Positive Aspects Of Relationship Research Articles

MSW Social Work Direct Practice Texts: Visibilities and Invisibilities

ABSTRACT Textbooks used in MSW Direct Practice courses in Canada were analyzed using Critical Discourse Analysis, with a particular focus on content related to social work relationships. Positive aspects of relationships were discussed in more depth than negative aspects, little information about boundaries and confidentiality was found, and there was a decided lack of depth in content. The study highlighted the need for more depth in teaching about relationships in social work practice. Recommendations for adding more depth are included.

OLDER AGE IS ASSOCIATED WITH MORE COMPLEX PERCEPTIONS OF ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP QUALITY DURING THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken to mitigate its devastating effects posed unparalleled challenges to romantic relationships. National lockdowns forcing couples to spend long hours in closed quarters were especially straining, yet evidence points to considerable variability in the effect of the pandemic on relationship quality. Drawing on socioemotional selectivity theory, we examined age differences in perceptions of romantic relationship quality as one source of insight into this variability. During the first lockdown in Israel, 280 adults aged 25-81 reported positive and negative qualities of their romantic relationships. Of these, 105 participants completed the survey again once lockdown restrictions were lifted. Contrary to our hypotheses based on socioemotional selectivity theory, we found no evidence for age differences in the effect of the lockdown on perceptions of relationship quality. In addition, the lockdown did not influence participants’ positive and negative perceptions of their romantic partners. However, we found that whereas people of all ages represent positive and negative qualities of their romantic partners as separate constructs, the negative association between the two is weaker for older adults compared to younger adults during (but not after) the lockdown. This finding suggests that in stressful times, older adults are better able to avoid negative perceptions clouding positive perceptions and see positive aspects of relationships with romantic partners in the face of negative ones. Findings extend evidence for age associations with complex emotional experiences to emotional aspects of interpersonal relationships and may inform potential interventions for improving romantic relationships during stressful times.

Stepfamily Variation in Parent-Child Relationship Quality in Later Life.

We use a family systems approach to examine how stepfamily structure is associated with both positive and negative parent-child relationships while considering mothers' and fathers' discrepant reports. Two in five older couples with children are in stepfamilies. Past research on later-life stepfamily dynamics has focused mainly on positive aspects of relationships and compared reports of mothers and fathers from different families. Using the U.S. Health and Retirement Study, we estimated multilevel models with data from married couples in which both spouses reported living children and answered all questions about positive and negative parent-child relationships (N = 2,150). Couples in stepfamilies reported less positive and more negative relationships with their children than did couples in non-stepfamilies. Mothers reported more positive relationships than fathers, but there was no gender difference in reports of negative relationships. The patterns of perceived parent-child relationships and divergent reports between mothers and fathers also varied by stepfamily structure. Structural complexity was not consistently related to positive or negative relationships. This study underscores the importance of considering mothers' and fathers' different points of view in the same family and examining both positive and negative parent-child interactions as negative relationships are not merely the reverse of positive relationships.

Patient-Concerned Other Dyads' 12-Step Involvement and Patients' Substance Use: A Latent Class Growth Model Analysis.

This study aimed to inform clinical practice by identifying subgroups of patient-concerned other (CO) dyads. Patients with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) were characterized on Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) involvement and substance use together with COs' Al-Anon involvement. Predictors and recovery maintenance outcomes of subgroup membership were examined. Participants were 279 patient-CO dyads. Patients were in residential treatment for AUD. Parallel latent class growth model analysis characterized 12-step involvement and substance use at treatment entry and 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. Three classes were as follows: 38% Low AA/Low Al-Anon (patients' low AA and COs' low Al-Anon involvement, and patients' high-to-moderate substance use), 10% High AA/High Al-Anon (patients' high AA and COs' high Al-Anon involvement, and patients' moderate-to-low substance use), and 52% High AA/Low Al-Anon (patients' high AA and COs' low Al-Anon involvement, and patients' moderate-to-low substance use). At follow-up, the Low AA/Low Al-Anon classes' patients were less likely to have spirituality as recovery support, confidence about staying abstinent, and satisfaction with recovery progress. The High AA classes' COs had less concern about patients' drinking and scored higher on positive aspects of relationships with patients. Clinicians should encourage patients' and COs' 12-step group involvement (12-step practices' engagement). Among patients treated for AUD, AA involvement was related to better outcomes, and to COs' lessened concern about the patients' drinking. COs' Al-Anon involvement was associated with having a more positive view of their relationship with the patient. That more than one third of dyads had low 12-step group involvement suggests that treatment programs may need to facilitate involvement in non-12-step mutual-help groups.

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.

Family Relationships and Troubled Sleep among U.S. Adults

Sleep is essential for health and daily functioning, and social relationships may be a key social factor influencing sleep, yet sleep has been understudied in the literature on social relationships and health. This study used data from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States to examine associations between troubled sleep and family contact, social support, and strain. Results show that having strained family relationships is associated with more troubled sleep, while supportive family relationships are associated with less troubled sleep. Family strain is more consequential for sleep than support, and sleep troubles are greatest when family relationships are highly strained and provide inadequate emotional support. Family strain is also more harmful to sleep among individuals who are in frequent contact with family members. These findings underscore the importance of focusing on both negative and positive aspects of relationships and highlight the significance of family relationships for sleep.

Towards a contingent, empirically validated, and power cognisant relationship marketing

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to deconstruct a growing area in marketing theory. It aims to critically examine the principles of relationship marketing as found in the literature and suggest opportunities for future conceptual maturation.Design/methodology/approachThe conceptual discussion aims to assist future progress of relationship marketing and, more generally, marketing theory. While focusing on specific areas of departures and inadequacies in past and current research in the area, the discussion notes seminal philosophical questions which underpin current marketing sensibilities and which inform the nature of relational discourses.FindingsIt is argued that, in spite of recent developments in and maturation of relational discourses, some research in the field remains rather non‐contingent, theoretical and not observation‐informed. Importantly, it is biased towards the discussion of positive aspects of relationships. Matters of consequence to practice and research such as power and disciplining remain under‐researched.Research limitations/implicationsBy deconstructing and reconstructing current relationship marketing theory – partly by using a study of power and disciplining in situations of consumer dissatisfaction – ways of confronting shortcomings of relational research are illustrated. A more balanced and nuanced approach to marketing research and practice is proposed.Originality/valueThis is one of the few papers in marketing research, and relationship‐marketing research in particular, conceptually intrigued by the peculiarities of current thinking of relationships and exchanges. The contribution centres on three observations and a number of suggestions for future relational analysis. The discussion aims to help promote a fuller, deeper understanding of exchanges. It has been designed as a sketchy guide to future relationship marketing research.