Interpersona: An International Journal on Personal Relationships

Psychometric Properties of the Gender Role Conflict – Short Form (GRC-SF) in Straight and Gay Greek Men

2023-12-06T23:51:16-08:00

The current study examined the reliability and validity of Gender Role Conflict Scale-Short Form (GRCS-SF) among Greek men, 753 straight and 437 gay men. A multigroup confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on the Greek version of the scale to validate the measurement model across the two groups. Findings revealed a well-fitting model with a stable factorial structure and partial measurement and scalar invariance. The four-factor solution matched the four theoretical GRC domains. However, factor loadings and scores differed between the two groups on almost all domains. Cronbach’s α reliabilities were satisfactory in both groups for both the overall scale and its subscales. Further, population and criterion validity were supported as higher GRC for both straight and gay men predicted lower relationship satisfaction. The Greek-language version of GRC-SF seems to be a valid and reliable tool for future studies.

Positive and Negative Relationship Evaluation Processes as Predictors of Relationship Satisfaction

2023-12-06T23:51:17-08:00

Relationship evaluation processes (REPs) are the thought processes people use to evaluate the quality of their romantic relationships (Buckingham et al., 2019, https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407519833798). The present study expanded on previous REP research by developing measures of positive REPs to parallel existing measures of negative REPs, which measure people’s tendency to focus on negative relationship behavior and fears about the future of the relationship. Data from a diverse sample of 170 US adults provided an initial confirmation of the validity of the positive REP subscales, which measure people’s tendency to focus on positive relationship behavior and hopeful thoughts about the future of the relationship. Multiple regression analysis showed that positive and negative REPs significantly predict relationship satisfaction. Whereas negative REPs were associated with less relationship satisfaction, positive REPs were associated with greater satisfaction. We also examined the roles of depression, neuroticism, and optimism in predicting REPs and satisfaction.

Barriers to Participating in Self-Expanding Relationship Activities and the Role of Growth and Destiny Beliefs

2023-12-06T23:51:18-08:00

New and exciting activities with a partner have been linked to a variety of benefits for intimate relationships; however, less is known about what hinders these activities. The goal of the present research was to examine the barriers that people face when planning shared new and exciting (i.e., self-expanding) relationship activities with their intimate partner and whether some people have traits (i.e., destiny and growth beliefs) that promote persistence in the face of these barriers. Across two studies, participants in intimate relationships reflected on barriers associated with participating in self-expanding activities that they planned with their partner in the past and identified the frequency of these barriers in the past six months (Study 1), and then rated the extent to which barriers interfered with their ability to carry out the activities (Study 1 and 2). In Study 2, participants completed measures of destiny and growth beliefs, and identified their level of enjoyment and desire to participate in similar self-expanding activities in the future. In both studies, we found that participants rated finances, limited resources, and obligations as barriers that interfered the most with activities. Our findings suggest that barriers were more likely to interfere with activities for people higher in destiny beliefs (vs. growth beliefs). Growth beliefs were significantly associated with greater enjoyment from self-expanding activities and a greater likelihood of participating in similar activities in the future (vs. destiny beliefs). Our findings have implications for understanding barriers that couples face when engaging in self-expanding activities in their intimate relationships.

The Desire for Power and Romantic Commitment in LGBTQ Relationships

2023-12-06T23:51:20-08:00

The present study concerned the connection between the desire for power and romantic commitment in LGBTQ relationships as well as the roles that indicators of relationship functioning (e.g., relationship satisfaction) and perceptions of power played in this association. These associations were examined in community members (N = 113) involved in an LGBTQ romantic relationship. The desire for power had a negative association with romantic commitment that was mediated by perceptions of the relationship and moderated by perceived power. Similar to the results of previous studies concerning heterosexual relationships, these results suggest that issues surrounding the desire for power may be intimately connected with romantic commitment in LGBTQ relationships.

Attachment, Relational Maintenance Behaviors and Relationship Quality in Romantic Long-Distance Relationships: A Dyadic Perspective

2023-12-06T23:51:20-08:00

This study tested an actor-partner interdependence mediation model (APIMeM) in which dyadic relational maintenance behaviors (RMBs) mediate the relationship between romantic attachment (i.e., anxious and avoidant) and multiple indicators of relationship quality among couples in long-distance relationships (LDRs). Data were collected from 137 couples (women’s mean age = 20.37 years; men’s mean age = 21.93) who were in a serious romantic LDR and who completed an attachment measure, a measure of dyadic RMBs, and four measures of relationship quality (i.e., relationship satisfaction, relational commitment, closeness with the partner, and connection with others). Path analyses revealed significant actor and partner effects. Moreover, a total mediation between women’s anxious attachment and both partners’ relationship quality, and a partial mediation between men’s and women’s avoidant attachment and their own relationship quality were uncovered. Overall, the results suggest that, for couples in LDRs, one partner’s behaviors, cognitions, or emotions influence each member of the dyad as well as the quality of the relationship.

Attachment Styles and Unwanted Consensual Sex: Mediating Role of Dark Triad Traits

2023-12-06T23:51:21-08:00

Past research has shown that insecure attachment, particularly anxious attachment has a role to play in consenting to unwanted sex. While previous studies have taken various factors that may come into play in consenting to unwanted sex, they have not focused on understanding the role that the personality traits of the Dark Triad could play on unwanted consensual sex, particularly in the context of individuals’ attachment styles, we are studying the participants not as perpetrators of abuse, rather how they can be susceptible to giving consent to sex when they don’t want to due to underlying factors like attachment and personality traits, particularly the Dark Triad traits of personality. The current study has 274 participants (Females = 55.50%, Males = 43.80% and Non-Binary = 0.70%) and examines the role of personality traits of the Dark Triad on the relationship between attachment styles of participants and their unwanted consent to sex. We assumed that all three traits machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy would explain unwanted consensual sex and attachment styles, but only machiavellianism and psychopathy showed a partial role in explaining the relationship between both anxious attachment and avoidant attachment with unwanted consent to sex or sexual activity. This study can be used to help in understanding the lesser discussed nuances of what underlies sexual abuse.

Exploring How Received Gratitude and Apologies Meet a Benefactor’s Psychological Needs of Face and Competence

2023-12-06T23:51:22-08:00

In Japan, when a beneficiary receives benefits from a benefactor, it is not unusual for the beneficiary to use apologies to express gratitude. However, literature has not fully investigated how received gratitude and apologies impact Japanese benefactors’ perceptions. This experimental study examined how received gratitude and apologies influenced 671 Japanese participants’ (benefactors) negative and positive face as well as their self-efficacy. The results showed that the participants who received a message with gratitude or both gratitude and apologies perceived that their negative and positive face were less threatened than those in a control condition. Contrary to literature, those who received gratitude did not have high levels of self-efficacy. However, their self-efficacy was high after they received apologies only when they put more effort into helping a beneficiary. This study revealed unique roles of gratitude and apologies in meeting various psychological needs of Japanese.

Examining Associations Between Distress Tolerance, Perceived COVID-19 Threat, and Psychological Outcomes: The Moderating Role of Social Support

2023-12-06T23:51:23-08:00

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant psychological distress worldwide. It is important to enhance our understanding of the interpersonal and intrapersonal processes that can be addressed to promote psychological well-being after experiencing an adverse event like a pandemic. Therefore, to understand the direct and indirect associations between distress tolerance and diverse psychological outcomes following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we examined whether perceived COVID-19 threat mediates the association between distress tolerance and several psychological outcomes (i.e., psychological well-being, depression, anxiety, and stress). We also investigated whether social support moderates the indirect associations between distress tolerance and these psychological outcomes. We collected online survey data between April and July 2020 from individuals living in Canada (N = 139). Moderated mediation analyses indicated higher distress tolerance was associated with lower perceived COVID-19 threat which in turn was associated with higher psychological well-being, and lower depression and stress. Additionally, social support satisfaction enhanced the indirect association between distress tolerance and psychological well-being. Our findings may inform the design of interventions that promote psychological well-being after the onset of an adversity like the COVID-19 pandemic by presenting distress tolerance, perceived threat, and social support as targets for intervention. Future research should investigate the moderating role of different types of social support on the association between distress tolerance and psychological outcomes.

The Relationships Between Personality Characteristics and Social Function in Older Adults

2023-12-06T23:51:25-08:00

Social function is an important concept in the mental and social health of older adults, and personality is a factor that drives many activities and communications. But their relationship is not explained. This study aims to determine the relationships between personality characteristics and social function in older adults. This is a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study. We entered 550 eligible community-dwelling older adults through multi-stage cluster sampling in the study. The data were collected through the Big Five Inventory-44 (BFI-44) and Social Adaptation Self-evaluation Scale (SASS). Data were analyzed using SPSS software v.16 via t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation and multiple linear regression. There was a significant positive correlation between all personality characteristics and social function (p < .01). Age (β = -0.12), extraversion (β = 0.20), neuroticism (β = -0.11), openness to experience (β = 0.35), and conscientiousness (β = 0.16) are able to explain the variance of quality of activities, but agreeableness was ineffective. Also, quality of relationships variance is explained by age (β = -0.08), extraversion (β = 0.21), neuroticism (β = -0.12), openness to experience (β = 0.28), agreeableness (β = 0.11) and conscientiousness (β = 0.14). The changes in social function are predictable by BFI. Neuroticism has a negative effect on both the quality of relationships and the quality of activities, but agreeableness does not affect the quality of activities.