Observational Research of Negative Communication and Self-Reported Relationship Satisfaction.

Clinical researchers suggest more real-world types of data are needed to understand negative communication in couples. This study asked, what is the relationship between partners’ reports of relationship satisfaction and frequencies of observed markers of negative communication? Fifty-three clinical...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American Journal of Family Therapy Vol. 43; no. 4; pp. 378 - 392
Main Authors: Oka, Megan, Whiting, Jason B., Reifman, Alan
Format: Article
Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd Jul/Sep2015
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Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Description
Summary:Clinical researchers suggest more real-world types of data are needed to understand negative communication in couples. This study asked, what is the relationship between partners’ reports of relationship satisfaction and frequencies of observed markers of negative communication? Fifty-three clinical and community couples completed self-report assessments and ten-minute discussions of relationship concerns. Data were analyzed using pooled regression to account for both actor and partner effects of relationship quality scores on hostility, distress-maintaining attributions, dysphoric affect, and withdrawal. Results yielded a significant actor female effect for hostility and a significant male-to-female partner effect for distress-maintaining attribution.