Doctoral Dissertations
Date of Award
8-2012
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Major
Psychology
Major Professor
Kristina C. Gordon
Committee Members
Deborah P. Welsh, Paula J. Fite, Bethany K. Dumas
Abstract
The purpose of the current study was to investigate factors in the intergenerational transmission of relationship patterns that might contribute to resilience in offspring relationship cognitions, expectations, and current relationship functioning despite (or perhaps, due to) witnessing interparental conflict. Questionnaires measuring interparental conflict, relationship cognitions, relationship communication behaviors, and current relationship satisfaction were administered to 119 young adult offspring at a single time point. Offspring also completed an audiotaped structured interview in which they described their parents' relationship which was later coded for coherence, or how cohesive, organized, and integrative an account they gave regarding the nature of their parents' relationship. A questionnaire measuring marital conflict and resolution was also administered to offspring participants' mothers. Offspring's optimism about marriage was tested as a mediator in the association between interparental conflict, resolution, and offspring's current relationship satisfaction. It was also predicted that offspring's high coherence about parental relationships would buffer offspring's relationship cognitions from the influence of interparental conflict, and that offspring's high coherence would facilitate the positive association between witnessing interparental conflict resolution and offspring's optimism about marriage. Other moderators were also tested. Results confirmed the prediction that offspring's high coherence regarding parental relationships would facilitate an association between witnessing interparental conflict resolution and offspring's increased optimism about marriage, which was associated with offspring's current relationship satisfaction. However, offspring's optimism about marriage and current relationship functioning were more vulnerable to the influence of interparental conflict when offspring displayed high coherence regarding parental relationships. Additional findings regarding differences in pathways dependent upon the informant of interparental conflict, the moderating role of supportive maternal relationships, and gender differences are highlighted. My findings suggest that offspring's optimism about marriage is a consistent pathway through which family of origin experiences can influence offspring's current relationship functioning. Further, the current study's findings suggest that offspring's increased awareness of interparental conflict and resolution can be beneficial or harmful to their own expectations regarding a future marriage depending upon the amount (and perhaps type) of conflict or resolution the offspring witnessed or their mothers reported. Alternate mediation pathways within the intergenerational transmission of relationship patterns are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Howell, Jennifer Willett, "The Intergenerational Transmission of Relationship Patterns: How We Understand Relationships Makes the Difference. " PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 2012.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/11604
