Relationship Quality Research Articles

Adaptation of a Chinese Version of the Relational Needs Satisfaction Scale Based on Item Response Theory Among Chinese Adults Aged 18-30.

The satisfaction of relational needs is an important indicator of the quality of interpersonal relationships, but few studies on this topic have been conducted in China. The Relational Needs Satisfaction Scale (RNSS) was developed and used in three countries. In this study, the scale was standardized. A total of 2136 Chinese adults aged 18-30 years were recruited to complete the RNSS-Chinese (RNSS-C) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) online, and classical test theory and item response theory (IRT) were used to analyze the psychometric characteristics of the RNSS-C. The measurement invariance of the Chinese and Czech RNSSs was analyzed. (1) The RNSS still has good reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.935) and validity (CFI=0.948, TLI=0.940, RMSEA=0.049, and SRMR=0.032) in China. (2) The RNSS-C revealed differences in the perceptions of relational needs construct between the two groups (ΔCFI=0.014>0.01). These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the cultural factors that shape interpersonal relationships and satisfaction in China.

Changes in sexual activity in young women during pregnancy

Objective: To conduct changes in sexual activity during pregnancy and its related factors in pregnant women. Methods: The present descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017 on pregnant women who referred to the women's clinic of Afzalipour Hospital in the southeast of Iran. Participants were included in the study through convenient sampling. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire consisting of two parts of personal social information of the couple and questions to measure the level of sexual activity and the attitude of the subjects during pregnancy compared to before pregnancy. Results: 201 Pregnant women were included. The average age of pregnant women was (27.3±6.1) years and their average gestational age was (24.7±11.8) years. More than 62% of women had decreased sexual activity. There was a significant relationship between the amount of changes in sexual activity and delivery time (P=0.013), abortion history (P=0.001) and premature birth history (P=0.002). Most pregnant women believed that sex during pregnancy caused damage to the fetus (67.7%). A decrease in the intensity of sexual desire was reported in 63% of pregnant women. More than 60% of the subjects did not consult with doctors and midwives with regards to sexual issues (63.5%). The most common reason for not consulting was not feeling the need (32%). Most women experienced back pain during (42.8%) and after (39.8%) intercourse. Conclusions: Changes in sex life during pregnancy are often caused by the lack of sexual knowledge and the increase in misconceptions among couples, which can affect the quality of relationships. The role of education is essential. Therefore, it is suggested that by including sexual counseling along with pregnancy care, wrong beliefs and information among women will be corrected.

Sibling relational aggression: Developmental change and associations with family relationships across adolescence.

Sibling relational aggression is an understudied social and family process that is of developmental significance in adolescence, a period of interpersonal relationship development. This study examined developmental change in sibling relational aggression across adolescence and used multilevel actor-partner independence models to test its longitudinal associations with mother-adolescent, father-adolescent, and sibling relationship qualities. Participants were 196 adolescent (firstborn-secondborn) sibling pairs from predominantly White families who averaged 16.47 years (SD = .80) and 13.88 years (SD = 1.15) of age, respectively, at baseline. Data were collected separately from each sibling during home interviews at three timepoints, each spaced a year apart. Longitudinal growth modeling revealed declines in sibling relational aggression from early to late adolescence. Findings from longitudinal multilevel actor-partner independence models revealed a negative within-person (WP) effect of father-adolescent intimacy and a positive WP effect of father-adolescent conflict on sibling relational aggression: On occasions when adolescents reported lower intimacy or more conflict with their fathers than usual (compared to individuals' own cross-time averages), adolescents reported experiencing more sibling relational aggression than usual. A between-person (BP) effect of mother-adolescent conflict also indicated that the cross-time average of mother-adolescent conflict was linked positively to the cross-time average of sibling relationship aggression. Primarily at the WP level, associations also emerged between lower sibling intimacy and higher sibling conflict and sibling relational aggression. For relationships with fathers and siblings, some effects were moderated by sibling structural characteristics. Discussion highlights the interplay of family relationship dynamics, including gender dynamics, and sibling relational aggression in adolescence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Which has a greater impact on brand satisfaction, human service or robot service as a waiter/waitress in the restaurant industry?

ABSTRACT This study was designed to identify how SERVQUAL forms brand relationship quality and brand loyalty with the moderating role of the type of service employees, such as robots and humans. The study collected data from 286 people who used restaurants where robots provide the services and from 300 people who used restaurants where people provide the services. In order to test the proposed hypotheses, this study employed structural equation modelling based on the AMOS program. The data analysis revealed that four of the five dimensions of SERVQUAL, which include tangibles, reliability, assurance, and empathy, help to enhance brand satisfaction. In addition, brand satisfaction has a positive influence on brand trust, brand commitment, and brand loyalty. The moderating role of the type of service employee in the relationship between utilitarian value and brand authenticity was identified.

Age Differences in Consulting Others During Decision Making.

Many choices are made in the context of one's social network, but age differences in consulting others during decision-making remain underexplored. This pre-registered study examined age differences in the composition of decision-related social networks and associated social preferences and motivations. Based on prior findings regarding age differences in information-seeking and socioemotional preferences, we predicted that with advanced age people would consult fewer and more emotionally close social partners, consult them less frequently, rate consultations as more helpful, and prioritize social goals during decision-making. An adult lifespan sample (N = 485; Mage = 51.08; SDage = 19.63, rangeage = 18-96 years) considered hypothetical choices and reported how many and what types of people they would consult and how often they would consult them. They also identified their most important decision consultants and evaluated interactions with those individuals. As predicted, age was associated with consulting fewer people less frequently and this was not explained by having a smaller range of potential consultants in one's network. Contrary to predictions, the proportion of close social partners in decision networks and the perceived helpfulness of consultants did not vary significantly by age. Moreover, older adults were less likely than younger adults to prioritize relationship quality over decision quality. Controlling for potential covariates did not diminish the observed age effects. These findings align with the prior literature on age-related decrements in pre-decisional information seeking but suggest that age-related preferences for close social partners and socioemotional goals do not extend to decision-related consultations.

The Phubbing Phenomenon in Adolescents: Uncovering the Impact of Technology on Social Relationship Quality

Phubbing is a social behaviour where an individual prioritizes smartphone usage over engaging with those around them. This study seeks to explore the underlying causes, manifestations, and consequences of phubbing behaviour among adolescents and to understand how this behaviour affects the quality of their social relationships. Adopting a qualitative approach through case study methodology, this research focuses on three adolescents who are habitual practitioners of phubbing. The findings of this study reveal that smartphone dependence, fear of missing out (F.O.M.O.), and low self-control are the primary factors influencing this behaviour. The repercussions of phubbing include the weakening of social relationships and an increase in feelings of loneliness and discomfort during social interactions. This research provides valuable insights into how technological advancements impact adolescent social behaviour and underscores the crucial role of educators and parents in promoting healthier social interactions. By identifying the factors contributing to phubbing and its effects on social relationships, this study aids in developing strategies to help adolescents adapt to technology in a more balanced way while maintaining the quality of their interpersonal connections. The study emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing phubbing and encourages more meaningful and supportive social interactions in the digital age. This expanded understanding of phubbing's impact highlights the importance of fostering better communication habits and supportive environments for adolescents navigating modern technology. Research shows that phubbing perpetrators have the defence that their behaviour is not the only one, that in this era, almost everyone does the same thing as they do, and their behaviour is inevitable. So, they tend to repeat the same cycle. Thus, phubbing behaviour is a cause-and-effect behaviour that is also influenced by an individual's internal and external factors.

Examining the validity of an adaptive model of sustaining behaviors in long-distance relationships: Predicting intimacy and marital satisfaction

Long-distance romantic relationships present unique challenges, necessitating couples to employ adaptive strategies to maintain intimacy and marital satisfaction. This study aimed to examine the validity of an adaptive model of sustaining behaviors in long-distance relationships and its capacity to predict marital intimacy and satisfaction. The model included mindfulness, sexual function, religious, and online social support domains. Data were collected online from 366 couples (aged 18 to 57; Mean = 34.82, SD = 7.34; 79.8 % female) engaged in long-distance relationships. A confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the acceptable fit of the four-factor model which was also invariant across gender groups. The results indicated significant associations between sustaining behaviors and marital intimacy and satisfaction, with varying predictive power among specific components. Notably, relationship/sexual mindfulness and marital sanction/religious communication within the religion domain emerged as robust predictors. Conversely, religious practice showed a significant negative association. Additionally, the realization component of the sexual function domain significantly predicted both marital satisfaction and intimacy, while its partnership component significantly predicted only marital intimacy. None of the social support components significantly predicted marital intimacy or satisfaction. These findings are important as they highlight the nuanced interplay between sustaining behaviors and relational well-being in long-distance relationships, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions to enhance relationship quality in this context.

Subjective Well-Being of Parents and Childless People in Older Age in Germany

AbstractThe growing number of older childless individuals in Western societies has raised concerns about their subjective well-being. In this study, we scrutinize the subjective well-being of parents and childless individuals aged 60 years and older. We examine subjective well-being as a multi-dimensional construct encompassing life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect. Based on the value-of-children approach, we hypothesize that childless individuals experience lower subjective well-being than parents and that the disparity in well-being differs with age, gender, and the quality of the parent-child relationship. For our analysis, we use data from a nationally representative sample of adults aged 60 years and older (n = 10,682) drawn from the German Ageing Survey. Our findings from random effects regression models show that childless individuals report lower life satisfaction, less positive affect, and more negative affect than parents. These associations are larger for men than for women but do not vary significantly across age groups. Furthermore, our results suggest that the benefits of parenthood strongly depend on the quality of the parent-child relationship. Childless people report lower subjective well-being than parents with a close emotional bond with their children, but similar or even higher subjective well-being than parents with an emotionally distant parent-child relationship. In sum, our study indicates that childless people experience, on average, lower well-being across all three dimensions of subjective well-being in older age. However, under specific circumstances, childless individuals may fare better than parents.

Interventions for Remarried Families

Remarried families become widespread as a type of family that differs from first marriages both developmentally and structurally. Due to its developmental and structural differences, both the quality and continuity of this families emerge as areas that need to be studied. To offer effective interventions to remarried families, researchers and practitioners in the field of mental health should have access to knowledge on this subject. The literature on remarried families emphasizes biological, non-biological and co-parenting related issues. The expectations, knowledge and perceptions of both the married couple, the children and the surrounding social environment of the remarried family is another important issue. Communication, problem solving, and conflict management can be an important tool in strengthening relationships and preventing negative experiences for families established through remarriage. It is seen that the interventions that deal with the mentioned characteristics of families formed through remarriage are given in the form of group practices, adopting a preventive approach, supported by practices that point to skill acquisition in addition to providing information. Programs offered for families formed through remarriage share commonalities such as remarried family development, parenting skills, communication and problem-solving skills. The effectiveness of interventions for remarriage has been tested by various studies conducted since the late 1970s. While testing the effectiveness of such interventions, it is seen that different outcome variables such as family integrity, dyadic satisfaction, relationship quality, marital continuity, conflict level, stress level and behavioral disorders experienced by family members are considered. Research findings show that interventions for remarriage are effective.

Pädagogische Beziehungen aus Sicht von Lehrpersonen und kindliche Einflussfaktoren

The quality of the student-teacher-relationship undoubtedly has a significant influence on the child's development and learning processes. However, it is not independent of influencing factors on the part of the child. International studies have so far been able to identify a large number of factors influencing the quality of the teacher-student-relationship. Studies from German-speaking countries, on the other hand, have so far only been marginally represented. This cross-sectional study aims to investigate influencing factors of the child (attachment pattern, behavioral problems, gender and socioeconomic status) on the perception of relationship quality from the perspective of teachers with primary school children (N = 44). The results of the multivariate analysis of variance provide an indication that the relationship quality differs depending on the interaction of various child-related influencing factors. In particular, the socio-economic status in the present sample proved to be significant in interaction with the children's attachment pattern and gender. This has implications for a milieu- and gender-sensitive, attachment sensitive and responsive interaction with the children as the basis for a successful student-teacher-relationship.

Interpersonal trust in a couple as a sociocultural value

The relevance of the research is the need to identify the features of reducing the value of interpersonal trust in a couple, which leads to a decrease in marriage rates among the Russian population.The problem of the research lies in the presence of deviations in interpersonal trust between men and women and the lack of scientifically based information about the attitude of subjects to trust as a sociocultural value, which prevents the development of effective measures to eliminate deviations in the intergender relationships of partners.The aim of the research is to identify the features of interpersonal trust in a couple as a traditional socio-cultural value.The research methods. The paper uses data from a sociological study conducted in 2024 in the Belgorod region by means of a questionnaire survey. With a quota sample, 1,155 respondents were interviewed.The Results. The study revealed that, for both men and women, the main reason for establishing trust was the presence of identity, individual similarity, common life goals, common interests, and the same rules of behavior. It was found that the majority of respondents trusted their partner much more than other people. The comparative analysis made it possible to talk about the relationships between the level of trust and the duration of the couple's existence. Thus, the lowest level of trust was typical for the young couples formed less than 6 months ago. And the highest level of trust was observed between subjects who had been together for more than 20 years. The correlation analysis led to the conclusion that the highest level of interpersonal trust was manifested in official married couples, and not in cohabitation and not in guest interaction.The Key findings. It has been concluded that following positive traditions and preserving sociocultural values in the interactions of representatives of different sexes is not presented as a cultural and historical relic, but, on the contrary, as a potential for further successful development of the institution of the family. It has been determined that interpersonal trust in a couple between is presented as a socio-cultural value, which largely determines the quality and stability of relationships and interactions between the subjects.

Stressprävention in der Elementarpädagogik: Mentalisieren und Bindung als Ressourcen im pädagogischen Alltag

The quality of the educator-child relationship as well as the ability to mentalize appear to be protective factors against stress that can improve the well-being of elementary educators given their high workload. Educators who have positive mental models of relationships experience more positive affect in their inter­actions with children, which promotes their well-being. Moreover, an appropriate perception of mental states allows for a more constructive approach to stressful situations, even in the presence of insecure in­ternal working models of relationships, because negative affect can be identified and regulated. In a study of prospective elementary educators (N = 216), we observed the expected correlations between attachment behavior and mentalization ability with well-being and stress levels. Mediation analyses showed that men­talization capacity partially explained the influence of attachment behavior on stress and well-being. The results suggest that mentalization training could support well-being and improve the abilities of elementary educators in stressful conditions.

Relationship Quality of Pregnant and Non-pregnant Women with and without Children

Relationship Quality of Pregnant and Non-pregnant Women with and without Children

Online Sexual Risk Behaviors in Adolescents: Roles of Family Relationships, Impulsivity, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

This study examined the associations of passive and active online sexual risk behaviors with perceived family relationships, impulsivity, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A total of 176 adolescents with ADHD and 173 adolescents without ADHD participated in this study. The participants' parents rated their parenting style on the Parental Bonding Instrument. The adolescents self-reported their lifelong experiences of passive and active online sexual risk behaviors, perceived family relationship quality on the family domain of the Taiwanese Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adolescents, and three domains of impulsivity on the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale version 11. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the associations of online sexual risk behaviors with perceived family relationships, impulsivity, and ADHD. Overall, 114 participants (32.7%) reported passive forms of online sexual risk behaviors, and 49 (14.0%) reported active online sexual risk behaviors. Lack of foresight and self-control was significantly associated with passive online sexual risk behaviors (p = 0.003). Good family relationship was significantly associated with a decreased risk of active online sexual risk behaviors (p = 0.011), whereas seeking novelty and making decisions hastily was significantly associated with an increased risk of active online sexual risk behaviors (p = 0.048). ADHD diagnosis and inability to plan were not significantly associated with online sexual risk behaviors (p > 0.05). A high proportion of Taiwanese adolescents reported exhibiting online sexual risk behaviors. The factors related to the manifestation of these behaviors should be considered when designing relevant intervention programs.

Communicating, Eating And Drinking With Dementia

Abstract Background Problems with eating and drinking can put patients at risk of malnutrition. Hospitalised patients with dementia are at a higher risk for eating/drinking difficulties and inadequate food/fluid intake. Dysphagia in dementia can contribute to malnutrition, dehydration, weight loss, choking episodes, repeat chest infections, pneumonia, and recurrent hospitalisations - all of which can cause strain on relationships between the person with dementia and carers. Where communication (and eating/drinking/swallowing) are impacted, the person with dementia can experience a decrease in quality of life, wellbeing, sense of personhood, and quality of relationships. Direct training and indirect feeding support for care staff results in fewer mealtime difficulties, more time spent assisting at mealtimes, and a positive changes in staff attitudes towards assisting in mealtimes for people with dementia. Using observational instruments to identify eating/drinking difficulties can lead to a positive influence for staff knowledge and skills to support patients/residents. Methods Create a Departmental Information Leaflet on “Communicating, Eating and Drnking with Dementia” for staff, visitors, service users, and their families.Select a tool to be used by nursing staff to better inform on behaviours around eating and drinking with dementia (Edinburgh Feeding Evaluation in Dementia Scale (EdFED-Q)).Create a training Powerpoint for Staff on “Communicating, Eating and Drnking with Dementia” and using the EdFED-Q tool. Results Departmental Information leaflet created.Selection of the EdFED-Q tool.Training programme for nursing staff developed on Communicating, Eating and Drnking with Dementia and using the EdFED-Q tool. Conclusion As outlined in the Irish National Dementia Strategy (2014), all people who provide care or interact with those with dementia should be trained and upskilled in working with and communicating with those with dementia. It is important to continue to develop our services and build on quality initiatives to do this.

Sexual Satisfaction in a Sample of Italian Women during the COVID-19 Lockdown Period

This study explored the relationships among psychological, relational, and sexual factors and their impact on sexual satisfaction among Italian women during the COVID-19 lockdown. Data were collected via an online survey with 3803 participants. The survey assessed mental health, relationship quality, frequency of sexual intercourse, frequency of masturbation, body awareness, and sexual satisfaction. Correlation analyses revealed positive relationships among all the variables and negative relationships with low mental health. A network analysis showed that sexual satisfaction was the most central variable, strongly linked to relationship quality, frequency of sexual intercourse, and body awareness. An exploratory mediation model examined the indirect effects of mental health and frequency of masturbation on sexual satisfaction through the other variables as mediators. The results indicated that mental health negatively influenced sexual satisfaction both directly and indirectly through relationship quality and body awareness, while frequency of masturbation had a positive indirect effect through body awareness. These findings highlight the complex interplay among mental health, body awareness, relational factors, and sexual satisfaction, emphasizing the importance of holistic approaches in enhancing sexual well-being. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to establish causality and explore interventions that promote positive body awareness and relationship quality.

Saudi EFL Students’ Perception of the Quality of Teacher-Student Relationships and the Factors that Impact Their Self-Efficacy Beliefs

This study aimed to explore the perceptions of English as Foreign Language (EFL) students in the Preparatory Year Program (PYP) at a Saudi university about emotional quality of teacher-student relationships and the factors that impact their self-efficacy beliefs in EFL classrooms. To accomplish this, an explanatory sequential mixed methods approach was implemented. Starting with a quantitative approach a questionnaire was distributed to 340 EFL students followed by a qualitative approach in terms of 8 semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore the students’ perceptions. The quantitative data were analyzed statistically using SPSS and the transcribed interviews were coded manually after which a thematic analysis was used to extract the emerging themes. The results demonstrated that students have a positive relationship with their teachers in EFL classrooms and they view their English language teachers as reassuring, reliable, and trustworthy. Students also believe that their relationship with their teachers influences both their academic and personal growth. Finally, the outcomes of this study also showed that students believe that relationship with their significant others, teachers- peers- family members, and outcome expectancy impact their self-efficacy greatly in EFL classrooms. This research provides insight into the emotional quality of teacher-student relationships and students’ self-efficacy in EFL classes, and the findings provide insights that can inform teaching strategies, curriculum development, organizations, and learner support systems.

The role of transformational leadership in the associations between coach-athlete relationship and team resilience: A study on elite football players

This study explores the relationship between the quality of coach-athlete relationships, transformational leadership style, and team resilience in elite football players. The coach-athlete relationship is an essential factor affecting many performance-related properties of athletes, such as mental health, psychological needs, motivation, and resilience. The study examines how the quality of coach-athlete relationships explains the team resilience feature through transformational leadership. The research group includes 210 elite players from the Super League, First League, Second League, and Third Leagues of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) in the 2020–2021 football season. The study used descriptive and relational models to explore the current state of the dependent and independent variables and examine their relationships. The findings revealed insights into the mediating role of the coach’s transformational leadership qualities, highlighting how the quality of coach-athlete relationships impacts team resilience.

The role of customer engagement in relationship quality with a resale platform

Online communities are often used to establish customer engagement. This study focuses on the antecedents (i.e. involvement, anonymity) and consequences (i.e. brand relationship quality) of engagement in an online resale community. Data are obtained through a survey of 298 resale platform customers in the United States. Partial least squares–structural equation modeling is applied for data analysis. The findings of this study reveal that customer involvement and perceived anonymity within the community positively affect the three dimensions of engagement: creation, contribution, and consumption. The results also show that engagement affects both the cognitive and affective qualities of brand relationship quality, producing a significantly positive effect on behavioral intention. This study contributes to existing marketing studies by developing an integrated framework for community engagement and brand relationship quality in the online resale context.

Examining the interplay of chatbot interactivity and anthropomorphic design for enhancing brand relationships in service businesses

The current research examines how elements of chatbot design influence not only consumers’ perceptions and responses but also the processes by which they promote online-to-offline behavioral intention toward service brands. Focusing on the coffee service business, a study following a 2 × 2 between-subjects experimental design was conducted. Among the findings, the impact of interactivity on chatbot- and brand-related outcomes depended on the anthropomorphic conversational style employed; interactions with the warm, high-interactivity (vs. low-interactivity) chatbot enhanced the sense of social presence, whereas interactions with the competent, low-interactivity (vs. high-interactivity) chatbot promoted brand-related behavioral intention. Moreover, as the moderated serial mediation model demonstrated, although increased social presence shaped components of brand relationship quality (i.e. brand partner quality and brand attachment), only brand partner quality bolstered the intention to patronize the brand. The significant moderated indirect effect suggests that a warm, highly interactive chatbot design can strengthen social presence and thereby improve brand partner quality and raise the likelihood of offline patronage. Theoretical and managerial implications of the findings are discussed.