Individuals' perceptions of reciprocal relationship maintenance in their marriage and its impact on communal orientation, relational load, and ability to flourish

Bibliographic Data

ID2236472
AuthorsTamara D Afifi (0000-0001-7831-2432), Andy J Merolla (0000-0003-0271-144X, Communication, University of California Santa Barbara , Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9010, USA), Walid A Afifi (0000-0002-9247-3045, Communication, University of California Santa Barbara , Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9010, USA), Chloe Gonzales (Communication, University of California Santa Barbara , Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9010, USA), Abdullah Salehuddin (Communication, University of California Santa Barbara , Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9010, USA), Abdullah S Salehuddin (0000-0001-9094-327X, University of California, Santa Barbara), Jade Salmon (0000-0002-4734-6354, Communication, University of California Santa Barbara , Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9010, USA), Veronica Wilson (0000-0003-3975-4427, Communication, University of California Santa Barbara , Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9010, USA)
Year2024
Volume50
Issue3
Pages324-337
Publication date2024-06-26
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHuman Communication Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0360-3989 • E-ISSN: 1468-2958
PublisherOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/hcr/hqad056
OpenAlexW4390701796
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited53

This study investigates individuals' perceptions of reciprocal relationship maintenance in their marriage over time during the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19). Using a Qualtrics Panel, married individuals (N = 3,601) completed online surveys at four time points during the initial 3 months of the pandemic. Both the between- and within-person effects were consistent with the theory of resilience and relational load. On average, married individuals who reported giving greater relationship maintenance to their partners also reported receiving greater relationship maintenance from them, as well as reported greater communal orientation and flourishing and lower relational load. Giving relationship maintenance to one's partner was a stronger predictor of receiving maintenance than the reverse, even though both influenced each other. Giving relationship maintenance to one's partner was also a stronger and more consistent predictor of communal orientation, relational load, and flourishing than maintenance received. Finally, relational load in one's marriage was the strongest predictor of flourishing

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Developmental psychology · Flourishing · Orientation (vector space · Pandemic · Perception · Psychological resilience · Reciprocal · Relationship maintenance · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Psychology · Social Psychology

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