Master of Science / Department of Family Studies and Human Services / Jared R. Anderson / Amber V. Vennum / The present study sought to extend the research on cyclical, or on-again/off-again relationships, by examining whether a history of cyclicality moderated the association between neuroticism and relationship satisfaction. A second goal of this study was to examine the direct and indirect effects of neuroticism on relationship satisfaction through communication. The sample consisted of cohabiting cyclical (n = 1,055) and noncyclical (n = 2,527) couples from a larger dataset collected by the RELATE Institute. Results showed that cyclical partners reported higher levels of neuroticism, higher levels of conflict, lower levels of positive communication, and lower levels of relationship satisfaction than noncyclical couples. Direct actor paths from neuroticism to satisfaction were significant for cyclical and noncyclical females and males. Only the direct partner path from female neuroticism to male satisfaction was significant, and was only significant for cyclical couples. All indirect actor and partner paths were significant for cyclical and noncyclical females and males. Further, a history of cyclicality significantly moderated the direct paths from male communication to male and female relationship satisfaction, indicating this relationship is stronger for cyclical couples.

Part of the natural progression of any romantic relationship is that, over time, individuals will meet and form connections with each other’s friends and family (Milardo, 1982). Interestingly, the examination of social network introductions has largely been neglected by researchers. We do not know when couple members introduce each other to their friends and parents. We also do not know what effect, if any, these network introductions have on future relationship outcomes. The present study addressed these gaps. Specifically, I examined when couple members typically met each other’s friends and parents for the first time, whether relationship quality influenced the likelihood of making these introductions, and whether these introductions predicted later relationship outcomes (i.e., relationship quality, likelihood of breakup, and post-breakup adjustment). In the present study, participants in new romantic relationships (less than 6 months duration) completed a survey every two weeks for nine months. In each survey, participants indicated whether friend and family introductions had occurred, their current relationship quality, and whether they had broken up with their partners since the previous survey. If individuals reported having broken up, they were asked about their reactions to the breakup. Results revealed that friends were typically introduced before parents, and that relationship quality predicted the likelihood of newly dating individuals introducing their parents (but not friends) to their romantic partners. Largely, network introductions failed to predict later perceptions of relationship quality but did influence the likelihood of relationship dissolution over the course of the study. Furthermore, introductions to participants’ mothers predicted worse emotional reactions to a breakup, and introductions to participants’ fathers and best friends were associated with greater relationship longing. The results of this study represent an important first step in understanding when individuals introduce their romantic partners to their friends and family and how these introductions influence relationship development. / text

Background: Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can result in a number of consequences for those who has sustained the injuries, as well as having an impact on their wider system. Estimates of divorce and relationship dissolution among couples following TBI can be as high as 54% and partners are reported to experience high levels of stress. The majority of studies have explored couples' relationships following TBI from the perspective of either the person with TBI or the partner, as opposed to exploring this dyadically and, therefore, limiting the holistic understanding to this topic. Aim: The two aims of this thesis are as follows: firstly, the mixed-method synthesis review aimed to explore the current dyad evidence-base around couples' experiences and relationships following TBI; and secondly, the qualitative study aimed to explore the impact of TBI on couples' experiences and relationships. Method: The systematic review's search strategy consisted of a computerised search across five databases and manual searches for further references in other relevant literature reviews and reference lists. The quality of the qualitative and quantitative studies were analyses separately. Metaethnography was employed to synthesize the finding from the qualitative studies. In the qualitative empirical study, five dyad-couples participated in the semi-structured interviews. The individuals with TBI and their partners were interviewed independently. The data collected was analysed using a combined deductive-inductive framework analysis approach, which supported comparisons between and within couples. Results: The systematic review yielded eight eligible studies, three quantitative and five qualitative studies. Review of the quantitative studies suggested couples reported poor relationship quality and partners reported more dyadic dissatisfaction and overall poorer relationship adjustment than the people with TBI. Analysis of the qualitative studies suggested there were significant variations in the way couples' experience and respond to TBI. This included individual responses from the people with TBI, their partners or collectively as a couple, which influenced their relationship dynamics and also how they coped. The findings also drew attention to other contextual factors that influenced couples' attributions and perceptions toward the TBI-related changes. Deductive and inductive analysis of the interviews in the qualitative empirical study identified three overarching themes: 'You begin to realise that, actually, life may not be the same ever [again]...'; perceived influences on relationship endurance following TBI; and contextual and other factors. These explored the impact of TBI on couples' relationships and the processes that interacted with or influenced their perceived relationship endurance. Conclusion: Although limited by a small number of eligible studies in the systematic review and small sample size in the qualitative empirical study, this thesis emphasized the importance of dyadic research for gaining a holistic understanding of couples' experiences and relationships following TBI. This allows the complex interplay between the TBI, the person who has suffered the TBI, their partner and their relationship to be better understood. The interconnectedness between the individuals and how the difficulties are experienced raises possible issues for healthcare services around their views and approaches to the individual with TBI, their partner and the couple's relationship during the recovery and rehabilitation journey.

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The termination of a romantic relationship, be it by breakup or divorce, is a fairly ubiquitous experience. Most individuals will recover from a traumatic experience of this nature; some however, experience substantial difficulties in recuperating that persist over time. For these individuals, relationship termination can invoke a variety of negative physical and psychological health outcomes. This project examines the role of social cognitive maturity, operationalized as Interpersonal Decentering, in recovery following a relational loss. Participants in this study were assigned to a pre/post control or measurement intensive (four visits) condition over the course of nine weeks. Individuals in the latter condition completed a Stream of Consciousness (SOC) task in which they discussed their breakup experience out loud for four minutes. These narratives were then transcribed and scored using the Interpersonal Decentering manual as adapted for Expressive Writing. Results indicate that – for women only – mature social cognition is inversely related to depressive mood at the initial visit. However, it is not related to initial PSTD symptomatology for men or women, nor does it predict decreases in depression and trauma symptomatology from the initial visit to the nine-week follow-up. Implications, limitations, and future directions for research of this nature are discussed.

The main purpose of the present study was to investigate whether gender, certain relationship characteristics (time elapsed since the dissolution, being the dissolver or the sufferer part, duration of the relationship, sexuality, the broken relationship being the first relationship ever, any present partner, importance of the relationship, importance of the dissolution), problem solving skills, and self- esteem were predictors of psychological distress following a romantic relationship dissolution. It was also aimed to examine the relationships between some relationship characteristics (duration of the relationship, and time elapsed since the dissolution), and psychological distress. The sample consisted of 213 Middle East Technical University students who were out of a romantic relationship within the last year. The data were gathered by administering Problem Solving Inventory, Brief Symptom Inventory, Rosenberg&rsquo / s Self- Esteem Scale, and Demographic Information Form. Multiple hierarchical regression analyses, and analyses of variance were conducted to test the aims of the study. According to the results of the study, the importance of the dissolution, the status of any present partner, time elapsed since the dissolution, impulsive style of problem solving skills, and self- esteem were found as significant predictors of psychological distress following a romantic relationship dissolution. On the other hand, it was found that gender, duration of the relationship, sexuality, being the dissolver or the sufferer, importance of the relationship, the broken relationship being the first relationship ever, and and the remaining five subscales (reflective style, avoidant style, monitoring, problem- solving confidence, planfulness) of problem solving skills did not emerge as significant predictors of psychological distress. In addition, time elapsed since the dissolution yielded significant effect on depression. The findings of the study were discussed in the light of the relevant literature.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary (2018) defines heartbreak as “crushing grief, anguish or distress.” Heartbreak can lead to biological, psychological and social responses and consequences. Heartbreak from the dissolution of a romantic relationship is a form of disenfranchised grief, which is defined as the griever’s belief that society does not recognize their source of grief as legitimate (Doka, 1989). The literature shows that talking about grief helps those who experience it (Fisher & Archer, 2008). Hence, the present study sought to provide a consensus of the best practices that marriage and family therapists have utilized to help broken-hearted clients. I employed a modification of the Delphi technique, a research method which seeks to reach consensus on a topic through group communication between experts in the subject area discussed (Hsu & Sandford, 2007) in order to gather data about best practices from marriage and family therapists on how they have helped their broken-hearted clients. This study consisted of a total of 20 experts, who are licensed marriage and family therapists. The findings suggest that the disenfranchisement of the grief resulting from the dissolution of a romantic relationship is closely associated with the symptom of sadness experienced by the broken-hearted. In addition, the way in which MFTs can help the disenfranchised griever is by providing an empathic presence in sessions, generating historical conversations through the use of a genogram, involving family members in the therapeutic process and having future oriented conversations. The results of this study have illustrated a plethora of techniques and best practices that have reportedly proven successful in helping the broken-hearted client.

Intimate relationships function not in isolation, but within a broader social network and social environment, in which the opinions and actions of close network members can play a role in how a relationship develops. The current study investigated how perceiving support for one’s relationship (including same-sex and mixed-sex relationships) from friends and family is associated with not only relationship well-being, but also the mental and physical health of the individuals within the relationship. After establishing that social support specifically for a relationship was indeed a separate and unique construct as compared to more general social support for an individual, the study tested a hypothesized model using structural equation modeling, finding evidence for a model in which the association between support for a relationship and the health outcomes for an individual is fully mediated by relationship well-being. Relationship type (i.e., same-sex versus mixed-sex) was not a significant moderator, indicating that regardless of relationship type, individuals who perceive more support for their relationship are also more likely to report greater relationship satisfaction and better mental and physical health. Furthermore, participants provided data up to three times over a period of three years, allowing for an examination of how social support for a relationship functions as a predictor of relationship well-being and health outcomes over time. Perceived social support for a relationship at Time 1 was found to be a significant predictor of the rate of relationship dissolution over the course of the study as well as relational and health outcomes at later points in time. With respect to the source of support for the relationship, evidence was found that support from parents and friends both have associations with relationship outcomes, but these findings were inconsistent across analyses with support from parents having stronger associations in some analyses and support from friends having stronger associations in others. Reasons for these discrepancies are discussed, as well as theoretical implications concerning the role that perceived social support for relationships plays in the prediction of relationship well-being and mental and physical health. / Thesis (Ph.D, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2012-05-29 21:04:59.381