Quality Of Interpersonal Relationships Research Articles

A Competence-Based Approach to Examining Interpersonal Conflict

This article reports a test of a longitudinal model linking interpersonal conflict communication and relationship quality. The model stresses episodic factors that function to mediate the conflict-relationship link. In particular, the competence-based model specifies that assessments of competence and one's own communication satisfaction filter the effects of conflict on relational quality when measured concurrently at Time 1 (T1). In addition, the competence-based model includes the hypothesized impact of relational features at T1 on conflict strategies weeks later at Time 2 (T2), which indicates a reciprocal causal connection between message behavior and relational features. Structural equation modeling analyses support the mediational role of episodic assessments, which constitutes the heart of the model. However, relational quality at T1 did not predict conflict behavior at T2. Instead, analyses revealed that conflict behavior at T1 and partner conflict at T2 predict conflict behavior at T2.

Intimacy dysfunction and trauma symptomatology: Long‐term correlates of different types of child abuse

AbstractThe relationships among interpersonal functioning, symptomatology, and childhood abuse were examined in 315 university women. Women reporting childhood abuse had lower quality of past interpersonal relationships, greater fear of intimacy, and greater trauma symptomatology than nonabused women had. Regression analyses indicated that experiencing both sexual and physical abuse, more extensive psychological abuse, and current sexual concerns, defensive avoidance, dissociation, and intrusive experiences were significant predictors of fear of intimacy. Dysfunctional sexual behaviors, impaired self‐reference, and depression were significant predictors of the quality of current interpersonal relationships, whereas sexual abuse or multiple abuse experiences in childhood and anger/irritability were predictors of the quality of prior interpersonal relationships. Implications for future research and treatment are discussed.

Personality and recovery: integrating personality assessment data to facilitate the recovery process.

The relatively enduring and persistent nature of personality traits means that they will likely continue to impact the course of psychiatric recovery after Axis I symptoms are stabilized. These traits can significantly impact the choices that recovering persons make and the quality of interpersonal relationships with care providers who are trying to facilitate the recovery process. Despite this, they are often inadequately assessed and considered in providing psychiatric care. This manuscript reviews the common combinations of personality traits that have emerged across a variety of clinical samples. The implications of these personality features for the provision of care in an inpatient setting to facilitate recovery are discussed.

Transference patterns in the therapeutic relationship in supportive-expressive psychotherapy for depression

The construct of transference has been central to theories of dynamic psychotherapy. This investigation evaluated the similarity between patients' interpersonal themes, derived from pretreatment interpersonal interviews, and the theme evident in psychotherapy narratives about the therapist for 18 patients treated in supportive-expressive psychotherapy for major depression. This investigation was designed to sort out the potential confound of the therapist's influence on the report of interpersonal themes and to explore how transference might vary over the course of therapy. The results indicated that 33% of patients demonstrated a significant relation between the most pervasive theme evident from the pretreatment narratives and the narratives about the therapist. These results remained consistent when early and late session therapist narratives were evaluated separately. Further, patients rated with higher quality of interpersonal relationships and lower symptoms prior to treatment demonstrated greater similarity between their pretreatment interpersonal themes and the theme described in the therapeutic relationship.

The relationship between quality of interpersonal relationships and major depressive disorder: findings from the National Comorbidity Survey

Background: The current study compared the quality of interpersonal relationships in individuals with major depressive disorder to individuals with dysthymia, comorbid depression, nonaffective disorders, and no psychiatric disorders. Methods: Using data from the National Comorbidity Study, a series of logistic regressions, controlling for demographic variables, were conducted to examine the strength of the association between a major depressive disorder and interpersonal dysfunction (positive and negative interactions) in contrast to other psychiatric disorders. Results: Respondents with current major depressive disorder reported significantly fewer positive interactions and more negative interactions with their spouse or live-in partner than those with nonaffective disorders, and than those with no psychiatric disorders. There were no significant differences in quality of interpersonal relationships between respondents with major depressive disorder and those with dysthymia. Among those with major depressive disorder, comorbidity or treatment-seeking behavior did not significantly contribute to degree of interpersonal difficulties. The strength of the association between interpersonal dysfunction and depression were, in general, comparable for men and women with major depressive disorder. Limitations: The cross-sectional design of this report precludes inferences regarding causality between quality of interpersonal relationship and current major depressive disorder. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that, relative to psychiatric illness in general, poor intimate relationships are characteristic of a current major depressive disorder.

The reliability and acceptability of telemedicine for patients with schizophrenia in Korea.

We conducted a pilot study to evaluate telemedicine for patients with schizophrenia. The telemedicine system was connected over the ordinary telephone network at 33 kbit/s. A computer-based patient record was used to view patient summaries and to allow nursing notes to be entered at the patient's home. Fifteen patients with schizophrenia were assessed over the telemedicine system and 15 patients were assessed face to face, using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Our low-bandwidth telemedicine system appeared to be as reliable as higher-bandwidth ISDN systems. In addition, the patients' acceptance of the telemedicine interview, in terms of comfort, ease of self-expression, quality of interpersonal relationship and usefulness, was good in most cases. The only factors significantly affecting the patients' level of acceptance of their particular type of interview were the assessment type (i.e. whether the patient had had a telemedicine assessment or not) and their BPRS score. Since the system was of low cost and was easy to interface with a notebook computer, it could be used support other home-health nursing services.

Attachment Style, Interpersonal Perception Accuracy, and Relationship Satisfaction in Dating Couples

This study investigated associations between attachment style, partner perception accuracy, and relationship satisfaction in a sample of 61 undergraduate dating couples. Each partner completed questionnaires assessing own attachment style, own feelings about the relationship, and perceptions of the partner’s feelings about the relationship. Results indicated that more avoidantly attached men and more anxiously attached individuals of both sexes reported lower relationship satisfaction. However, only anxiously attached men showed consistently lower accuracy in perceiving their partner’s feelings about the relationship. The lower satisfaction among anxiously attached men could be partially explained by their lower accuracy in perceiving their partner’s feelings of love, and this lower accuracy was not due to the partner’s self-reported level of communication. Implications of the results in terms of understanding how attachment style influences interpersonal communication and relationship quality are discussed.

The Nature and Meaning of Social Integration for Young Children With Mild Developmental Delays in Inclusive Settings

This paper examines fundamental conceptual, methodological, and outcome issues with respect to the social integration of preschool-age children with mild developmental delays in inclusive early childhood settings. Cast within a developmental-ecological framework, social integration is evaluated in terms of three constructs: (1) the connectedness of peer interactions; (2) the quality of interpersonal relationships; and (3) the nature of adjustments that occur during social exchanges. A general model of factors that influence social integration and their interrelationships is presented as a means of organizing future intervention activities to promote social integration.

Relation of Transference Interpretations to Outcome in the Early Sessions of Brief Supportive-Expressive Psychotherapy

Transference interpretations have been considered an important technique in models of short-term dynamic psychotherapy. The purpose of the current investigation was to explore the role of transference interpretations in the early sessions of 29 patients treated with Supportive-Expressive (SE) psychotherapy for depression. Hierarchical multiple regressions were used to evaluate the relationship between proportion of transference interpretations and treatment outcome measured across levels of quality of interpersonal relationships. High levels of transference interpretations were significantly associated with poor treatment outcome for patients with poor interpersonal functioning. The results suggest that transference interpretations should be used sparingly in the early sessions of SE psychotherapy with patients who demonstrate a poor quality of interpersonal relationships prior to treatment. Übertragungsdeutungen gelten als wichtige Technik in den Modellen für psychodynamische Kurzpsychotherpie. Ziel der hier beschriebenen Untersuchungwar eine Überprüfung der Bedeutung von Übertragungsdeutungen in den frühen Sitzungen von 29 patienten, die wegen depressiver Störungen in einer supportiv-Expressiven Psychotherapie behandelt wurden. Hierarchische multiple regressionen wurden benutzt, um die beziehung zwischen dem Anteil von Übertragungsdeutungen und dem Behandlungsergebnis in Abhängigkeit von der Qualität der interpersonalen Beziehungen zu überprüfen. Ein hohes Maß an Übertragungsdeutungen stand in signifikanter Beziehung zu einum schlechten Therapieergebnis bei patienten mit interpersonalen Beeinträchtigungen. Die Ergebnisse legen nahe, Daß Übertragungsdutungen gerade bei den Patienten, die vor der Behandlungin ihren interpersonalen Beziehungen stark eigeschränkt sind, in den frühen Sitzungen einer Psychotherpie sprasam bunutzt werden sollten. Dansles modéles de la psychothérapie psychodynamique brève, les interprétations de transfert ont été considérées comme une technique importante. Le but de l'investigation présente était d'explorer le rôle des interprétations de transfert dans les séances précoces d'un traitement de soutien et découvrant (Supportive-expressive, SE) chez 29 patients dépressifs. A l'aide de régressions hiérarchiques multiples, la relation entrela proportion d'interprétations de transfert et le résultat du traitement a éteA évaluée en fonction des niveaux de qualité des relationsinterpersonnelles. Un haut niveau d'interprétationns transférentielles a été associé de facon significative à un résultat thérapeutique modeste pour des patients à fonctionnementinterpersonnel faible. Les résultats suggérent d'appliquer avec parcimonie des interprétations de transfertdans les séances précoces d'une psychothérapies SE chez des patients faisant Preuve d'une qualité réduite de relations interpersonnelles avantle traitment. Las interpretaciones transferencialses han sido consideradas una técnica importante enmodelos de psicoterapia dinámica breve. El propósito de esta investigación fue explorar el rol de las interpretaciones transferenciales en las primeras sesiones de 29 pacientes tratados con psicoterpia de apoyo-expresiva (SE) para la depresión. Se usaron regresiones Jerárquicas múltiples para evaluar la relación entre la proporción de interpretaciones transferenciales y el resultado del tratamiento a través de differentes niveles de calidad de la relación interpersonal. Se encontró que, en pacientes de funcionamiento interpersonal pobre, hay una asocación significativa entre interpretaciones transfernciales de alto nivel y resultados pobres. Los resultados sugieren que, enlas primeras sesiones de psicoterapia SE con pacientes que demuestranuna pobre calidad de relaciones interpersonales previas al tratamiento, las interpretaciones transferenciales deben usarse con moderación.

Paths of influence of divorce on preschool children's psychosocial adjustment.

This study examined the direct and indirect influences of parental divorce on preschool children's psychosocial adjustment through its effect on maternal strain, family socioeconomic status, the quality of the family's interpersonal relationships, and mother-child interaction. Participants included 198 married (n = 99) and divorced (n = 99), predominantly White, lower- to middle-income families with preschool children. Analyses using structural equation modeling (SEM) indicated that family structure and processes in combination most strongly influenced child outcomes. Specifically, the effects of divorce on children's adjustment were mediated by maternal strain and the quality of mother-child interaction. The goodness-of-fit indices (.90 to .94), root mean square error of approximation index (.03), and nonsignificant chi-square (p = .12) indicated a good fit for the generated structural equation model.

The relation of organizational process orientation to effectiveness and efficiency in elementary public schools

Organizational psychology has identified four recurrent organizational models (rational goal, open systems, human relations, and internal processes), each placing different emphases on internal and external organizational processes. Using a sample of 122 elementary schools in a large suburban school district located outside a metropolitan area, the present study examined the relation of school emphases on internal and external processes to school effectiveness and efficiency. Consistent with hypotheses, inefficient schools (lower-than-average student achievement test scores, adjusted by the percentage of students enrolled in the free and reduced-price meal program and per-pupil expenditures) were identified by the human relations model or as inward-directed with emphasis on the quality of student-school staff interpersonal relationships, by higher levels of student enjoyment, and by smaller student enrollments and smaller student-faculty ratios. Contrary to expectation, results showed that effective schools (higher-than-average student achievement test scores) were best described in terms of the rational goal model or as outward-directed, with emphasis on involving and empowering parents and on internal structure, control, and inflexibility (i.e., more school order and discipline). Results are discussed in terms of the broader organizational literature, specifically, competing organizational value orientations, effects of organizational structure and member characteristics on organizational process orientation, and the use of organizational process orientation as means to achieve organizational effectiveness and efficiency.

Personality differences across borders: A comparison of student samples from Mexico and the United States

Since personality plays such a vital role in shaping the quality of interpersonal relations and achievements of individuals, a vast body of research has accumulated on the subject. Unfortunately, much of this research deals with intracultural issues and samples. This study reports the findings of a cross‐cultural study of personality differences among student samples in two cities with a common international border: Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego, United States. The samples consist of undergraduate students from a variety of academic disciplines enrolled in colleges within a radius of about fifty miles from the U.S.‐Mexican border. Four personality dimensions were investigated by use of established personality scales through a questionnaire: need for autonomy, altruism, self‐esteem, and locus of control. Comparisons were made of the Mexican sample with three ethnic groups in the United States: African‐American, Mexican‐American, and Euro‐Americans. The results showed that Mexican subjects exhibited a significantly higher need for autonomy than the other groups. However, the Mexican sample exhibited a significantly lower mean on self‐esteem than the African‐American and Mexican‐American samples. An additional finding of this study, which was not part of the original research concern, showed a negative correlation between overall grade point average (GPA) and number of years spent in the United States by the immigrant students within the United States sample. Implications of these differences for human resource management that transcends borders were discussed.

The Differentiation of Self Inventory: Development and initial validation.

Despite the importance of Bowen theory (M.Bowen, 1976,1978; M. E. KerrB Nichols & Schwartz, 1998). Indeed, Bowen theory provides a foundation for the field of family therapy that renders i t distinct from the multitude of theoretica l approaches to individual psychotherapy. At present, many of Bowen's (1976, 1978) concepts (e.g., differentiation of self, interlocking triangles , o r reactiv e emotiona l distancing ) pervade th e famil y system s literature . Despit e th e vas t attention Bowen theory has received from clinicians and theorists alike, there have been, to date, few programmatic attempts t o tes t it s validit y wit h respec t t o personalit y functioning or quality of interpersonal relations or to changes as a result of psychotherapy. To begin filling this notable gap, we developed the Differentiation o f Self Inventory, a self-report instrument for adults (ages 25+). In this article, we present psychometric support for the measure, validation studies to date, and implications for theory, research, and practice.

Quality of sexual interpersonal relationships and motivations for coitus among high risk adolescents

Quality of sexual interpersonal relationships and motivations for coitus among high risk adolescents

Self and Identity in Later Life: Protecting and Enhancing the Self

Self and identity are central concepts in the social and behavioral sciences for multiple reasons. At least three major research traditions focus on the self. First, sociologists view the self as a primary bridge between social structures and individual attitudes and behaviors, as a mechanism by which social structures and individuals affect and are affected by each other. Second, self and identity are viewed as cornerstones of well-being. Thus, social and behavioral scientists have documented important links between the self and physical and mental health, role performance, the quality of interpersonal relationships, and subjective well-being. Third, the self is conceptualized as a central motivating force in human behavior. Issues as diverse as self-selection into specific environments, defense mechanisms, and the desire and ability to break addictive behaviors have been informed by attention to the motivational force of the self. This latter tradition serves as the conceptual bedrock of this paper. This paper examines three components of the self: self-efficacy, self-esteem, and a sense of authenticity. The first two have received substantial theoretical and empirical attention; the latter, much less. I argue that this unequal distribution of scientific inquiry is a result of too much emphasis on the motivation to protect the self, to the neglect of motivation to enhance the self. I make a case for the particular importance of examining self-enhancement in late life.

Relationship between menopausal stage and age and quality of relationships with partners, children and friends

Objectives This study investigated the interaction of menopausal stage and age with the quality of women's relationships with their partners, children and close friends.Method Females from a community sample (n = 48, age range 35–65 years) volunteered to participate in structured interviews. Questions relating to demographic background and relationships with partners, children and friends were included. Seventeen women were premenopausal, 16 women had been postmenopausal for 1–5 years and 15 women had been postmenopausal for between 6 and 10 years.Results The association of age and menopausal stage could not be separated when relationships with partners were considered. Premenopausal and younger women appeared to be more satisfied and more positive, and rated their relationship as more important to them than did older and postmenopausal women. Menopausal stage, but not age, appeared to be associated with the satisfaction women had with their children and the desire to see their children more often. When the two groups of postmenopausal women were compared, it was found that those women postmenopausal for 1–5 years wanted to see their children more often and were more dissatisfied with the relationship they had with their children than those women postmenopausal for 6–10 years. There were no effects of menopausal stage or age when the quality of close friendships was considered.Conclusions Further work is needed to explore the implications of these findings as they relate to the interaction of menopausal stage and age with the quality of interpersonal relationships.

Measuring Quality: The Relationship between Diaries and Direct Observation of Staff

With a greater emphasis on service evaluation, value for money and higher standards, the measurement of quality of life is an increasingly important aspect of services for people with a learning disability. A number of authors have proposed models for conceptualising quality. In a recent review Felce and Perry (1995) portrayed quality as being represented by five domains: 1. Physical Well-being: this subsumes health, fitness and physical safety. 2. Material Well-being: this includes, finance or income, quality of the living environment and privacy, possessions, meals or food, transport, neighbourhood, security, and stability or tenure. 3. Social Wellbeing: this comprises two major dimensions of a) the quality and breadth of interpersonal relationships and b) community activities and the level of community acceptance and support. 4. Development and Activity: is concerned with the possession and use of skills in relation both to self determination and the pursuit of functional activities such as work or leisure. 5. Emotional Well-being: including, affect or mood, satisfaction, self esteem and religious faith. The model is suggested as a framework for organising the measurement of the quality of life concept.

Prevalence and Predictors of Cyclic and Noncyclic Affective Change

The prevalence of cyclic and week-to-week affective change was prospectively assessed over two consecutive menstrual cycles in a nonclinical sample of 101 employed women. Although 40% perceived themselves to have premenstrual syndrome (PMS), none showed a recurrent pattern of marked premenstrual affective change. Marked affective change was as likely to occur in the postmenstrual as the premenstrual phase. Weekly marked change was as prevalent as cyclic change. Although social health (perceived quantity and quality of interpersonal relationships) and subjective stress consistently predicted both cyclic and weekly affective states, the contribution of social health was 10 times greater than that of stress. The role of social health requires further examination, as does the widespread misuse of the PMS label to account for occasional changes in affect.

The Rorschach Human Experience Variable, interpersonal relatedness, and object representation in nonpatients.

W. Perry and D. J. Viglione (1991) combined human representational variables from J. E. Exner's (1993) Comprehensive System in their Ego Impairment Index to create the Human Experience Variable (HEV). To validate the HEV 105 nonpatient women completed the Bell Object Relations Inventory (M. Bell, 1991) and the Rorschach. Their spouses also rated the quality of these women's interpersonal relatedness by completing a modified Bell Object Relations Inventory and the Emotional Maturity Rating Form (H. Bessell, 1984). The HEV was significantly related to the quality of interpersonal relatedness, after considering Rorschach measures of psychopathology and nonhuman Rorschach images. Results indicate that representations of self and other accessed through the Rorschach account for unique variance in the prediction of the quality of interpersonal relationships, thus supporting the validity of the Rorschach and the concept of object relations.

Family Structure and Interpersonal Relationship Quality in Young Adults

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which selected personal, interpersonal, and family characteristics were related to interpersonal relationship quality of young adults. Hierarchi- cal multiple regression analysis was used 10 test the research hypothe- ses. Relationship anxiety, family adaptability, and Ule ability to manage interpersonal conflict effectively were found to be signiftcanUy related to interpersonal relationship quality. At higher levels of anxiety, young adults from divorced familtes had significantly lower levels of interper- sonal relationship quality than their peers from intact families. Implica- tions for further research and practice are discussed.