Amber Vennum
Biographic Data
| ID | 120766 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Amber Vennum |
| GIVEN NAMES | Amber |
| FAMILY NAME | Vennum |
| SIGNATURE | VENNUM A |
| AFFILIATIONS | Kansas State University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-0450-9133 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 25 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 74 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 25 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2010 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 6 |
The mediating role of value‐driven decision‐making in the association between relationship quality and internalizing experiences
But it didn’t ruin me”: A Feminist Phenomenological Analysis of Trauma and Healing After Intimate Partner Violence
Establishing links between relationship cycling, relational stress, and well-being
On-again/off-again cycling is prevalent, and partners in these relationships experience lower relational quality and more negative interaction patterns, increasing their risk for compromised relational and individual health. Conceptualizing relationship cycling as a chronic stressor, we assessed the association between cycling, relational stress, and compromised well-being (i.e., psychological and physical symptoms). Findings from four samples ( …
Black Girl Magic: Strength, Resiliency, and Suffering? A Qualitative Exploration of Toxic Black Femininity and Intimate Partner Violence
Familial understanding and self‐esteem development: Comparing sexual minority and heterosexual individuals
Parent-Child Sexual Communication Frequency and Adolescent Disclosure to Mothers About Sexuality: The Moderating Role of Open Communication in a Common Fate Structural Equation Model
Although frequent and open parent–child sexual communication (PCSC) has been shown to yield positive effects on adolescent sexual health outcomes, most PCSC is one-sided and parent dominated rather than ideal communication characterized by openness. Adolescent children’s disclosure of sexual feelings and behaviors to parents can prompt parent–child sexual communication (PCSC) and help parents tailor PCSC to children’s needs, increasing the effect…
Clinical and Training Implications of Privilege Awareness for Couple and Family Therapists: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis Part 2
Privilege Awareness Raising for Couple and Family Therapists: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis Part 1
In a qualitative exploration of privilege awareness for couple and family therapists (CFTs), findings provided information on two levels of processes presented in two articles as part of a series. This first article broadens the scope of privilege awareness of couple and family therapists (CFTs) to include any identity that holds power in society. CFTs were asked to complete timelines of privilege awareness experiences and participate in a semi-s…
To Talk or Not to Talk: An Analysis of Parents’ Intentions to Talk with Children About Different Sexual Topics Using the Theory of Planned Behavior
Sexual Violence and Mental Health: An Analysis of the Mediating Role of Self-Compassion Using a Feminist Lens
Feminist theories describe how women who experience sexual violence often internalize cultural narratives which can lead to self-blame and disconnection. Self-compassion has the potential to provide a buffer against these negative outcomes. This study explored self-compassion as a mediator of the association between experiencing sexual violence and negative mental health outcomes. The sample consisted of 368 undergraduate women. A path analysis r…
Sex Feelings: A Mediated Group Path Analysis of the Association of Perceptions of Parent Communicated Sexual Values with Sexual Attitudes and Outcomes in Emerging Adulthood
Although communication between parents and children about sexually transmitted diseases and avoiding unwanted pregnancy has been shown to be effective in increasing safe sex practices, parents also implicitly (or explicitly) communicate their own values and attitudes about sex in conversations with their children that might have impacts on their children's sexual feelings and behaviors beyond adolescence. Data were collected from undergraduate st…
Risks, Vulnerabilities, and Desires for Future Romantic Relationships and Relationship Education During Early Adulthood
Objective The purpose of this study was to explore how vulnerabilities, stressors, and adaptive processes influenced early adults' ( N = 1,073) future relational desires and topic preferences in relationship education (RE). Background There is great diversity in pathways to relationship formation. Early adults are exposed to risk factors from their past and present relationship experiences that can influence their current and future relational fu…
Gender and sexual minority group identification as a process of identity development during emerging adulthood
The present study explores how identifying with the gender and sexual minority (GSM) community can be an important developmental milestone and potential protective factor for GSM individuals. Cross-sectional data were collected from the United States using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk) to garner a nationally representative sample of individuals (n = 365) between the ages of 18-29 (M = 25.07 years old) who self-identified as a sexual and/or gen…
The Interaction of Health Stressors and Power Imbalances in Partnered Women: Wellbeing Outcomes
Being in poor physical health can be disempowering and place additional stress on couple and individual wellbeing. Given the high prevalence of gendered power imbalances in opposite gender couples, the purpose of this paper was to better understand how health issues interact with power imbalances in couples to influence individual and couple well-being. Our results highlight that feeling powerless in oneâ€TMs relationship takes a uniquely intense…
Testing the impact of sliding versus deciding in cyclical and noncyclical relationships
This study investigates longitudinally predictors and outcomes of sliding (a desire to avoid clarifying the status of a romantic relationship; measured as relationship talk avoidance) among emerging adults ( N = 244) in cyclical (ending and renewing a relationship) and noncyclical romantic relationships. Avoidance of relationship talk was positively associated with relationship uncertainty 7 weeks earlier and negatively related to dedication and …
Emerging Adult Relationship Transitions as Opportune Times for Tailored Interventions
The goal of this research was to identify predictors of college students’ relationship dissolution and how a relationship education (RE) curriculum integrated into a college course ( Relationship U [ RU]) influenced students’ breakup (BU) and relationship formation decisions. Study 1 ( n = 854) showed the strongest predictors of BU by the end of the semester were low relationship efficacy, dedication, satisfaction, and relationship length and gre…
Shame proneness and intimate relations in Mainland China
Using dyadic data from 200 young adult couples (aged 18–31 years) in Mainland China, this study evaluated associations between shame proneness, intimate partner attachment, adaptive interactions, and relationship satisfaction. Results demonstrated that shame proneness was directly associated with more insecure attachment to the partner (anxious and avoidant dimensions) and less adaptive interactions (operationalized by variables assessing constru…
Joining Forces: Bringing Parents and Schools Together
An Exploration of the Construction of Commitment Leading to Marriage
The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how newly married couples construct and reconstruct commitment through events in courtship and early marriage. Fifteen newly married couples, 30 participants, were interviewed individually. Through the use of grounded theory six different themes (friendship, gradual process, positive examples, negative examples, planning for the future, and words of affirmation) emerged in the construction, ori…
Pathways to romantic relationship success among Chinese young adult couples: Contributions of family dysfunction, mental health problems, and negative couple interaction
Using dyadic data from 200 young adult couples (aged 18-31 years) in Mainland China and guided by the Development of Early Adult Romantic Relationships model (Bryant & Conger, 2002), the current study evaluated direct and indirect associations between family of origin dysfunction and intimate relationship success via the potential mediators of mental health problems and negative couple interaction. Results demonstrated male partner family dysfunc…
Associations Between Attention to Warning Signs, Marital Confidence, and Interactional Problem Solving Among Emerging Adult Couples in Mainland China
Inertia theory has been exclusively applied to couples in Western cultures. The current study examined the applicability of inertia theory to emerging adult couples in urban China ( n = 200 couples) using the transition and risk model which proposes that partners can reduce their risk of future distress by evaluating information relevant to the quality and stability of the relationship prior to making decisions about the relationship’s future. Th…
Commitment and Sacrifice in Emerging Adult Romantic Relationships
The development of commitment and satisfaction with sacrifice has been associated with relationship health and stability. Given the importance of early romantic relationships, the purpose of the present study was to explore how these constructs relate and develop in an emerging adult population (n = 246). Through an initial confirmatory factor analysis, we found the two constructs can be distinct. Then, using interdependence theory and a cross-la…
It's complicated: The continuity and correlates of cycling in cohabiting and marital relationships
Given previous research on the risks associated with cycling in young adult dating relationships, the present study examines the frequency with which cyclical dating relationships (relationships that end and renew) persist into cohabitation and marriage, the characteristics of these relationships, and the constraints associated with cycling during these stages using a nationally representative sample of cohabiting ( n = 323) and married ( n = 752…
Expanding Our Reach: Marriage and Family Therapists in the Public School System
Voices of foster parents of Sudanese refugee youths: Affirmations and insights
Foster parents of Sudanese refugee adolescents were both gratified and frustrated by their desires to nurture, successfully parent, and socially interact and experience cultural differences with the youths. These parents coped with challenges with the help of God, family, peers and self-talk. Commitment to their wards typically was lifelong
It's complicated: The continuity and correlates of cycling in cohabiting and marital relationships
Given previous research on the risks associated with cycling in young adult dating relationships, the present study examines the frequency with which cyclical dating relationships (relationships that end and renew) persist into cohabitation and marriage, the characteristics of these relationships, and the constraints associated with cycling during these stages using a nationally representative sample of cohabiting ( n = 323) and married ( n = 752…
Gender and sexual minority group identification as a process of identity development during emerging adulthood
The present study explores how identifying with the gender and sexual minority (GSM) community can be an important developmental milestone and potential protective factor for GSM individuals. Cross-sectional data were collected from the United States using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk) to garner a nationally representative sample of individuals (n = 365) between the ages of 18-29 (M = 25.07 years old) who self-identified as a sexual and/or gen…
To Talk or Not to Talk: An Analysis of Parents’ Intentions to Talk with Children About Different Sexual Topics Using the Theory of Planned Behavior
Pathways to romantic relationship success among Chinese young adult couples: Contributions of family dysfunction, mental health problems, and negative couple interaction
Using dyadic data from 200 young adult couples (aged 18-31 years) in Mainland China and guided by the Development of Early Adult Romantic Relationships model (Bryant & Conger, 2002), the current study evaluated direct and indirect associations between family of origin dysfunction and intimate relationship success via the potential mediators of mental health problems and negative couple interaction. Results demonstrated male partner family dysfunc…
Sex Feelings: A Mediated Group Path Analysis of the Association of Perceptions of Parent Communicated Sexual Values with Sexual Attitudes and Outcomes in Emerging Adulthood
Although communication between parents and children about sexually transmitted diseases and avoiding unwanted pregnancy has been shown to be effective in increasing safe sex practices, parents also implicitly (or explicitly) communicate their own values and attitudes about sex in conversations with their children that might have impacts on their children's sexual feelings and behaviors beyond adolescence. Data were collected from undergraduate st…
Voices of foster parents of Sudanese refugee youths: Affirmations and insights
Foster parents of Sudanese refugee adolescents were both gratified and frustrated by their desires to nurture, successfully parent, and socially interact and experience cultural differences with the youths. These parents coped with challenges with the help of God, family, peers and self-talk. Commitment to their wards typically was lifelong
Commitment and Sacrifice in Emerging Adult Romantic Relationships
The development of commitment and satisfaction with sacrifice has been associated with relationship health and stability. Given the importance of early romantic relationships, the purpose of the present study was to explore how these constructs relate and develop in an emerging adult population (n = 246). Through an initial confirmatory factor analysis, we found the two constructs can be distinct. Then, using interdependence theory and a cross-la…
Parent-Child Sexual Communication Frequency and Adolescent Disclosure to Mothers About Sexuality: The Moderating Role of Open Communication in a Common Fate Structural Equation Model
Although frequent and open parent–child sexual communication (PCSC) has been shown to yield positive effects on adolescent sexual health outcomes, most PCSC is one-sided and parent dominated rather than ideal communication characterized by openness. Adolescent children’s disclosure of sexual feelings and behaviors to parents can prompt parent–child sexual communication (PCSC) and help parents tailor PCSC to children’s needs, increasing the effect…
An Exploration of the Construction of Commitment Leading to Marriage
The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how newly married couples construct and reconstruct commitment through events in courtship and early marriage. Fifteen newly married couples, 30 participants, were interviewed individually. Through the use of grounded theory six different themes (friendship, gradual process, positive examples, negative examples, planning for the future, and words of affirmation) emerged in the construction, ori…
Expanding Our Reach: Marriage and Family Therapists in the Public School System
Black Girl Magic: Strength, Resiliency, and Suffering? A Qualitative Exploration of Toxic Black Femininity and Intimate Partner Violence
Shame proneness and intimate relations in Mainland China
Using dyadic data from 200 young adult couples (aged 18–31 years) in Mainland China, this study evaluated associations between shame proneness, intimate partner attachment, adaptive interactions, and relationship satisfaction. Results demonstrated that shame proneness was directly associated with more insecure attachment to the partner (anxious and avoidant dimensions) and less adaptive interactions (operationalized by variables assessing constru…
Joining Forces: Bringing Parents and Schools Together
Voices of foster parents of Sudanese refugee youths: Affirmations and insights
Foster parents of Sudanese refugee adolescents were both gratified and frustrated by their desires to nurture, successfully parent, and socially interact and experience cultural differences with the youths. These parents coped with challenges with the help of God, family, peers and self-talk. Commitment to their wards typically was lifelong
Expanding Our Reach: Marriage and Family Therapists in the Public School System
Associations Between Attention to Warning Signs, Marital Confidence, and Interactional Problem Solving Among Emerging Adult Couples in Mainland China
Inertia theory has been exclusively applied to couples in Western cultures. The current study examined the applicability of inertia theory to emerging adult couples in urban China ( n = 200 couples) using the transition and risk model which proposes that partners can reduce their risk of future distress by evaluating information relevant to the quality and stability of the relationship prior to making decisions about the relationship’s future. Th…
Commitment and Sacrifice in Emerging Adult Romantic Relationships
The development of commitment and satisfaction with sacrifice has been associated with relationship health and stability. Given the importance of early romantic relationships, the purpose of the present study was to explore how these constructs relate and develop in an emerging adult population (n = 246). Through an initial confirmatory factor analysis, we found the two constructs can be distinct. Then, using interdependence theory and a cross-la…
It's complicated: The continuity and correlates of cycling in cohabiting and marital relationships
Given previous research on the risks associated with cycling in young adult dating relationships, the present study examines the frequency with which cyclical dating relationships (relationships that end and renew) persist into cohabitation and marriage, the characteristics of these relationships, and the constraints associated with cycling during these stages using a nationally representative sample of cohabiting ( n = 323) and married ( n = 752…
Shame proneness and intimate relations in Mainland China
Using dyadic data from 200 young adult couples (aged 18–31 years) in Mainland China, this study evaluated associations between shame proneness, intimate partner attachment, adaptive interactions, and relationship satisfaction. Results demonstrated that shame proneness was directly associated with more insecure attachment to the partner (anxious and avoidant dimensions) and less adaptive interactions (operationalized by variables assessing constru…
Joining Forces: Bringing Parents and Schools Together
An Exploration of the Construction of Commitment Leading to Marriage
The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how newly married couples construct and reconstruct commitment through events in courtship and early marriage. Fifteen newly married couples, 30 participants, were interviewed individually. Through the use of grounded theory six different themes (friendship, gradual process, positive examples, negative examples, planning for the future, and words of affirmation) emerged in the construction, ori…
Pathways to romantic relationship success among Chinese young adult couples: Contributions of family dysfunction, mental health problems, and negative couple interaction
Using dyadic data from 200 young adult couples (aged 18-31 years) in Mainland China and guided by the Development of Early Adult Romantic Relationships model (Bryant & Conger, 2002), the current study evaluated direct and indirect associations between family of origin dysfunction and intimate relationship success via the potential mediators of mental health problems and negative couple interaction. Results demonstrated male partner family dysfunc…
Testing the impact of sliding versus deciding in cyclical and noncyclical relationships
This study investigates longitudinally predictors and outcomes of sliding (a desire to avoid clarifying the status of a romantic relationship; measured as relationship talk avoidance) among emerging adults ( N = 244) in cyclical (ending and renewing a relationship) and noncyclical romantic relationships. Avoidance of relationship talk was positively associated with relationship uncertainty 7 weeks earlier and negatively related to dedication and …
Emerging Adult Relationship Transitions as Opportune Times for Tailored Interventions
The goal of this research was to identify predictors of college students’ relationship dissolution and how a relationship education (RE) curriculum integrated into a college course ( Relationship U [ RU]) influenced students’ breakup (BU) and relationship formation decisions. Study 1 ( n = 854) showed the strongest predictors of BU by the end of the semester were low relationship efficacy, dedication, satisfaction, and relationship length and gre…
Risks, Vulnerabilities, and Desires for Future Romantic Relationships and Relationship Education During Early Adulthood
Objective The purpose of this study was to explore how vulnerabilities, stressors, and adaptive processes influenced early adults' ( N = 1,073) future relational desires and topic preferences in relationship education (RE). Background There is great diversity in pathways to relationship formation. Early adults are exposed to risk factors from their past and present relationship experiences that can influence their current and future relational fu…
Gender and sexual minority group identification as a process of identity development during emerging adulthood
The present study explores how identifying with the gender and sexual minority (GSM) community can be an important developmental milestone and potential protective factor for GSM individuals. Cross-sectional data were collected from the United States using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk) to garner a nationally representative sample of individuals (n = 365) between the ages of 18-29 (M = 25.07 years old) who self-identified as a sexual and/or gen…
The Interaction of Health Stressors and Power Imbalances in Partnered Women: Wellbeing Outcomes
Being in poor physical health can be disempowering and place additional stress on couple and individual wellbeing. Given the high prevalence of gendered power imbalances in opposite gender couples, the purpose of this paper was to better understand how health issues interact with power imbalances in couples to influence individual and couple well-being. Our results highlight that feeling powerless in oneâ€TMs relationship takes a uniquely intense…
To Talk or Not to Talk: An Analysis of Parents’ Intentions to Talk with Children About Different Sexual Topics Using the Theory of Planned Behavior
Sexual Violence and Mental Health: An Analysis of the Mediating Role of Self-Compassion Using a Feminist Lens
Feminist theories describe how women who experience sexual violence often internalize cultural narratives which can lead to self-blame and disconnection. Self-compassion has the potential to provide a buffer against these negative outcomes. This study explored self-compassion as a mediator of the association between experiencing sexual violence and negative mental health outcomes. The sample consisted of 368 undergraduate women. A path analysis r…
Sex Feelings: A Mediated Group Path Analysis of the Association of Perceptions of Parent Communicated Sexual Values with Sexual Attitudes and Outcomes in Emerging Adulthood
Although communication between parents and children about sexually transmitted diseases and avoiding unwanted pregnancy has been shown to be effective in increasing safe sex practices, parents also implicitly (or explicitly) communicate their own values and attitudes about sex in conversations with their children that might have impacts on their children's sexual feelings and behaviors beyond adolescence. Data were collected from undergraduate st…
Clinical and Training Implications of Privilege Awareness for Couple and Family Therapists: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis Part 2
Privilege Awareness Raising for Couple and Family Therapists: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis Part 1
In a qualitative exploration of privilege awareness for couple and family therapists (CFTs), findings provided information on two levels of processes presented in two articles as part of a series. This first article broadens the scope of privilege awareness of couple and family therapists (CFTs) to include any identity that holds power in society. CFTs were asked to complete timelines of privilege awareness experiences and participate in a semi-s…
Familial understanding and self‐esteem development: Comparing sexual minority and heterosexual individuals
Parent-Child Sexual Communication Frequency and Adolescent Disclosure to Mothers About Sexuality: The Moderating Role of Open Communication in a Common Fate Structural Equation Model
Although frequent and open parent–child sexual communication (PCSC) has been shown to yield positive effects on adolescent sexual health outcomes, most PCSC is one-sided and parent dominated rather than ideal communication characterized by openness. Adolescent children’s disclosure of sexual feelings and behaviors to parents can prompt parent–child sexual communication (PCSC) and help parents tailor PCSC to children’s needs, increasing the effect…
Black Girl Magic: Strength, Resiliency, and Suffering? A Qualitative Exploration of Toxic Black Femininity and Intimate Partner Violence
But it didn’t ruin me”: A Feminist Phenomenological Analysis of Trauma and Healing After Intimate Partner Violence
Establishing links between relationship cycling, relational stress, and well-being
On-again/off-again cycling is prevalent, and partners in these relationships experience lower relational quality and more negative interaction patterns, increasing their risk for compromised relational and individual health. Conceptualizing relationship cycling as a chronic stressor, we assessed the association between cycling, relational stress, and compromised well-being (i.e., psychological and physical symptoms). Findings from four samples ( …
The mediating role of value‐driven decision‐making in the association between relationship quality and internalizing experiences
Psychology (23 works) · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics (18 works) · Social Psychology (18 works) · Developmental psychology (15 works) · Social Psychology (14 works) · Sociology (12 works) · Clinical Psychology (7 works) · Clinical Psychology (6 works) · Computer Science (6 works) · Family Dynamics and Relationships (6 works)