Adult Relationship Quality Research Articles

Emotional Regulation and Revictimization in Women's Intimate Relationships.

The aim of the current study was to test whether women's emotional regulation (ER) capacity moderates the relationship between childhood abuse and both adult intimate partner violence (IPV) and relationship quality. Female graduate students (N = 425), either married or in a long-term cohabitation, participated in an Internet-based survey. Structural equation model (SEM) multiple-group analysis was conducted to estimate whether the link between childhood abuse and marital outcomes varied across high and low levels of ER. The data showed that childhood abuse was associated with higher levels of IPV and lower marital quality. A high level of ER was found to buffer the association between child abuse and IPV. Among women with a low level of ER, childhood abuse had a stronger negative effect on relationship quality than for women with a high level of ER. ER is a protective factor against revictimization in intimate relationships.

Factors linking childhood experiences to adult romantic relationships among African Americans.

It is well known that a high-quality relationship with a romantic partner is related to a variety of positive outcomes associated with health and well-being. Establishing such relationships is an important developmental task for young adults, and past research indicates that there is a link between experiences in the family of origin and the success of later intimate relationships. It has been suggested that this association can be explained by the acquisition of social competencies (e.g., emotions, schemas, traits) that are acquired during childhood in the family of origin and, in turn, influence interaction with adult romantic partners. The current study builds on this foundation by identifying particular competencies expected to explain the association between childhood exposure to supportive and harsh parenting and later patterns of interaction with romantic partners. Specifically, we examine anger management, attachment style, hostile attribution bias, and self-control as potential mediators using prospective, longitudinal data from a sample of 345 African American young adults. Results from structural equation modeling indicate that each of the mediators in our study accounts for a significant portion of the effect of parenting on the quality of adult romantic relationships, although the constructs linking parenting to warm interactions with romantic partners are somewhat different from those that link parenting to hostile interactions with romantic partners. Even after accounting for the effect of the mediators, there is still a direct effect of parenting on both warm/loving and hostile/aggressive interactions with romantic partner. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Predictors of Heterosexual Siblings’ Acceptance of Their Lesbian Sister or Gay Brother

Research has shown that lesbian and gay (LG) individuals are coming out not only to their parents, but also to their siblings. Eighty percent of individuals in the United States are raised with one or more siblings; however, researchers have frequently underestimated the importance of the sibling bond. This study examined potential correlates of heterosexual siblings’ acceptance of their LG sister or brother using an online survey format (N = 189). In addition, psychometric properties for the Acceptance of Sibling Sexual Orientation Scale are provided. Results revealed that greater sibling relationship quality in adulthood, more contact with LG individuals, greater knowledge of LG communities, more support for LG civil rights, and various demographics (being female, having higher educational levels, not having an orthodox/fundamentalist religious orientation, less church attendance, and more liberal political ideology) are related to heterosexual siblings’ acceptance of their LG sister or brother. However, when these variables were examined together in a regression model, only sibling relationship in adulthood, contact with LG individuals, support for LG civil rights, and religious attendance were significant unique predictors of acceptance.

Paths to Intimate Relationship Quality From Parent–Adolescent Relations and Mental Health

Using a developmental systems perspective and public‐use longitudinal data from participants currently in a romantic relationship at Wave 4 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (n = 2,970), the current study explored direct and indirect paths from parent–adolescent relationship quality to young adult intimate relationship quality. Structural equation modeling tested whether mental health (depressive symptoms and self‐esteem) in the transition to adulthood mediated the association between parent–adolescent relations and young adult intimate relations. The results indicated that higher quality parent–adolescent relations predicted higher self‐esteem and lower depressive symptoms during the transition to adulthood as well as higher young adult intimate relationship quality, controlling for adolescent mental health and parent–young adult relationship quality. Higher self‐esteem during the transition to adulthood was associated with greater intimate relationship quality, whereas greater depressive symptomatology predicted reduced intimate relationship quality. One significant indirect path emerged: parent–adolescent relationship quality → self‐esteem → intimate relationship quality.

How is time perspective related to perceptions of self and of interpersonal relationships?

Previous research has revealed a positive association between balanced time perspective (BTP) and subjective well-being (Boniwell & Zimbardo, 2004), however mechanisms underlying BTP are yet to be determined. The goal of the present study was to examine the contributions of personality and quality of interpersonal relationships in the development of BTP. Additionally, the correlations between these measures and time perspective dimensions were evaluated as an attempt to provide further psychometric properties of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI) in a Turkish sample. 178 undergraduates filled out a survey that included the ZTPI and measures that assessed personality characteristics, and quality of parent, peer, and adult relationships. Results showed that deviation from BTP was positively associated with romantic anxiety (r = .41, p < .001), romantic avoidance (r = .33, p < .001), and neuroticism (r = .49, p < .001) but negatively associated with self-esteem (r = -.50, p < .001) and security of the mother (r = -.38, p < .001), father (r = -.37, p < .001) and peer (r = -.27, p < .001) attachment. When personality and attachment measures were employed in a regression analysis, father attachment, romantic anxiety, self-esteem, and neuroticism were found to be significant predictors of the deviation from BTP scores (adjusted R 2 = .39, f 2 = .75). Finally, the inter-correlations of the ZTPI dimensions and their correlations with the personality and attachment measures provided additional support for the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the ZTPI. These findings imply that positive perceptions of self and of interpersonal relationships are crucial in the development of BTP.

Unique Influences on American Indian Relationship Quality: An American-Indian and Caucasian Comparison

We compare American Indians and Caucasians on the influence of family-of-origin quality on the adult-children’s later romantic relationship quality. Using data from the RELATE, 341 American Indians and 341 Caucasian participants were analyzed using group comparison methods. Structural equation modeling demonstrated that, overall, the perceived impact of family-of-origin mediated the significant influence of family-of-origin on later adult romantic relationship stability and satisfaction. However, for American Indians, the quality of the father-child relationship did not directly or indirectly influence the child’s later adult relationship quality. Still, a large portion of the father-child and mother-child relationship and quality of the parent’s marriage explains a large portion of the variance of the child’s overall perception of the impact of his or her family. Additionally, group comparison methods demonstrated that American Indians generally reported lower values on family-of-origin quality measures and relationship stability. However, they had comparable relationship satisfaction and father-child relationship quality ratings. Findings suggest that historical trauma and collectivistic cultural patterns may at least partially explain these observations. Several suggestions are made to guide interventions for American Indian families.

The long reach of childhood. Childhood experiences influence close relationships and loneliness across life

This paper intends to gain insight into the role of childhood relationships and experiences within the parental home for the formation and meaning of later family relationships and loneliness. Particularly, childhood attachment to mother and father and stressful childhood experiences were studied in their association with satisfaction in the romantic relationship, the quality of adult family ties and the perceived quality of the social network, i.e. loneliness in adulthood. Based on data from the Netherlands Kinship Panel Study (N=3980) structural equation models were estimated to predict adult relationships and loneliness with childhood experiences. Positive attachment experiences with parents, such as reliability, closeness and supportiveness during childhood were associated with greater satisfaction in the romantic relationship, stronger family ties and less loneliness, whereas stressful childhood experiences, such as conflicts and violence negatively predicted the quality of adult relationships. Life span theoretical perspectives, such as attachment theory are discussed as useful unifying framework to study social relationships, their interconnectedness and association with outcome during all phases of life.

Antecedents and Outcomes of Joint Trajectories of Mother–Son Conflict and Warmth During Middle Childhood and Adolescence

This study investigated the development of mother-son relationship quality from ages 5 to 15 in a sample of 265 low-income families. Nonparametric random effects modeling was utilized to uncover distinct and homogeneous developmental trajectories of conflict and warmth; antecedents and outcomes of the trajectory groups also were examined. Four conflict trajectory groups and 3 warmth trajectory groups were identified. Difficult temperament in early childhood discriminated both conflict and warmth trajectory group membership (TGM), and adult relationship quality in early childhood was related to warmth trajectories. In addition, conflict TGM differentiated youth antisocial behavior during adolescence, and warmth trajectories predicted adolescent peer relationship quality and youth moral disengagement. Implications for socialization processes are discussed.

Development of the Parent Adult Relationship Questionnaire (PARQ)

Relationships between adults and parents are characterized by positive and negative qualities. Existing measures of relationship qualities and ambivalence often rely on items that are unbalanced in number of positive and negative items, emotional tone, or missing negative items completely. Three studies established validity (construct, convergent, discriminant) and reliability (internal consistency, test-retest) for the Parent Adult Relationship Quality (PARQ) scale. Study 1 found high internal consistency and test-retest correlations among undergraduates. Study 2 found associations with measures of positive relationship quality and high test-retest correlations using a sample of parents. Study 3 established convergent and discriminant validity with other measures of relationship quality, including an observational measure. The PARQ is a succinct measure that captures positive and negative aspects of support and interactions in relationships between adults and their parents.

Natural Mentoring Processes Deter Externalizing Problems Among Rural African American Emerging Adults: A Prospective Analysis

A 3-wave model linking natural mentoring relationships to externalizing behavior was tested with 345 rural African American emerging adults in their final year of high school. Structural equation models were executed linking multi-informant reports of mentor-emerging adult relationship quality with youths' externalizing behavior 18 months later. Consistent with our primary hypotheses, emerging adults whose relationships with their natural mentors were characterized by instrumental and emotional support and affectively positive interactions reported lower levels of anger, rule-breaking behavior, and aggression. These effects emerged independent of the influences of family support and youth gender. Two intrapersonal processes, a future orientation and self-regulation, emerged as mediators of the influence of natural mentoring relationships. The influence of natural mentors was most pronounced for emerging adults experiencing high levels of life stress.

Family-of-Origin, Differentiation of Self and Partner, and Adult Romantic Relationship Quality

Bowen's family systems theory posits the importance of differentiation of self for functioning in adult romantic/marital relationships. His theory suggests that adults enter into marriages and marriage-like relationships with a basic level of differentiation of self developed largely in the parental home and this level of differentiation affects relationship quality. However, there has been limited research on these propositions. Therefore, we examine these ideas by hypothesizing that (a) a complex relationship exists between family-of-origin variables as they influence adult romantic relationship quality, (b) differentiation from negative family-of-origin processes is one means whereby the past carries forward into the present, (c) there is a actor-partner effect of differentiation of self on each partner's relationship quality, and (d) that gender differences are expected. We tested an SEM model with data from the RELATionship Evaluation (RELATE) (N = 1,839 couples). Results support the hypotheses and suggest the usefulness of Bowen's theory for understanding how family-of-origin processes from both partners carry forward via differentiation of self into adult relationship quality. Therapeutic implications and research needs are articulated.

Long-term impact of parental divorce on intimate relationship quality in adulthood and the mediating role of psychosocial resources.

The purpose of this 16-year prospective follow-up study was to investigate the association between parental divorce in childhood and intimate relationship quality in adulthood. The mediating role of psychosocial resources (parent-child relationships at 16 years, self-esteem and social support at 32 years) in this association was also studied. All 16 year olds of one Finnish city completed questionnaires at school and were followed up by postal questionnaires at 32 years of age (n = 1,471). Results showed that women and men from divorced families were more often divorced or separated at the age of 32 years than those from nondivorced families. However, parental divorce was associated with poorer intimate relationship quality only among women. Women from divorced families also had poorer relationships with their father and mother in adolescence, and they had lower self-esteem and satisfaction with social support in adulthood than women from intact families. No such associations were found among men. The impact of parental divorce on intimate relationship quality among women was partially mediated by mother-daughter relationship, self-esteem, and satisfaction with social support. The mediating role of mother-daughter relationship was not direct, however, but was mediated via self-esteem and satisfaction with social support. Our findings indicate that parental divorce affects daughters more than sons. In the context of parental divorce, the mother-daughter relationship in adolescence is important for the development of later psychosocial resources and, via them, for intimate relationship quality.

Family ties in tough times: How young adults and their parents view the U.S. economic crisis.

The present intergenerational study examined the perceived impact of the recent U.S. economic crisis on a sample of 68 young adult-parent dyads. The relative contribution of perceived economic pressure, reports of adult child-parent relationship quality, and concerns about the economic future in accounting for variation in self-reports of psychological distress for adult children and their middle-aged parents were examined. Parents' concerns about their children's economic future accounted for variation in their reports of anxiety and depressed mood above and beyond that of perceived economic pressures and their views of the parent-child relationship. In contrast, for young adults, reports of personal economic pressure were generally related to self-reported anxiety and depressed mood. Implications of findings for research and practice are discussed.

A Note From the Guest Coordinator

Many are familiar with the financial ruin the recent recession effected: U.S. unemployment above 10%, foreclosure rates at all time highs, and multitrillion dollar investment and home equity losses. Behind the easily calculated financial costs of the recession, though, are costs that are less easily defined - the individual and family costs. For example, home foreclosures likely exacerbated stress for many families. Unemployment probably took its toll on cohabiting and married couples' relationship quality. Finally, as older individuals watched retirement savings dwindle, many may have postponed retirement - some perhaps indefinitely. These ideas are speculative, though, because despite financial issues' potential to influence family life and relationships, family scholars have studied them less than other topics. Zelizer (1994, p. 43) noted, In terms of evidence, to study money in the family is to enter largely uncharted territory. . . . We know less about money matters than about family violence or even marital sex. A decade later, DaIy (2003, p. 778) asserted, have given less attention to understanding how spending behaviors and consumer goods are the basis for the construction of meaning in the everyday experience of family life. Recent scholarship has made similar assertions (Stanley & Einhorn, 2007). These assertions are borne out when examined empirically. A review of 3,400 studies in Family Relations and the Journal of Marriage and Family from 1 980 to 2005 found only 91 articles with a main focus on finances and families; only 9 of those dealt with family relationships (Israelsen & Hatch, 2005). Thus, only 2.6% of these studies examined financial issues within the family context and only 0.2% examined how financial issues were associated with family relationships. Consequently, two research goals regarding the finance-family research gap guided this special issue. The first goal was to publish top quality papers examining how families dealt with financial difficulties. The studies we received in response were novel and timely. Two examples are a study that examined whether the recession pulled more wives into the labor force (Mattingly & Smith, 2010) and another that examined the predictors of using savings or consumer debt during a shortfall in income (Baek & DeVaney, 2010). The studies in this category provide insight into how families have dealt with (and are still dealing with) the effects of the recession. The second research goal was to more broadly stimulate scholarship regarding the association between financial issues and family relations. These broader studies showed that financial issues were associated with adult relationship quality and parent-child relationships. For example, one study demonstrated that pooling financial resources was associated with higher marital quality for wives than for husbands (Addo & Sassler, 2010). Two others explored parental influence on the financial behavior of young adult offspring (Jorgensen & Savia, 2010; Serido, Shim, Mishar, & Tang, 2010). We hope that this special issue might become one of many watershed moments where the discipline of family studies recognizes how central financial issues are to families and to family functioning. Although it already accomplished its two main goals, this issue will be even more successful if it continues to spark research on the ways that financial issues and family relationships intertwine. …

Negative childhood experiences and adult love relationships: The role of internal working models of attachment

This study investigated links between internal working models of attachment and the quality of adult love relationships in a high risk sample of women (n = 34), all of whom reported negative parenting in childhood. Half of the sample was identified as having a history of satisfying adult love relationships, while the remainder had experienced ongoing adult relationship problems. Measures of internal working models of attachment were made using the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI). A strong association was found between attachment classifications and the quality of adult love relationships. In addition, women with satisfying love relationships demonstrated significantly higher coherence of mind ratings than those with poor relationship histories. Insecure working models of attachment were associated with problems in adult love relationships. Although secure/autonomous attachment status was linked to optimal adult relationship outcomes, some women with a history of satisfying love relationships had insecure working models of attachment. These results suggest that the ways that adults process early experiences may influence later psychosocial functioning.

The Impact of Late-Life Parental Death on Adult Sibling Relationships

The authors examined whether the effect of parental death on adults siblings' relationship quality varies on the basis of the presence and perceived effectiveness of a deceased parent's formal preparations for end-of-life care. The authors used data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study and focused on the relationship quality of a bereaved adult child and his or her randomly selected sibling. Parental death was associated with a decrease in sibling closeness. The parent's use of advance directives (living will and durable power of attorney for health care) did not have uniformly positive effects on adult siblings' relationship quality. Sibling relationships suffered when the living will was believed to "cause problems," but relationships improved when the deceased parent named someone other than his or her spouse or a child as durable power of attorney for health care. The authors discuss the implications for developing effective end-of-life preparations that benefit both the decedent and surviving kin.

Childhood Sexual Abuse, Other Childhood Factors, and Pathways to Survivors’ Adult Relationship Quality

We were interested in understanding how the effects of childhood sexual abuse, in concert with other negative childhood experiences, were carried forward into adult romantic relationships. Data from 15,831 married or cohabitating individuals were gathered via the RELATE Questionnaire. Empirical research, attachment theory, and a general model of adult relationship quality suggested that the path from negative childhood events to adult relationship quality was mediated by a number of individual and relational affect-laden variables. Results showed that childhood abuse and other family-of-origin variables work primarily through the adult survivor’s perceptions of the events of his or her childhood. This “current impact” variable, along with the current level of depression, work through an emotion-laden relationship variable—level of emotional flooding during couple conflict—to influence the relationship quality outcome variable. Treatment implications are discussed.

Parental Divorce and Sibling Relationships

This study examines long-term effects of parental divorce on sibling relationships in adulthood and the role of predivorce parental conflict. It used large-scale retrospective data from the Netherlands that contain reports from both siblings of the sibling dyad. Results show limited effects of parental divorce on sibling contact and relationship quality in adulthood but strong effects on sibling conflict. The greater conflict among siblings from divorced families is explained by the greater parental conflict in these families. Parental conflict is a far more important predictor than parental divorce per se. Siblings from high-conflict families have less contact, lower relationship quality, and more conflict than do siblings from low-conflict families. Finally, when it comes to sibling relationship quality, the effect of parental divorce depends on the amount of parental conflict. Parental divorce has little effect on the quality of the relationship in low-conflict families, but it improves the relationship in high-conflict families.

The Intergenerational Transmission of Relationship Quality

Using a social learning perspective and the spillover assumption of the family systems perspective, the current study sought to examine the assumptions that remarriage quality is potentially a stronger predictor of adult children's later relationship attitudes, behaviors, and quality than the parents' first marriage. A total of 513 young adults completed a questionnaire regarding the quality of their parents' marital relationships and various aspects of their own committed relationships. Although quality of parents' first marriage predicted aspects of adult children's current committed relationships, for children whose parents remarried, results suggested that parental remarriage quality has more influence on current relational dimensions than the quality of their parents' first marriage. For adult children's intimate relationships, a parental remarriage may provide the more current model of marital interactions and may carry the greater potential for influence.

Resilience to adult psychopathology following childhood maltreatment: Evidence from a community sample

Objective Child abuse is an important risk for adult psychiatric morbidity. However, not all maltreated children experience mental health problems as adults. The aims of the present study were to address the extent of resilience to adult psychopathology in a representative community sample, and to explore predictors of a good prognosis. Methods Data are drawn from a follow-up of the Isle of Wight study, an epidemiological sample assessed in adolescence and at midlife. Ratings of psychiatric disorder, peer relationships and family functioning were made in adolescence; adult assessments included a lifetime psychiatric history, personality and social functioning assessments, and retrospective reports of childhood sexual and physical abuse. Results Ten percent of individuals reported repeated or severe physical or sexual abuse in childhood. Prospective measures revealed increased rates of adolescent psychiatric disorders in this group. Rates of adult psychopathology were also high. A substantial minority of abused individuals reported no mental health problems in adult life. Resilience of this kind was related to perceived parental care, adolescent peer relationships, the quality of adult love relationships, and personality style. Conclusion Good quality relationships across childhood, adolescence and adulthood appear especially important for adult psychological well being in the context of childhood abuse.