Coping in Intimate Relationships

Development of the Multidimensional Intimate Coping Questionnaire

Bibliographic Data

ID2936047
AuthorsLeslee K Pollina (Southeast Missouri State University, corresponding author), William E Snell (Southeast Missouri State University)
Year1999
Volume16
Issue1
Pages133-144
Publication date1999-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Social and Personal Relationships (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0265-4075 • E-ISSN: 1460-3608
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0265407599161008
OpenAlexW2142641100
LanguageEN
Citations received10
References cited13

Psychological correlates of the use of coping strategies in intimate relationships were investigated through the development of an objective self-report instrument, the Multidimensional Intimate Coping Questionnaire (MICQ). Preliminary results indicated that the 25 MICQ subscales had high internal consistency, that the subscales were uncontaminated by social desirability tendencies, that several demographic variables predicted the use of MICQ intimate coping strategies, and that the MICQ subscales were associated in predictable ways with other general measures of coping. Other findings revealed that several personality tendencies were related to specific coping tendencies: relational esteem was associated with positive, active coping strategies; relational depression was associated with avoidant strategies and self-criticism; relational obsession was associated with emotion-focused strategies and suppression of competing activities in order to focus on the relationship issue; relational consciousness was associated with problem-focused strategies and emotional expression; relational monitoring was associated with denial, wishful thinking and mental disengagement from the relation-ship issue; and relational anxiety was correlated with emotional expression coupled with self-criticism and attempts to disengage from the problem. Adult attachment style and gender also influenced coping tendencies. The MICQ represents a comprehensive approach to the study of coping in intimate relationships

Coping (psychology · Developmental psychology · Disengagement theory · Personality · Wishful thinking · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Clinical Psychology · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Marriage and Sexual Relationships · Psychology · Social Psychology

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