Interpersona (E-Journal - PsychOpen)
Not a member yet
321 research outputs found
Sort by
Communication Modes During Romantic Dissolution: The Impact of Attachment and Intimacy on Initiator Breakup Strategies
A majority of romantic pair-bonds will not remain together. Surprisingly, however, less is known about relationship dissolution compared with other stages of romantic relationships, such as initiation and maintenance. The present study addresses this gap by investigating breakup initiators’ communication strategies as outcomes for the individual’s attachment style and the emotional intimacy of a recent terminated romantic relationship. Participants (N = 174) completed a series of empirically reliable and valid Likert-scale measures to assess both predictors: (a) adult attachment and (b) emotional intimacy. Emotional intimacy was a significant predictor of each of the four breakup communication strategies, and adult attachment style – particularly attachment anxiety - was significantly related to specific communication strategies, primarily those related to openness. This researcher concluded that emotional intimacy better predictors of breakup communication strategy compared with attachment style. Limitations and a general discussion or summary of findings are provided, followed by some suggestions for future research
Hitting the Bull’s Eye: Attachment Representations and the Organization of Social Networks
Hazan and Zeifman were the first to explore Bowlby’s proposition that adults would organize their attachment relationships into a hierarchy and since then considerable research has explored both the structure and function of attachment hierarchies using different methodologies. In this study, previous findings establishing an association between attachment and networks were replicated and the associations between network members were explored. First, consistent with expectations, the findings provided additional evidence that romantic partners do not necessarily jump to the top of the hierarchy and young adults continue to place parents, in particular mothers, at the top of their hierarchy. Consistent with previous work, security was associated with placing others closer to the self and attachment avoidance was associated with placing others farther from the self on an electronic bull’s eye. Furthermore, to date, this is the first study to examine the association between attachment representations and the organization of network members. Interestingly, security was associated with placing network members closer to each other and attachment avoidance was associated with placing network members farther from each other. This finding suggests that individuals with high attachment security may be more motivated to allow members of their social networks to mingle whereas individuals with high attachment avoidance scores seemed to be motivated to keep their network members at a distance. The results of this study extend our understanding how attachment representations may influence the organization of our social networks
Psychometric Properties and Validity of Dyadic Coping Inventory-Urdu Version for Use in Pakistan
For married individuals living in Pakistan, stress within their relationship has emerged as a major source of marital conflicts and even relationship dissolution. However, research based on the systemic transactional model of dyadic coping (DC) suggests partners’ use of coping strategies may help in buffering these devastating effects of stress. The original German version of the Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI) is a widely used self-report measure that has been translated in various languages, however, has not been validated for use with individuals living in Pakistan who speak Urdu. The purpose of the present study was to translate and validate the DCI into Urdu for use with married individuals living in Pakistan. Data were collected from 538 Pakistani married adults. Findings supported the original factor structure of the German and English version of the DCI. As such, results supported the 33-items DCI-Urdu as a valid and reliable measure to assess DC behaviors in Pakistani married individuals. Further, convergent and discriminant validity and measurement invariance (MI) across gender for the DCI-Urdu were consistent with that of DCI-English. A validated measure of the DCI in Urdu provides new directions for researchers and clinicians working with couples in Pakistan
The Relationship Between Family Socialization Styles and Ambivalent Sexism in Adolescence
The aims of the present study are to identify the role that family socialisation styles play in ambivalent sexism and whether differences in sexism can be attributed to gender. We used a sample of 207 adolescents (56.5% girls), all of whom attended state schools and were aged between 14 and 18 years old, with an average age of 16.2 (SD = 1.7). The instruments used were the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI) consisting of two factors – hostile sexism and benevolent sexism – and the Family Socialization Scale (SOC-30) made up of four subscales: support, punishment/coercion, overprotection/control, and reprobation. The results show that boys presented higher levels of ambivalent sexism than girls and the reprobation of adolescents was the family socialization type that had the strongest associations with ambivalent sexism scales in both genders. The data suggest that family socialisation dynamics play an important role in the acquisition and retention of sexist attitudes
Features of the Role Structure and Relationships in Korean and Russian Couples
The modern world leads to collapse of the marriage institution. It causes a lot of problems. One of them raises the question of how ethnic culture preserves the relationships in married couples within traditional framework if these couples live in a different national cultural; environment. Both Russian and Korean are collectivism cultures. However, in Russia individualism is spreading very quickly among young people. In Korean families elderly people have a big influence, they adhere to Confucianism. Russians have more democratic relations and adhere to Christianity. We tried to prove that Korean couples still have traditional marital roles, relationships, and attitudes. The purpose of the study is to compare the role structure, features of the husband-wife relationship, and attitudes in the Russian and Korean married couples living in Russia. Russian and Korean family roles are considered in the article, as well as the features of family attitudes that characterize the type of family and describe the mentality of Russians and Koreans. A comparative cross-methodology was applied within pairs and between Korean and Russian pairs, and data was factorized. The sample consisted of n = 80 participants. We used the following methods: measurement of roles in a family; study of understanding relationships, emotional attraction and authoritarianism; attitudes towards love, children, money, and divorce. The scientific novelty of the research is expressed in the fact that the comparison with various aspects of the structure of roles and relationships in modern Korean and Russian couples is carried out, the members of married couples of both nationalities are compared. The study showed that Russians and Koreans living in Russia have become very similar in their lifestyle, but they differ in the internal arrangement of the family, role preferences and attitudes in a married couple, especially in relation to children, sex, psychological climate and financial responsibility. The data obtained can be used in family counseling and therapy
Beliefs About Finding a Compatible Partner in Three Settings
Single adults often exert considerable energy searching for a compatible partner. Until recently, people met partners primarily through everyday activities (work, school) and through friends. These ways of meeting partners are still common, although Internet dating sites have also become a main way for couples to meet. The current study was conducted to examine people’s attitudes about finding a compatible partner in three different settings: online dating, the social network (e.g., friends of friends), and everyday activities. A sample of 702 single (unpartnered) adults (ages 18 to 40) completed a survey that included items that measured their attitudes about finding a compatible partner in the three different ways. Participants believed they would be less likely to find a compatible partner through online dating than either through friends or in everyday activities. Age and shyness were negatively associated with optimism of finding a partner, particularly in the traditional settings of everyday activities and through one’s social network
Personality Functioning Scale: A Scale to Assess DSM-5’s Criterion A Personality Disorders
The Section III on Emerging Measures and Models included in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, introduces a hybrid alternative approach, dimensional-categorical, to diagnose personality disorders. The Criterion A establishes the assessment of the impairment in personality functioning in terms of two dimensions: self and interpersonal. The present study was aimed at developing a short scale to measure both dimensions. The sample was composed of 342 adults from Buenos Aires city and its outskirts, with ages ranging from 19 to 82 years old (M = 39.90, SD = 13.75). Data were gathered using the Personality Functioning Scale, developed in this study, as well as the Personality Inventory for DSM‐5 Brief Form, the Mental Health Continuum Short Form, and the Symptom Check List-27. A principal components analysis conducted on 28 items found 2 factors, interpersonal and self. Internal consistency, estimated by ordinal Alphas, achieved values between .92 and .86 whilst Cronbach’s Alphas were .88 and .87. Significant and positive correlations between the Personality Functioning Scale scores on the one hand, and the Personality Inventory for DSM‐5 Brief Form scores and the Symptom Check List-27 score on the other, were found. Negative correlations between PFS scores and the Mental Health Continuum Short Form were calculated. As a result, a short scale with adequate psychometric features, suitable to assess Criterion A in adult Argentinian population has been developed
Is Maternal Exposure to Childhood Trauma Associated With Maternal-Fetal Attachment?
Adults with childhood maltreatment history can face a difficult experience in transitioning to parenthood. Women with a history of emotional neglect in childhood tend to experience problematic attachment. The study's aim was to evaluate the relationship between childhood trauma and maternal-fetal attachment in pregnant women in a population-based study in Southern Brazil. This is a longitudinal study with pregnant women who were interviewed in two moments: before 24-weeks of pregnancy and 60 days after the first interview. We used the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and the Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale. The mean of maternal-fetal attachment in the general sample was 99.8 (± 10.8). The mean of emotional neglect was 8.9 (± 4.7); physical neglect 6.7 (± 2.8); sexual abuse 5.9 (± 3.0); physical abuse 6.8 (± 3.1) and emotional abuse 8.0 (± 4.1). After adjusted analysis, we found that pregnant women who suffered emotional neglect had 0.4 points less on the average on the maternal-fetal attachment, β = -0.4, CI 95% [-0.6, -0.2], and pregnant women who suffered emotional abuse had 0.2 points less on the average on the maternal-fetal attachment, β = -0.2, CI 95% [-0.5, -0.0]. Only emotional neglect and emotional abuse were associated with maternal-fetal attachment. This study showed that a history of childhood trauma can have a negative impact during the prenatal period, and can impair maternal-fetal attachment. The data found can assist health professionals in identifying factors that can protect and contribute to pregnant women who were victims of childhood trauma to face the transition to parenthood in the best possible way
Maternal Chronic Depression Affects Love Styles: A Cohort Study in Southern Brazil
Given the importance that love has in individuals’ lives, and considering that more specific studies about the relationship between depression and the way people love are lacking, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of major depressive disorder (MDD) on “love styles.” This study was nested in a cohort of adolescent mothers. Women were assessed for MDD at each point of assessment: during pregnancy (T1), at between 30 and 60 postpartum days (T2), and at approximately 30 postpartum months (T3), by using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI PLUS) tool. The Love Attitudes Scale (LAS) was administered to assess the six love styles at T3. Logistic regression analyses were carried out to express the strength of depression on love styles. We found that chronic major depression had the largest effect on the love styles (low Eros, high Mania, and high Agape), followed by current major depression. However, the same association was not observed in the perinatal period. Thus, the assessment of love style is relevant as it seems that an MDD-related injury in maternal life is related to their attitudes about love and there could be possible harmful consequences of these attitudes to the mother and the whole family
Attached at the Lips: The Influence of Romantic Kissing Motives and Romantic Attachment Styles on Relationship Satisfaction
Although romantic kissing is an important part of relationship functioning, little research has focused on motives for romantic kissing and how they may relate to other aspects of romantic relationships. To understand how romantic kissing impacts romantic relationship functioning, the current study assessed the relationship between romantic attachment, romantic kissing motives, and relationship satisfaction. Overall, it was hypothesized that (a) those reporting more sexual/explicit kissing motives and fewer goal attainment/insecurity motives would report higher relationship satisfaction, (b) those reporting a more secure attachment style would report higher relationship satisfaction, and (c) the relationship between romantic kissing motives and relationship satisfaction would vary according to one’s romantic attachment styles. Results from a hierarchical linear regression with 286 adults, all of whom were currently in romantic relationships, revealed that sexual/relational (β = 0.25) and goal attainment/insecurity kissing motives (β = -0.35) predicted relationship satisfaction. However, the impact of kissing motives on relationship satisfaction varied according to one’s romantic attachment. Specifically, the influence of sexual/relational motives was only significant for avoidantly attached individuals, whereas the influence of goal attainment/insecurity motives was significant for avoidantly and anxiously attachment individuals. Overall, this suggests that sexual/explicit romantic kissing motives serve to enhance the relationships of insecurely attached individuals, but not securely attached individuals. Furthermore, goal attainment/insecure motives had a negative effect on the relationship satisfaction of insecurely attached individuals, but not securely attached individuals. This study has important implications for both practitioners working with romantic couples and researchers studying romantic relationships