Relational Turbulence Theory Research Articles

Dynamic and Daily Partner-Specific Processes of Relationship Uncertainty and Enacted Relationship Talk

Guided by relational turbulence theory (RTT), this intensive longitudinal study examined how within-person daily fluctuations in relationship uncertainty corresponded with individuals’ decisions to engage in daily enacted relationship talk. Using a person-specific approach, this study also examined how individuals’ attachment insecurity predicted within-person differences in month-long processes predicted by RTT. College-aged dating partners ( N = 202, between-person) reported their attachment proclivities in a pre-test survey and subsequently reported on their relationship uncertainty and enacted relationship talk once per day over a period of 30 consecutive days ( N = 5,240, within-person). Results indicated that on days when individuals experienced elevated relationship uncertainty, they engaged in less relationship talk than they typically did. Additionally, we found that individuals with more volatility (intraindividual variability) and inertia (day-to-day carryover) in relationship uncertainty throughout the month enacted less relationship talk on average. Finally, results indicated that attachment insecurity predicted person-specific month-long processes consistent with RTT.

A longitudinal test of relational turbulence theory and serial arguments in romantic relationships

Abstract Relational turbulence theory (RTT) suggests that people perceive their romantic relationships as turbulent when they experience interactions that manifest the deleterious effects of relational uncertainty and altered patterns of interdependence. RTT also positions communication in these episodes as associated with subsequent relational uncertainty and qualities of interdependence. Using three-wave panel data collected at three-week intervals, this study evaluates (a) how communication in serial argument episodes predict relationship parameters (i.e., relational uncertainty and qualities of interdependence), (b) how relationship parameters predict serial argument occurrence, directness, and valence, and (c) whether over time variability in qualities of serial argument communication predict subsequent relational turbulence. Results indicated limited support for reciprocal, between-wave associations between relationship qualities and serial argument communication; however, over time variability in the valence of serial argument communication was associated with higher levels of relational turbulence after 6 weeks. Implications for RTT and research on serial arguments are discussed.

Interpersonal dynamics of traumatic brain injury within romantic relationships described in online forums

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can have serious consequences for people’s physical health and the quality of their romantic relationships. Less clear, however, are the interpersonal dynamics of couples navigating the aftermath of TBI. We used data scraping techniques to capture five years of posts submitted to online help-seeking forums, and we analyzed the resulting 349 single-spaced pages of data using codebook thematic analysis. Both TBI survivors and partners reported the focal themes of personality changes and relationship changes. TBI survivors emphasized a lack of understanding that led to grief and loss, relational uncertainty, and isolation. Partners reported poor treatment that culminated in negative emotions and relational uncertainty. The data showed notable similarities and differences between TBI survivors and partners. We interpret the results via four prominent theories of marriage and family relationships: ambiguous loss theory, relational turbulence theory, the theory of resilience and relational load, and family systems theory. Overall, our findings shed light on interpersonal dynamics after TBI and lay a foundation for future theoretical and clinical advances.

Relational turbulence during family transitions: a lifespan perspective and roadmap for future research

ABSTRACT This essay answers recent calls to explore the application of Relational Turbulence Theory (RTT) within family relationships (Knobloch, L. K., Solomon, D. H., Theiss, J. A., & McLaren, R. M. [2018]. Relational turbulence theory: Understanding family communication during times of change. In Engaging theories in family communication [pp. 255–266]. Routledge). Although family relationships are perceived to be contextually distinct from romantic partnerships given the perceived involuntary nature of these relationships, we argue relational turbulence manifests in family members’ relational experiences and communication processes, at multiple levels of family systems, and across various types of family transitions that evoke the experiences of relational uncertainty, interdependence processes, biased cognitions, emotional reactivity, polarizing communication, and relational turbulence among various members of the family system. In this essay, we present a roadmap for research that both integrates existing insights and suggests lines of future inquiry regarding relational turbulence in families.

Turbulence, framing, and planning among college daters: testing relational turbulence theory in a dyadic, lab study

Turbulence, framing, and planning among college daters: testing relational turbulence theory in a dyadic, lab study

The indirect effect of relational turbulence on received emotional support through dyadic synchrony

ABSTRACT Using a latent variable mediation model, we tested proposition 7 of relational turbulence theory (RTT) predicting that individuals in romantic relationships experiencing more relational turbulence would receive less emotional support from their partner because of a disruption to dyadic synchrony. A sample of 319 dating partners reported on their current relational turbulence, comfort and ease in communicating with their romantic partner, and emotional support received from their partner. Results of a structural regression model revealed a negative direct effect of relational turbulence on received emotional support and a negative indirect effect through dyadic synchrony as a mediator. Our study provided evidence of a theoretical process consistent with proposition 7 of RTT.

Facilitation and Interference from Partners During the Transition to Parenthood: A Co-Occurrence Analysis of Themes Emerging Over Time within and Between Romantic Partners

ABSTRACT Drawing on foundational assumptions of relational turbulence theory, this study identified the ways romantic partners facilitate or interfere with individual goals and routines during the transition to parenthood and analyzed how categories of facilitation and interference co-occur within individuals and between partners over time. A thematic analysis of data from a longitudinal study of 78 couples at four points during the transition to parenthood revealed four themes of partner facilitation and five themes of partner interference. Then, results of a thematic co-occurrence analysis identified 13 patterns between and across themes of interference and facilitation within individuals and between relational partners. Finally, the themes were evaluated across waves to identify patterns of change in the sources of partner facilitation and interference over time. The findings offer theoretical and methodological advancements and point to supportive strategies for successfully navigating the transition to parenthood.

Applying Relational Turbulence Theory to Parent-Child Political Conversations: The Role of (Dis)agreement About Christian Nationalism

ABSTRACT Christian nationalism, or the belief that America should be governed as a Christian country, is an influential yet fractious political philosophy. This investigation applied relational turbulence theory to understand how (dis)agreement about Christian nationalism may shape parent-child political conversations. A sample of 452 participants completed measures assessing (a) relational turbulence theory variables and (b) their and (c) their parents’ endorsement of Christian nationalism. The study’s results indicated that participants are particularly vexed when they reject Christian nationalism but their parents do not, which is associated with less frequent and more negative political conversations, as well as heightened relationship uncertainty and relational turbulence.

Testing relational turbulence theory in daily life using dynamic structural equation modeling

Abstract Using dynamic structural equation modeling (DSEM; Asparouhov et al., 2018), this study tests how partner disruptions of daily routines create a chaotic relational state through intensified emotions directed at partners, as posited by relational turbulence theory (RTT; Solomon et al., 2016). To test this affective process, individuals in dating relationships (N = 130) completed daily surveys for 30 days (T = 30; 3,478 total observations), measuring that day’s interference from their partner, anger experienced while interacting with their partner, and their relational turbulence. DSEM accounted for the intensive longitudinal aspects of the data while modeling three types of person-specific random effects: random intercepts to account for subject-specific averages; random slopes to account for subject-specific effects; and random variances to account for subject-specific volatility. RTT processes were supported, as greater than typical interference of routines in daily life predicted more relational turbulence that day via increased daily anger (controlling for the previous day’s levels). The use of DSEM allowed us to further test RTT by modeling person-specific inertia and volatility (for levels of interference, anger, and relational turbulence throughout a month). The use of a multilevel “location-scale” DSEM with random intercepts and random variances revealed that attachment avoidance and anxiety predicted a variety of person-specific features of the studied longitudinal processes: averages, inertia, and volatility over time. We provide our data and a supplemental primer to illustrate how to test communication theory with DSEM and model the intensive dynamics of daily life.

NAVIGATING THE CHALLENGES OF RETIREMENT TRANSITIONS FOR COUPLES IN ARAB SOCIETY

Abstract Retirement marks the beginning of the third age and is considered one of the most significant transitions in the later stages of life In the aging process, individuals and couples must adapt to many changes that affect their lifestyle and marital relationships. This study investigates post-retirement couples’ dynamics in Arab society, focusing on Relational Turbulence Theory (RTT) and its correlation with marital satisfaction and intimacy. Data from 106 retired couples (average male age = 70.3, female age = 65.1) reveal RTT’s relevance in explaining relationship uncertainty and interdependence during transitions. Using Confirmatory Factor Analysis, psychometric properties are validated, and gender equivalence is established. Actor-Partner Interdependence Modeling demonstrates that self-uncertainty, partner uncertainty, relationship uncertainty, interference, and facilitation significantly predict marital quality and intimacy. Partners’ impact is crucial. emphasizing how a partner’s experiences influence marital outcomes. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the complexities of post-retirement relationships in Arab society. The main theoretical contribution of the current study will be linking gerontology and couple dynamics in the context of the Arab society in Israel, which is an ethnic minority group and a traditional society in transition (modernization). the Practical implications of this study are helping professionals understand the factors that affect the quality of a couple’s relationship after retirement. This understanding will help professionals to provide adequate interventions for couples pre and postretirement, furthermore, the study’s findings will contribute to developing retirement planning interventions and culturally sensitive intervention programs for couples from the Arab society in Israel postretirement.

Relational turbulence and couples’ convergence and divergence in weekly highs and lows during three months of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown

Previous research has found relational benefits of interpersonal emotional convergence. Drawing on relational turbulence theory, we expected that partners’ convergence in emotional high and low points is associated with relational uncertainty, qualities of interdependence, and relational turbulence. These hypotheses were tested using data retrieved from a longitudinal project in which spouses in 64 American married couples independently reported high and low experiences and completed relationship measures every week for ten weeks from June to August of 2020. Results from multilevel models confirmed some of the hypothesized benefits of convergence in highs, but predictions about convergence in lows were largely unsupported. The findings suggest that dyadic emotion is an antecedent of relational turbulence processes and highlight the importance of sharing positive experiences for maintaining relationship health.

The Spillover of Parenting Stress Onto Marital Qualities and Communication During Parenting Disagreements: A Relational Turbulence Theory Perspective

ABSTRACT This study engages relational turbulence theory to examine relationship functioning and communication among parents of teenagers. The hypotheses assessed associations between relational uncertainty and disrupted interdependence, and communication during conflict episodes related to childrearing, and considered parenting stress and coparenting alliance as antecedents of relationship parameters. Married, parents of teen children (n = 349) reported their relationship experiences, parenting stress, and coparenting alliance. Then, parents recalled a recent disagreement with their spouse related to their teen and reported their communication tactics during the conversation. The results suggested that parenting stress was positively associated with relational uncertainty and interference from a partner, which in turn, predicted more negative conflict communication. Coparenting alliance was negatively associated with relational uncertainty and partner interference, and positively associated with facilitation from a partner. Parenting stress attenuated the relationship between coparenting alliance and relationship parameters. Implications for relational turbulence theory, family scholars, and parents of teens are discussed.

Linking stress to the emergence of relational turbulence in marriage

AbstractThe assumption that stress negatively impacts marital relationships is widely accepted; however, the majority of research has focused on marital satisfaction as the outcome of interest. Relational turbulence is a quality of romantic associations on par with—but distinct from—satisfaction, in which partners conceptualize their relationship as chaotic or tumultuous. This paper draws on relational turbulence theory (RTT) and stress spillover research to propose that day‐to‐day stress corresponds with perceptions of relational uncertainty and interdependence, which contributes to increases in relational turbulence. We evaluated these assumptions using data from 64 heterosexual married partners who experienced work‐related disruptions due to the COVID‐19 pandemic. Spouses completed a pre‐test survey, 10 weekly surveys, and a post‐test survey over 12 weeks from June to August 2020. Results from longitudinal actor‐partner interdependence models indicated that (a) wives' weekly stress corresponded positively with their own partner uncertainty, relationship uncertainty, and perceptions of partner interference, and (b) the magnitude of wives' stress spillover and husbands' change in relational turbulence were positively associated. Implications for RTT and research on stress spillover are discussed.

Applying relational turbulence theory to examine partner (under)accommodation during conversations about relational stressors

AbstractUtilizing the prepositions of relational turbulence theory (RTT), the present study proposes that relational uncertainty and partner interference assessed before the conversation about a relational stressor may polarize perceptions of partner (under)accommodation during the conversation, and those perceptions may further associate with global evaluations of relationships as turbulent measured post conversation. Fifty heterosexual couples (100 individuals) participated in the pre‐survey, lab visit, and post‐survey. Findings uncovered that for men, perceptions of partner (under)accommodation mediated the association between relational uncertainty and relational turbulence, and perceptions of partner accommodation mediated the association between partner interference and relational turbulence. Further, for women, perceptions of partner underaccommodation mediated the association between relational partner interference and relational turbulence. The results extend the utility of RTT in examining perceptions of partners' (under)accommodative behaviors during conversations about relational stressors.

“Do you need a green card or something?” Romantic relationships, citizenship, and stigmatizing communication

ABSTRACT Citizen/Non-citizen (CN) romantic relationships are common in American society and media. However, few studies have explored the experiences of individuals in such relationships. This study examines CN partners’ social experiences relating to stigma and citizenship status. Through 15 semi-structured interviews, findings revealed that many CN partners experience “green card marriage” stigma, in which foreign partners are thought to be with the citizen for the sole purpose of immigration benefits. Many participants were aware of this stigma and attempted to debunk it. Lastly, political rhetoric and policy changes put many CN couples in a vulnerable position, which induced fear and uncertainty. This study integrates relational turbulence theory and stigma management communication theory and provides initial understanding of this under-researched community.

Making sense of changes in military partners’ post-deployment adjustment concern: Turning points, trajectories, and accounts

Reintegration after a military service member returns home from deployment is a time of uncertainty that requires adjustment by all family members. Building on accounts (i.e., story-like constructions that help make sense of stressful events) scholarship, this study documents (a) turning points (TPs) and (b) patterns in partners’ levels of concern about post-deployment adjustment and investigates (c) how romantic partners account for why changes in adjustment concern occurred. Findings from interviews with 26 military partners reveal that accounts (a) involve multifaceted explanations spanning many domains of life, (b) explain why certain TPs increased and/or decreased concern, and (c) engage the meaning of time in varied ways. The importance of integrating an account-making framework with the TP methodology, theoretical implications for relational turbulence theory, and practical suggestions are discussed.

Needing Space During Lockdown: A Test of Relational Turbulence Theory in the Context of Conversations About Physical and Emotional Space During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic upended home life for couples across the globe. Many couples faced increased relational uncertainty and interference from a partner as a result of stay at home and lockdown orders. This study uses relational turbulence theory to examine how (a) relational uncertainty and (b) partner interdependence are associated with cognitions and emotions about needing space conversations with a partner. We examine links between perceptions of needing space conversations and relational turbulence. In the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, 609 adults in a romantic relationship from 29 countries completed an online survey. Relationship uncertainty was negatively associated with relational cognitions (i.e., solidarity and intimacy), and interference from a partner was associated with more intense hopeful feelings about needing space conversations. Relational cognitions were associated with reduced relational turbulence, and hope was associated with higher relational turbulence. Theoretical implications for relational turbulence theory and practical implications for couples are discussed.

“Some days are much holier than others”: Relational uncertainty and partner influence in Christian dating couples' sexual intimacy negotiation

AbstractWhen intrafaith couples' religion strictly prohibits premarital sexual intercourse, negotiating sexual intimacy can become a multilayered process of identity negotiation that compounds the difficulty of sexual communication. Through the lens of relational turbulence theory, this study explored how devout Christian couples negotiate sexual intimacy by reanalyzing qualitative interview data the first author collected in 2017 from 16 self‐identified Christians (8 heterosexual couples). Seven themes revealed how relational uncertainty, partner interference, and partner facilitation manifested in the context of sexual intimacy negotiation. Themes of relational uncertainty experience and prevention included assumption of shared values, relationship talk, and sexual behaviors as an uncertainty catalyst. Partner facilitation and interference emerged as themes of sexual escalation and de‐escalation including snowball effect, pinpointing underlying motivations for boundary violations, gatekeeping sexual temptation, and drawing from shared values of sacrifice and prayer. These interpretive findings advance the literature on relational turbulence theory and provide Christian dating couples with practical advice for how to negotiate sexual intimacy in committed premarital relationships.

Dyadic processes of relational turbulence theory

AbstractThis study tested dyadic processes of relational turbulence theory (RTT) in heterosexual marriages. We tested propositions 1, 2, and 5 of RTT, which propose that uncertainty about the marriage biases cognitive appraisals, and that interference from a partner heightens negative emotions, both of which culminate in relational turbulence for spouses. Guided by these propositions, husbands' and wives' (N = 510; 255 marital dyads) dyadic cognitive and emotional processes were estimated using the actor‐partner interdependence mediation model. Consistent with theoretical propositions, we found evidence for actor‐actor indirect effects; for both husbands and wives (a) the effect of spouses' relationship uncertainty on their own relational turbulence was mediated by their own biased cognitive appraisals, and (b) the effect of spouses' experienced interference on their own relational turbulence was mediated by their own anger from communicating in the marriage. However, controlling for actor‐actor indirect effects, partner‐defined processes (i.e., actor‐partner and partner‐actor indirect effects) uniquely explained husbands' and wives' relational turbulence.

A Repeated-Measures Study of Relational Turbulence and Transition Processing Communication During the Summer of COVID-19 (Summer 2020)

Drawing upon relational turbulence theory and the experiencing life transitions model, this study examined communication and relationship qualities as married couples experienced work-family changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sixty-four American married, different-sex partners affected by job-related changes due to COVID-19 reported their relationship qualities and their own and their spouse’s engagement in transition processing communication weekly for 10 weeks. Hypotheses addressed associations between relationship qualities and communication experiences both averaged across the 10 weeks and indexed by within-week deviations from those averages, controlling for the previous week’s reports. Husbands’ and wives’ own attempts—and also their perceptions of their spouse’s attempts—to increase interaction, promote connection, promote feeling situated, and increase confidence were associated with decreased relationship uncertainty and improved interdependence. Husbands’ self-reported relationship qualities demonstrated the strongest associations with averaged reports of relationship-focused communication, whereas wives’ relational qualities were more strongly associated with week-to-week fluctuations in relationship-focused communication.