Reciprocal Influence Model Research Articles

A Reciprocal and Dynamic Development Model for the Effects of Siblings on Children's Theory of Mind.

In the field of social influences on Theory of Mind (ToM), more research has focused on the role of parents, but less research has examined the impact of siblings on children’s social understanding. We review existing research related to what factors might affect sibling–ToM association and how these potential factors affect ToM. Based on the literature review, we propose an integrative model that unites three categories of factors (i.e., sibling structural variables, sibling individual variables, parental intervening variables) that might have effects on the sibling–ToM association and highlights mental-state talks during sibling interactions at the intersection of sibling-related variables and ToM. Furthermore, we propose some issues arising from this review that need to be clarified in future studies. Specifically, we hope to clarify the specific effects of older and younger siblings on children’s understanding of human minds, the similarities and differences of sibling–ToM association under different cultural backgrounds, and the impact of family social disadvantage (e.g., lower SES) on the sibling–ToM association. All these works would benefit from the verification, revision, and expansion of our reciprocal influence model for the sibling–ToM association.

Is Social Support a Cause or Consequence of Depression? A Longitudinal Study of Adolescents.

A large body of literature has examined the relations between social support and depression. However, the exact nature and direction of these relations are not well understood. This study explored the relations between specific types of social support (peer support and teacher support) and depression. Adolescents (ages 11 to 17) for the first time (N = 2453) participated in a two-wave, 6-month longitudinal study. Structural equation modeling was used to test a social causation model (deficits in social support increase the likelihood of depression), interpersonal theories of depression (depression leads to social erosion), and a reciprocal influence model. Depression influenced peer support significantly and negatively. By contrast, the social causation model was not supported. These results held for males and females. Findings suggested that depression resulted in social support erosion. However, the effect was specific to perceived peer support but not to perceived teacher support.

HOA power relationship, problem-solving, and communication patterns during a major building renovation construction crisis

ABSTRACTFor this study, we explored interpersonal relationship patterns and communication themes noting conflict and problem-solving strategies among both peers and those in differential power roles in a condominium owners’ association when faced with a crisis. The crisis consisted of extensive and costly repairs being required on all buildings due to previous inferior construction and poor maintenance, with the county threatening to condemn the buildings. We discovered that the interaction pattern hypothesized in the reciprocal influence model of social power was consistent with what occurred among members in this COA. Association members at large were able to exert an effective counter-force against the association board’s power. After two years of tension between the board members and association members, the situation finally stabilized under new, more experienced, board leadership.

How do career satisfaction and life satisfaction associate?

PurposeLife satisfaction is an ultimate goal in human existence, and it is also an important factor in the work domain. It may both trigger work-related outcomes and be influenced by work-related factors. The authors are here concerned with career satisfaction and its association with life satisfaction. From a bottom-up perspective, career satisfaction should enhance life satisfaction; from a top-down perspective, the influence should work in the reverse direction; and from an interactionist perspective reciprocal influences are conceivable. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachThe authors tested these perspectives in two longitudinal studies with three points of measurement each. Study 1 (n=517) covered a period of five years and Study 2 an eight-week period (n=99). The authors analyzed the data by means of latent growth curve modeling and cross-lagged analysis.FindingsBoth studies revealed that life satisfaction and career satisfaction are positively associated both within and across time. The directional association between both constructs is well-represented by a top-down model; further, by a reciprocal influence model. The bottom-up model received least support. Study 2 additionally showed that work centrality is a moderator.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors discuss these findings with respect to both the relevance of life satisfaction in the work domain and the relationship between global and domain-specific life satisfaction.Originality/valueThe present research is the first one that investigates the association between career satisfaction and life satisfaction using two longitudinal studies.

The Development of Empathic Concern in Siblings: A Reciprocal Influence Model.

This study utilized actor-partner interdependence modeling to examine the bidirectional effects of younger (Mage =18months) and older siblings (Mage =48months) on later empathy development in a large (n=452 families), diverse (42% immigrant) Canadian sample. Controlling for parenting, demographic characteristics, sibling relationship quality, and within-child stability in empathic concern, both younger and older siblings' observed empathic concern uniquely predicted relative increases in the other's empathy over a period of 18months. The strength of the partner effects did not differ by birth order. Sex composition moderated the younger sibling partner effect, whereas age gap moderated the older sibling partner effect. This study highlights the important role that siblings play in enhancing the development of care and concern for others.

Reciprocal influence model of working alliance and therapeutic outcome over individual therapy course.

A reciprocal influence model of the working alliance and the therapeutic outcome was examined in a sample of clients (n = 638) seen by novice therapists. Past researchers have found a relation between the working alliance and symptom improvement and this relation has been interpreted as the alliance leading to such symptom change. The current study was an examination of whether the alliance does indeed lead to symptom change, or whether symptom change leads to subsequent alliance change, or whether each is related to the other in a reciprocal way over time. By modeling the longitudinal development of the working alliance and the symptomatic severity over the individual therapy course, we found support for the reciprocal model being superior to the unidirectional models. The ideas of relationship as strategy and relationship as outcome along with the reciprocal pattern revealed in the findings were discussed with respect to the theoretical and clinical implications. We also discussed the limitations of the study and provided suggestions for future research.

Emotion Identification Skill and Social Support During Adolescence: A Three‐Year Longitudinal Study

Emotion identification skill (EIS) has been correlated with social support, but little research has examined the extent that EIS is a developmental precursor to supportive relationships. The present study investigated the longitudinal relationships between EIS and social support in adolescence. Participants were 903 (464 males; 439 females) Australian high school students, with 314 participating in all four waves. Students completed questionnaires annually from Grade 9 to Grade 12, including self‐report measures of (1) EIS, (2) social support network size, and (3) quality of social support. Cross‐lagged structural equation modeling supported a reciprocal influence model, with social support and EIS mutually influencing each other's development. We discuss the implications of this finding for the positive development of EIS and social support.

Interparental Boundary Problems, Parent-Adolescent Hostility, and Adolescent-Parent Hostility: A Family Process Model for Adolescent Aggression Problems.

This study tests interparental boundary problems (IBPs), parent hostility with adolescents, and adolescent hostility with parents within a reciprocal influence model and tests each as risk factors for adolescent aggression problems. Prospective, longitudinal analyses were conducted with multi-informant data from 768 adolescents and their families, from 6th to 9th grade. Guided by spillover and social learning perspectives, our findings suggest that IBPs have a robust, negative influence on both parent and adolescent hostility. In turn, adolescent hostility was the best predictor of global adolescent aggression problems. Two indirect effects were found that link IBPs and adolescent aggression problems; however, findings indicate that adolescent hostile behavior in the family is the key risk indicator for adolescents' later aggression problems. Model invariance tests revealed that this model was not different for boys and girls, or for adolescents in families with two biological parents and youth in families with two caregivers (e.g. stepparent families).

Working alliance predicts psychotherapy outcome even while controlling for prior symptom improvement

Objective: Although the working alliance as been found to be a robust predictor of psychotherapy outcome, critics have questioned the causal status of this effect. Specifically, the effect of the alliance may be confounded with the effect of prior symptom improvement. The objective of the present study was to test this possibility. Method: A large dataset from primary care psychotherapy was used to study relationships between alliance and outcome using piecewise multilevel path analysis. Results: Initial symptom level and symptom change up to session three predicted the alliance at session three. Working alliance significantly predicted symptom change rate from session three to termination, even while controlling for several possible confounds. Conclusions: The alliance predicts outcome over and above the effect of prior symptom improvement, supporting a reciprocal influence model of the relationship between alliance and symptom change.

Is Self‐Esteem a Cause or Consequence of Social Support? A 4‐Year Longitudinal Study

Considerable research has been devoted to examining the relations between self-esteem and social support. However, the exact nature and direction of these relations are not well understood. Measures of self-esteem, and social support quantity and quality were administered to 961 adolescents across five yearly time points (M(age) = 13.41 years). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilized to test between a self-esteem antecedent model (self-esteem precedes changes in social support), self-esteem consequence model (social support precedes change in self-esteem), and a reciprocal influence model. Self-esteem reliably predicted increasing levels of social support quality and network size across time. In contrast, the consequence model was not supported. The implications of this for helping adolescents to develop higher quality social support structures are discussed.

Personality development at school: Assessing a reciprocal influence model of teachers’ evaluations and students’ personality

We examined, over 4 years, the interrelationships between changes in teachers’ ratings of student behavior and changes in students’ self-reports of their personality. Participants were Australian high school students in Grades 8–11 (Ns were 891, 763, 778, and 571, respectively). Teachers evaluated students’ behavioral problems and overall adjustment, whereas students reported on their levels of Eysenckian psychoticism (P), a personality trait relevant in the school setting. We found some evidence of bidirectional influences between P and evaluations of adjustment and behavioral problems. These results are discussed with reference to transactional models of personality change.

Reciprocal‐influence mediation model: A guide for practice and research

AbstractBecause of the length of most mediation sessions, it is challenging to assess a session's turn‐by‐turn nature. Here, a reciprocal‐influence model is presented that views mediation as a dynamic, interdependent system that recognizes individual utterances of disputants and media‐tors that change or reinforce destructive conflict. This perspective gives rise to a research method that maps the mediation discourse at a micro‐level in order to track each member's constructive and destructive state‐ments and view their mutual influence on the system as well as changes within the system over time. This process then facilitates a closer exam‐ination of critical shifts that lead to integrative conflict or resolution among the disputants. These closer examinations also indicate more‐and less‐effective client‐responsive interventions posed by the mediator.

A Prospective, High‐Risk Study of the Relationship between Tobacco Dependence and Alcohol Use Disorders

This study examined the extent to which tobacco dependence (TD) and alcohol use disorders (AUDs) reciprocally influenced each other in a mixed-gender sample of 452 individuals (n = 232 biological family history of paternal alcoholism, n = 220 no first- or second-degree family history of alcoholism) who were assessed once early in their freshman year of college, approximately 3 years later when many were college seniors, and approximately 3 years later when many had entered or were entering the work force. AUDs were more prevalent in men than women, in individuals with a family history of alcoholism, and decreased overall with time. TD was more prevalent in those with a family history of alcoholism, showed increasing rates of use over time, and was less prevalent but more stable than AUDs. Transitional probabilities indicated that although a previous AUD or TD diagnosis increased the likelihood of being diagnosed with the other disorder at a later time, comorbid AUDs and TD did not significantly affect the likelihood of recovery from either disorder. Finally, path analysis revealed significant reciprocal relationships between AUDs and TD diagnoses (each predicting the other over time), and significant prediction of AUDs and TD by family history of alcoholism at the first and third times of assessment. Findings supported two general models of AUD/TD comorbidity: a shared vulnerability model and a reciprocal influence model.

Pathways of Representation: A Causal Analysis of Public Opinion-Policy Linkages

Theory: Altemative theories of the linkage process between mass policy preferences and public policies are tested empirically. Hypotheses: Opinion-policy linkage may arise because mass preferences drive the policy process, elite preferences drive the process, or because of a shared-preferences, reciprocal influence process. Policy linkage may also be facilitated by higher voter mobilization and party competition. Methods: A multiple-equation model of the opinion-policy process in the United States is tested with two-stage least squares regression. Results: The state policy process is best explained by an opinion-sharing, reciprocal influence model. Shared partisanship, party competition, and voter mobilization enhance the linkage process in theoretically anticipated ways.