men, partner commentary affected body dissatisfaction with low body fat. Moreover, the main effect of partner attractiveness was found in their consideration of undergoing cosmetic procedures. Among women, a significant partner attractiveness X partner commentary interaction effect emerged on acceptance of cosmetic surgery for social reasons. As regards relationship quality, for women, there was a main effect of partner attractiveness on relational communication, while a marginally significant interaction effect between partner attractiveness and partner commentary emerged for men’s self-disclosure. Our findings suggest that partner attractiveness is generally beneficial, but when combined with negative feedback concerning the appearance, it might lose its advantages. These findings should be considered for planning interventions aimed at both preventing body dissatisfaction and acceptance of cosmetic surgical procedures for not medical reasons and promoting relationship satisfaction among women and men.

Ambiguity among Partners: Understanding Power and Perception Under Conditions of Mutuality

Abstract Power is a construct that is relevant anytime two actors come together. Typically power examinations have been focused on assessments among actors with asymmetrical power profiles. We argue existing characterizations of power are insufficient to understand perceptions of relationship quality when partners have a more balanced power profile. This is the case with an important class of partnerships—those between governments and philanthropic Foundations. We assessed power mutuality and its effects on relationship quality with a mixed methods approach, relying heavily on fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis techniques and interview data. Our findings point to new insights into those power relationships typically examined in the extant literature, those with asymmetry, as well as under condition of mutuality. With regard to asymmetrical power, we point to needed investigation into the role of intangible resources, such as knowledge and legitimacy, to achieve goals, rather than the predominant focus on financial and other tangible resources. With regard to conditions of mutuality, we illustrate that mutuality yields relational ambiguity in the relationship and results in partner tension. Furthermore, our study finds that under conditions of mutuality, resource contributions from the benefactor need to address instrumental organizational needs, not just needs that contribute to mission outcomes.

The role of dyadic coping in married/cohabiting adults’ well-being and relationship quality during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Malaysia

Rising numbers of COVID-19 cases are leading to increased anxiety, fear, stress and depression among Malaysians. The lockdown in the country due to the pandemic also forced the people to adapt to “new norms”. Coping strategies are important in alleviating stress due to the pandemic and promoting better well-being and relationship. The purpose of this study was to assess the well-being and relationship quality of Malaysian adults during the COVID-19 pandemic and to test the predictive role of dyadic coping on participants' well-being and relationship quality. Data were collected from September to December 2020. A total of 534 married/cohabiting adults residing in Malaysia completed the Perceived Relationship Quality Component Inventory, the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, and the Dyadic Coping Scale. The measures were distributed to the participants via an online survey (Google form) using the snowballing technique. The results indicated that the well-being status of the participants was at an average level. The participants reported having significantly better relationship quality during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before the pandemic.

Stressors, Psychological States, and Relationship Quality among East Malaysian Adults with Partners Amid the COVID-19 Lockdown.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact not only on healthcare systems and economic threats but also on relationships. Due to the massive measures of the Movement Control Order, such as social distancing, strictly limited physical activities, and making adjustments to working from home—merged with the pandemic’s fear—romantic partners may face challenges that affect the quality of their relationships. The purpose of this study was to (i) identify stressors experienced by participants during the COVID-19 lockdown, (ii) evaluate participants’psychological well-being before and during the lockdown, and (iii) see if participants’ perceived relationship quality differed before and during the lockdown. An online self-report questionnaire was used to recruit 334 adults (58.1 percent female, 41.9 percent male) with partners (married = 304, engaged = 12, and in committed relationships = 17). Participants were asked about stressors they encountered as a result of COVID-19 using an open-ended question. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) were used to assess mental health, and the Perceived Relationship Quality Component (PRQC) Inventory was used to assess relationship quality. According to the findings, the top three common stressors reported by participants were financial problems, restricted movement, and fear of COVID-19 infection. Participants reported significantly higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression during the lockdown than before. The findings also revealed that participants’ relationship quality improved during the lockdown compared to before the lockdown. The current study contributes by providing information on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and the quality of couples’ relationships during the pandemic.

Shared emotions in shared lives: Moments of co-experienced affect, more than individually experienced affect, linked to relationship quality.

Motivated by collective emotions theories that propose emotions shared between individuals predict group-level qualities, we hypothesized that co-experienced affect during interactions is associated with relationship quality, above and beyond the effects of individually experienced affect. Consistent with positivity resonance theory, we also hypothesized that co-experienced positive affect would have a stronger association with relationship quality than would co-experienced negative affect. We tested these hypotheses in 150 married couples across 3 conversational interactions: a conflict, a neutral topic, and a pleasant topic. Spouses continuously rated their individual affective experience during each conversation while watching video-recordings of their interactions. These individual affect ratings were used to determine, for positive and negative affect separately, the number of seconds of co-experienced affect and individually experienced affect during each conversation. In line with hypotheses, results from all 3 conversational topics suggest that more co-experienced positive affect is associated with greater marital quality, whereas more co-experienced negative affect is associated with worse marital quality. Individual level affect factors added little explanatory value beyond co-experienced affect. Comparing co-experienced positive affect and co-experienced negative affect, we found that co-experienced positive affect generally outperformed co-experienced negative affect, although co-experienced negative affect was especially diagnostic during the pleasant conversational topic. Findings suggest that co-experienced positive affect may be an integral component of high-quality relationships and highlight the power of co-experienced affect for individual perceptions of relationship quality. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Remembering for Relationships: Brief Cognitive-Reminiscence Therapy Improves Young Adults’ Perceptions About Self and Others in Social Relationships

Reminiscence-based interventions involve the guided recall and interpretation of autobiographical memories to promote adaptive thinking. This study involved secondary analyses of a recent trial of a positively focused, group-based, three-session version of cognitive-reminiscence therapy (CRT) on perceptions of general relationship quality and interpersonally related psychological resources in young adults. A community sample ( N = 62, Mage = 24.6 ( SD = 3.1), 71% identified as cisgender women and 29% identified as cisgender men) of young adults were randomised into a CRT and wait-list condition. Participants completed assessments measuring perceived general relationship quality (relationship satisfaction, emotional intimacy, commitment, and trust) and perceptions of self and others within relationships (relationship self-esteem, relationship self-efficacy, relationship optimism and meaning in relationships). The CRT group, relative to the control group, scored significantly higher on perceived relationship quality ( d = .62), and higher on generalized relationship self-efficacy ( d = .70), relationship self-esteem ( d = .59), and relationship optimism ( d = .57) at the follow-up. Group differences for relationship meaning were not statistically significant (small to moderate). A brief, positive-focused intervention of guided recall of autobiographical memories led to more adaptive perceptions about self and others within the context of relationships in young adults. Replication studies with larger samples are needed, and outside of a pandemic lockdown context. Future research may expand CRT to target other relationship variables, assess the impacts of different doses, explore relationships in specific populations, and better understand the mechanisms for change.

Emotion–Behavior–Reflection Theory

In this manuscript, we propose a theory that builds on previous appraisal theories (e.g., Cognitive-Motivational-Relational Theory, Affective Events Theory) by incorporating self-reflective emotions. In our theory, a meaningful interaction with a coworker elicits a primary emotion that leads to emotion-driven behaviors, employees reflect on both the emotion that was experienced and the behaviors enacted. Reflecting on the behaviors enacted elicits self-conscious emotions. Reflecting on the emotion that was experienced elicits meta-emotions (i.e., emotions about one’s own emotions). These self-reflective emotions provide information that employees can use to strategically guide behaviors, and to regulate emotions, during future interactions with the coworker. We further theorize that it is these self-reflective emotions that are aggregated to form evaluative judgements (i.e., perceptions of relationship quality). This occurs through a dynamic process that transpires over the course of the coworker relationship.

Institutional Relational Maintenance Barriers and Perceptions of Relationship Quality Among Women With Incarcerated Partners

High rates of incarceration in the United States has prompted researchers to study the impacts of imprisonment on romantic relationships and minor children. We examine the relationship between several prison facility barriers to relational maintenance and perceptions of relationship quality from the perspective of women whose male romantic, coparenting partners are incarcerated. Using data from the Multi-site Family Study on Incarceration, Parenting and Partnering (MFS-IP) and binomial logistic regression, we find that the high costs of phone calls and difficulty of in-person visitation negatively impact how women perceive romantic relationship quality. These findings suggest that alleviating barriers to contact can help strengthen couples’ relationships.

The association between materialism and perceived relationship quality in young adults

This study aimed to determine how materialism is related to relationship quality, as conceptualised across multiple levels, including an individual’s relationship to self (self-esteem and attachment), relationships with others (family, peers and intimate partners) and relationships in the broader social context (online and community). Young adults between 18 and 30 years of age (N = 205) completed an online self-report questionnaire that assessed materialism, self-esteem and attachment style, as well as a number of relationship variables of interest. Data were analysed using bivariate correlations and regression analyses. Lower self-esteem, anxious attachment and poorer quality of family relationships predicted higher levels of materialism (p < .05), even after controlling for demographic and socio-economic variables (p < .05), with self-esteem showing the strongest association. These findings were interpreted within a developmental framework that posits a central role for the individual’s early relationships and immediate environment in the etiology of materialism, although future longitudinal studies are needed to test this theory explicitly.

Social support, social strain and declines in verbal memory: sex-specific associations based on 16-year follow-up of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing cohort

Objectives Previous investigations of cognitive aging have mainly focused on structural aspects of social relations (e.g. network size and composition), thereby neglecting the role of qualitative aspects of social relations. The current longitudinal study examined sex-specific differences in verbal memory decline by measures of perceived relationship quality (social support/strain) by relationship type. Method In the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), 10,109 participants aged 50–89 years were assessed at wave 1 (baseline: 2002–03) and followed to wave 9 (2017–18). Verbal memory was assessed by immediate and delayed word-recall tasks. Social support/strain was measured by relationship type (spouse; children; family; friends). Random effects within-between (REWB) modelling was used to separate between- and within-person effects. We estimated associations between social support/strain and (1) baseline levels of memory (main effects), and (2) rate of decline in memory (interaction with time-since-baseline). Results Longitudinal associations were most prominent for men, specific to relationship type, and showed between- rather than within-person effects. Among men, higher spousal strain was associated with faster memory decline (βbetween-effect×time = −0.043; 95% CI [−0.084, −0.002]; p = .039), whilst greater support from children was associated with slower decline (βbetween-effect×time = 0.020; 95% CI [0.002, 0.039]; p = .033). Men with higher strain from friends showed lower baseline memory (βbetween-effect = −0.382; 95% CI [−0.627, −0.137]; p=.002) and faster decline (βbetween-effect×time = −0.047; 95% CI [−0.095, 0.000]; p = .051). Conclusion Between-person differences in social support/strain were modestly associated with memory decline, especially among men.