Nathan Hardy - Temporality of Couple Conflict and Relationship

Journal article

Matthew D Johnson, Rebecca M. Horne, N. Hardy, Jared R Anderson
Journal of family psychology, 2018

Cite

APA Click to copy
Johnson, M. D., Horne, R. M., Hardy, N., & Anderson, J. R. (2018). Temporality of Couple Conflict and Relationship Perceptions. Journal of Family Psychology.

Chicago/Turabian Click to copy
Johnson, Matthew D, Rebecca M. Horne, N. Hardy, and Jared R Anderson. “Temporality of Couple Conflict and Relationship Perceptions.” Journal of family psychology (2018).

MLA Click to copy
Johnson, Matthew D., et al. “Temporality of Couple Conflict and Relationship Perceptions.” Journal of Family Psychology, 2018.

BibTeX Click to copy

@article{matthew2018a,
  title = {Temporality of Couple Conflict and Relationship Perceptions},
  year = {2018},
  journal = {Journal of family psychology},
  author = {Johnson, Matthew D and Horne, Rebecca M. and Hardy, N. and Anderson, Jared R}
}

Abstract

Using 5 waves of longitudinal survey data gathered from 3,405 couples, the present study investigates the temporal associations between self-reported couple conflict (frequency and each partner’s constructive and withdrawing behaviors) and relationship perceptions (satisfaction and perceived instability). Autoregressive cross-lagged model results revealed couple conflict consistently predicted future relationship perceptions: More frequent conflict and withdrawing behaviors and fewer constructive behaviors foretold reduced satisfaction and conflict frequency and withdrawal heightened perceived instability. Relationship perceptions also shaped future conflict, but in surprising ways: Perceptions of instability were linked with less frequent conflict, and male partner instability predicted fewer withdrawing behaviors for female partners. Higher satisfaction from male partners also predicted more frequent and less constructive conflict behavior in the future. These findings illustrate complex bidirectional linkages between relationship perceptions and couple conflict behaviors in the development of couple relations.