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Relationship Functioning (relationship + functioning)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences40%

Selected Abstracts

The Computerized MacArthur Story Stem Battery , a pilot study of a novel medium for assessing children's representations of relationships

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue 4 2006
Helen Minnis
Abstract Story stem measures allow the assessment of children's representations of relationship functioning, but are expensive and time-consuming to administer. We developed a computerized story stem measure which does not require specific training for administrators and which allows the child to produce their own animated, narrated story completion. This paper describes, firstly, the reliability of the Computerized MacArthur Story Stem Battery (CMSSB) and, secondly, a preliminary comparison of children in foster care and school controls on narrative coherence, intentionality and avoidance. The CMSSB showed good inter-rater reliability. A group of children in foster care showed significantly poorer coherence of narrative, less intentionality and greater avoidance on the CMSSB compared to a school comparison group. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Differential parenting and sibling jealousy: Developmental correlates of young adults' romantic relationships

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, Issue 4 2007
AMY J. RAUER
Data from a survey of 200 young adults assessed whether the early nonshared environment, specifically parental differential treatment, was associated with romantic relationship distress through its effects on sibling jealousy, attachment styles, and self-esteem. Individuals who received equal affection from their parents in comparison to their sibling reported equal jealousy between themselves and their sibling, had higher self-esteem, more secure attachment styles, and less romantic relationship distress. Receiving differential parental affection, regardless of whether the participant or their sibling was favored, was associated with more negative models of self and others, which in turn were associated with greater romantic relationship distress. Results indicate that early within-family experiences may be particularly relevant for later healthy romantic relationship functioning. [source]

Creating Mr. Right and Ms. Right: Interpersonal ideals and personal change in newlyweds

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, Issue 4 2000
ANN P. RUVOLO
Based on research on exchanging information during conflict (e.g., Levinger, 1983) and the energizing effects of negative feelings (e.g., Lewin, 1951; Gottman & Krokoff, 1989), this study explores circumstances in which individuals change, over the years, in fulfillment of their spouses'unmet ideals for them. In a longitudinal study of over 200 African American newlywed couples and White newlywed couples, respondents'ratings were combined to form an index of individuals'change in fulfillment of their partners'initially unmet ideals for them. Predictions were that individuals would change more when they listen and try to understand their partners'feelings during conflict or when they have negative feelings about the functioning of the relationship. Results were that high openness to information exchange during conflict predicted high change for White husbands, White wives, and African American wives, and negative feelings about relationship functioning predicted high change for White wives, African American wives, and African American husbands. [source]

The link between sociotropy/autonomy and dimensions of relationship commitment: Evidence from gay and lesbian couples

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, Issue 2 2000
LAWRENCE A. KURDEK
The tendency to be excessively concerned about either interpersonal relationships (sociotropy) or self-reliance (autonomy) has been regarded as increasing one's susceptibility to experience symptoms of depression. In this study, both one's own and one's partner's scores for each tendency were linked to two dimensions of one's own appraisal of relationship commitment (attractions to the relationship and constraints against leaving the relationship) in a sample of both partners from 29 gay and 35 lesbian cohabiting couples. One's own high autonomy was linked to perceiving few attractions to the relationship, whereas one's own high sociotropy was linked to perceiving many constraints to leaving the relationship under two conditions: when one's partner's sociotropy was low or when one regarded the partner as highly dependable. Findings support the view that individual differences variables may serve as either risk factors for or protective factors against difficulties in maintaining a close relationship and underscore the need to examine cross-partner effects and moderating effects in identifying the individual differences variables linked to relationship functioning. [source]

The Course and Quality of Intimate Relationships Among Psychologically Distressed Mothers

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ORTHOPSYCHIATRY, Issue 1 2010
Lauren M. Papp
The longitudinal course and quality of intimate relationships were tested in relation to maternal depressive symptoms in a sample of 1,275 families from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. Assessments of mothers' intimate relationship status, intimate relationship quality, and depressive symptoms were obtained on 11 occasions from the birth of a child through age 15. Consistent with predictions, results from hierarchical linear models indicated that maternal depressive symptoms over time were associated with a lower probability of being married and lower levels of relationship quality. The strength of the association between relationship quality and depression was stronger than the linkage between relationship course and depression. Sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., mother age, child gender, ethnicity) were more predictive of trajectories of relationship course than relationship quality. Findings are discussed in terms of efforts to prevent and treat the longitudinal interplay between poor intimate relationship functioning and partners' psychopathology and its implications for the overall health and well-being of parents, couples, and children. [source]