We Need to Talk: A Dyadic Perspective on Conflict Management and its Association with Adult Romantic Attachment, Relationship Satisfaction, and Psychological Partner Aggression
Creators: name: Flesch, Jamie Lyn
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2017
Subjects: Conflict management
Adult romantic attachment
Psychological partner aggression
Relationship satisfaction
Dyadic data analysis
Interaction effects

description: Given the nature of couple conflict, couples are frequently tasked with mutually working towards a solution to a given problem. Effective conflict management is a key relationship resource that maintains closeness and cohesiveness (Epstein &amp; Baucom, 2002; Overall &amp; Simpson, 2013), whereas ineffective conflict management is generally associated with impaired relationship functioning (Gottman &amp; Notarius, 2000; Overall &amp; Fletcher, 2010). The overarching goal of the present thesis therefore consisted of further advancing the field’s understanding of conflict management as an interpersonal process in heterosexual couple relationships. This goal was addressed through two novel and complementary studies. The sample for both studies consisted of 179 community-based heterosexual adult couples involved in a long-term romantic relationship. During the testing session, participants completed a questionnaire package and discussed a topic of disagreement for 15 minutes. These interactions were then coded for both positive and negative conflict management behaviours. Both studies modeled these conflict management behaviours alongside crucial variables involved in couple conflict. The first study examined the ways in which partners’ adult romantic attachment orientations interact to predict their conflict management behaviours. As hypothesized, the results provide preliminary evidence that, in some cases, men’s and women’s conflict management depends on the interaction between their own and their partner’s adult romantic attachment orientation, more so than a sole individual’s attachment. The second study examined whether effective conflict management moderates the negative association between relationship satisfaction and men’s and women’s use of psychological partner aggression. Contrary to hypotheses, the results suggest that, in predicting these aggressive acts, relationship satisfaction and conflict management make fairly independent contributions. These findings are based on strong theoretical frameworks as well as a number of methodological strengths, including the observational coding of positive and negative conflict management behaviours and the implementation of sophisticated dyadic data analyses. Furthermore, by filling gaps in the existing literature, these findings offer several theoretical, empirical, and clinical implications for the field of couple conflict. As individual and collective bodies of work, the studies of the present thesis provide invaluable evidence in support of the complex and interdependent nature of couple relationships. Such findings are highly relevant to couple researchers and clinicians alike, both of whom endeavour to understand and improve couple relationship functioning.