Partner responsiveness : the long term effects on a relationship.

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2016-07-13

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Abstract

According to the theory of attachment injuries, it was hypothesized that there would be a relationship between perceived partner responsiveness (both support and capitalization) and two relationship outcome variables (relationship attributions and adult romantic attachment). In addition, there was also a hypothesized relationship between support and perceived threat and neglect. One hundred and eighty four participants in a romantic relationship were assessed through on-line surveys up to four times every two weeks in order to examine concurrent, between person, and within person effects. The dimensions of perceived partner responsiveness (active constructive, passive destructive, and active destructive) were analyzed separately, rather than having a single score for support and capitalization. One hundred percent of the expected concurrent or bivariate correlation results occurred in the expected direction. However, there were also large correlations between the predictor variables, which ultimately may have contributed to the less robust between and within person results. Only 33% of the support between person effects were significant after controlling for satisfaction, while only one of the capitalization between person effects was significant in an unexpected direction. For the within person effects, only 27% of the support results were significant and 22% of the capitalization results were significant. However, the validity of the threat and neglect measures was strengthened as a result of this study.

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