This thesis describes a program of research which aimed to identify the extent to which couple and stepfamily variables were associated with couple relationship adjustment and stability in stepfamily couples. Two studies were conducted. Study 1 consisted of 63 stepfamily couples who were in a committed relationship (married or cohabiting) and who had earlier taken part in an intervention program. It was hypothesised that positive couple relationship outcomes could be predicted by low couple aggression, high couple negativity, low couple withdrawal, high parenting disagreement, and high dysfunctional parenting over a 5-year period. The results did not support the hypotheses possibly due to low power in the design. In Study 2, 122 stepfamily couples who been living together (married or cohabiting) as a stepfamily were assessed on couple and stepfamily factors, and these were tested for their association with couple relationship adjustment and stability, using both self-report questionnaires and interview data. As predicted, stepfamily factors accounted for variance in couple stability above that accounted for by couple factors. Furthermore, stepfamily factors were associated with couple stability independent of couple adjustment. The influence of stepfamily couple relationship adjustment and stability seem distinctive from first-marriage couples. It was concluded that stepfamily relationship education programs for stepfamilies should address the unique needs of stepfamilies such as parenting education for inexperienced stepparents, the development of positive stepparent-stepchild relationships, and the building of stepfamily cohesion.

The current study investigated whether finding meaning in relation to sexual trauma and using mature defense mechanisms would moderate the association between child sexual abuse (CSA) severity and relationship and psychological adjustment in a sample of undergraduate women with a history of child sexual abuse. CSA severity was measured both objectively (i.e., severity of the abusive event) and subjectively (i.e., self-reported perceptions of the severity of the abusive event). As predicted, the interaction of objective CSA severity and mature defenses uniquely predicted one of four aspects of romantic relationship functioning (i.e., dyadic cohesion or doing joint activities with one's partner), which provides strong support for a moderating effect of mature defenses on relationship adjustment for CSA survivors. In addition, Objective CSA Severity X Meaning and Perceived CSA Severity X Meaning were both significantly correlated with various aspects of psychological functioning. Similarly, Objective CSA Severity X Mature Defenses and Perceived CSA Severity X Mature Defenses were significantly correlated with psychological functioning. These findings provide mild support for a possible moderating effect of meaning and mature defenses on psychological adjustment for CSA survivors. Contrary to hypotheses, the interaction of perceived CSA severity and mature defenses was not significantly related to relationship functioning. Also contrary to hypotheses, the interactions of Perceived CSA Severity X Meaning and Objective CSA Severity X Meaning were not significantly related to relationship functioning. Finally, results did not support the hypothesis that relationship functioning would moderate the association between CSA severity (objective and perceived) and psychological adjustment.

Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD), or recurrent vulvar pain, is a prevalent condition among women. Although research has documented that PVD is associated with sexual problems, little research has systematically examined the intimate relationships of affected women. The general purpose of the current studies was to comprehensively examine sexual and relationship functioning among women with provoked vulvar pain. In order to do so, three related studies were conducted. The first study was a systematic review of the literature examining sexual and relationship satisfaction among PVD-affected women. Secondly, an online study was conducted using both standardized and qualitative measures to examine sexual, relationship, and psychological functioning among women with self-reported provoked vulvar pain and their male partners in comparison to controls. The online study also examined associations between affected women’s pain and women and partner’s functioning. The final study was a laboratory-based study that included women with PVD and matched control women and examined psychosexual functioning, including sexual and relationship satisfaction, and vestibular pain sensitivity; additionally, this study examined potential associations between women’s pain and self-reported functioning. Overall, these studies suggest that women with provoked vulvar pain experience decreased sexual functioning, sexual satisfaction, and psychological functioning in comparison to control women, and that pain-affected partners experience decreased sexual functioning and sexual satisfaction. The findings also indicate that some aspects of women’s pain experiences are related to their self-reported functioning and to that of their partners. This research has implications for understanding the potential sexual and relationship consequences associated with provoked vulvar pain, and is among the first to comprehensively examine affected partners’ functioning. It is hoped that these studies will contribute novel information to the vulvar pain literature, and that they will encourage future research examining sexual and relationship functioning among women with provoked vulvar pain and their partners. / Thesis (Ph.D, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2010-08-25 12:02:29.446

Although Prochaska and DiClemente (1984) considered the Transtheoretical Model of Change (TTM) to be relevant to couples therapy, there is a paucity of research in this area. Understanding how couples initiate change in their relationship still proves difficult due to barriers in the collection of couple level data and the fact that the majority of research on the TTM is individualistic in nature (Fowers, 2001; Schneider, 2003). Schneider (2003) reported that research suggests a relationship between change processes and relationship adjustment in couples. To my knowledge this study is the first test of the reliability and correlates of relationship change, beyond Schneider’s initial work. The purpose of the present study was to examine how individual adjustment and readiness to change affect relationship adjustment. Data were collected from a sample of 389 married and cohabitating individuals using a self-report survey. Readiness to change was found to partially mediate the relationship between individual well-being and relationship adjustment. This link underscores the concept of women as health gatekeepers of the family. The present study validates research on the TTM with individuals but draws further attention to the idea that changing a dyadic relationship is not an individual process.

Relationship adjustment research is being expanded beyond established connections with communication and individual functioning. In recent years, researchers have looked to positive psychology and virtues. That research shifts the focus from psychopathology and communication to more core values and ways of being. The present study seeks to expand this knowledge base using Blaine Fowers (2000) framework of marital virtues. His framework views what a person puts into an intimate relationship as an important predictor of relationship adjustment. The present study uses this framework in conjunction with previous research to examine the direct and indirect links amongst individual functioning, marital virtues, communication, and marital adjustment. Data were collected from a sample of 422 married and cohabitating individuals using a self-report survey. Marital virtues and communication were found to partially mediate the relationship between individual well-being and relationship adjustment. In addition, communication was found to partially mediate the relationship between marital virtues and relationship adjustment. Findings provide initial support for the notion that character strengths matter to both communication and relationship adjustment.

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The present study evaluated a newly developed self-report questionnaire assessing young adults’ perceptions of their parents' current differential treatment of them and their siblings. This study also explored the influence of young adults' perceptions of parental differential treatment (PDT) on their general adjustment, sibling relationship quality, and romantic relationship adjustment. Attachment style was hypothesized to mediate the relations between PDT and these psychosocial outcomes in young adulthood. Participants included 275 university students and non-student community participants aged 18 to 25 years. Participants completed multiple-choice questionnaires assessing the variables of interest. The factor structure of the new measure of perceptions of PDT was confirmed by results of confirmatory factor analysis using structural equation modelling, and this new measure showed good internal consistency and good convergent validity when compared to another widely used self-report measure of PDT. Young adults’ perceptions of higher overall levels of PDT, regardless of which sibling was favoured, and their perceptions of being treated less positively than their siblings were associated with poorer general and romantic relationship adjustment, more insecure attachment style, and poorer quality sibling relationships. A control variable, social desirability, was found to be related to self-reports of lower levels of perceived PDT, more secure attachment style, more positive parent-child and sibling relationships, and better general and romantic relationship adjustment. Results of path analyses showed that attachment style partially mediated the relations between maternal and paternal PDT and sibling relationship quality. Attachment style fully mediated the relations between maternal and paternal PDT and adjustment, and between maternal PDT and romantic relationship adjustment. PDT was related to sibling relationship quality even after accounting for the influence of overall parent-child relationship quality and perceptions of unfairness of PDT. The present study’s strengths and limitations and the implications of the current findings for clinical practice and future research are discussed. / Graduate