Making Sense of Hurtful Mother-in-law Messages: Applying Attribution Theory to the In-Law Triad

Rittenour, Christine E.; Kellas, Jody Koenig

doi:10.1080/01463373.2014.965837

Cited by 23 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…A series of independent samples t tests were conducted to examine several potential covariates, including the length of the child and child‐in‐law's courtship prior to engagement or marriage (Merrill, ), relationship status of the child‐in‐law (i.e., affianced or married; Cotterill, ), and the presence or absence of children/grandchildren (Fischer, ), as well as participant sex (mother‐in‐law vs. father‐in‐law) and the child‐in‐law's sex (i.e., daughter‐in‐law vs. son‐in‐law; Mikucki‐Enyart, ). In addition, given that same‐sex in‐law relationships (e.g., mother‐ and daughter‐in‐law) are purported to be more tumultuous than opposite‐sex in‐law dyads (e.g., Duvall, ; Merrill, ; Rittenour & Koenig Kellas, ), a two‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to examine significant interactions between parent‐in‐law sex and child‐in‐law sex.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Future research is needed to replicate these findings and determine the stability and potential theoretical contribution of this pattern. been given to the "dark side" of in-law relationships (e.g., Morr Serewicz & Canary, 2008;Rittenour & Koenig Kellas, 2015), but these results highlight the need to examine the "bright side" and what makes in-law relationships functional rather than dysfunctional.…”

Section: Implications For the Rtm/rtt And Mgprmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Although speculative, facilitation's ability to temper negative and promote positive emotions (Knobloch et al, ; McLaren et al, ) may enhance positive regard and feelings of intimacy between in‐laws, reducing their desire to create relational distance while simultaneously increasing their confidence in the relationship, making them feel comfortable engaging in open communication, including conflict (Cloven & Roloff, ). Ample attention has been given to the “dark side” of in‐law relationships (e.g., Morr Serewicz & Canary, ; Rittenour & Koenig Kellas, ), but these results highlight the need to examine the “bright side” and what makes in‐law relationships functional rather than dysfunctional.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, I propose that the salience of interaction goals vary across two types of topic avoidance—tangential topic avoidance and in‐law‐relevant topic avoidance. Finally, while the bulk of extant in‐law scholarship privileges children‐in‐law's perspectives, painting a one‐sided and often dismal portrait of in‐law relationships (e.g., Morr Serewicz & Canary, ; Rittenour & Koenig Kellas, ), this study examines the perspective of the underrepresented parent‐in‐law.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Parents‐in‐law's topic avoidance: Understanding the role of interaction goals and relational characteristics

Mikucki‐Enyart

2018

Personal Relationships

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Utilizing dual logic from a multiple goals and relational turbulence theory, this study examined parents‐in‐law's interaction goals for topic avoidance with their children‐in‐law. Data from 159 parents‐in‐law revealed that multiple and conflicting goals were associated with parents‐in‐law's topic avoidance. Furthermore, relational parameters (i.e., relational uncertainty and partner influence) were associated with the goals in‐laws pursued. Results augment theorizing on a multiple goals perspective, relational turbulence, and topic avoidance, as well as theoretically ground the study of in‐law communication.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Implications For the Rtm/rtt And Mgprmentioning

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Parents‐in‐law's topic avoidance: Understanding the role of interaction goals and relational characteristics

Mikucki‐Enyart

2018

Personal Relationships

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“…In-law relationships, although not studied as frequently as family-of-origin relationships (Bengston, 2004;Soliz & Rittenour, 2012), have been paid increasing attention by family communication scholars (e.g., Fowler & Rittenour, 2017;Mikucki-Enyart, 2011;Mikucki-Enyart, Caughlin, & Rittenour, 2015;Prentice, 2008;Prentice, 2009;Rittenour, 2012;Rittenour & Kellas, 2015;Serewicz, 2008;Serewicz & Canary, 2008;Serewicz, Hosmer, Ballard, & Griffin, 2008). In-law relationships are complex, nonvoluntary relationships characterized by a variety of positive and negative outcomes (Fischer, 1983).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Communication Accommodation in Mother-in-Law/Daughter-in-Law Relationships

Shelton¹

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The goal of this thesis was to further the literature on mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationships by directly employing Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT) to examine relationships between categories of accommodation and relational quality in these relationships. Daughters-in-law (N = 677) were solicited via private Facebook groups to complete an online survey regarding accommodation (their own and their mothers-in-law's), their feelings of shared family identity, and their relationship satisfaction in their relationship with their mothers-in-law. Results demonstrated relationships between mothers-in-law's accommodation, overaccommodation, and underaccommodation of their daughters-in-law and daughters-in-law's feelings of shared family identify and relationship satisfaction. Additionally, relationships were present between daughters-in-law's feelings of shared family identity and relationship satisfaction and their accommodation (active and inactive), nonaccommodation, and reluctant accommodation of their mothers-in-law. These results confirm that CAT is directly applicable to mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationships in that both women's accommodation coincides with daughters-in-law's perceptions of satisfaction and feeling like a family. Additional findings assert the importance of mediated communication, warrant further study of the nature of in-law dynamics, and invite researchers to reconsider the conceptualization of relationship satisfaction in mother-in-law/daughterin-law relationships. iii DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my daughter, Scarlett. In becoming a mother, I have gained new and complex family relationships, while others have changed and grown. As I learn more about the complexities of motherhood and family, my interest in family communication continues to grow. Motherhood has motivated and challenged me throughout the completion of this thesis and my daughter continues to teach and inspire me every day. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my appreciation to all those who have guided and supported me through the process of writing this thesis: First, I would like to thank my committee. Thank you to Dr. Matthew Martin for your honest and thoughtful feedback and for the important additions you suggested for this thesis. Both as a committee member and department chair, you have helped me succeed throughout the completion of this thesis and this program. To Dr. Scott Myers, thank you for taking time to teach me the statistical analyses I needed to know for this thesis. Your questions and suggestions regarding both the focal concepts and the small details helped make this thesis the best it could be. Of course, I also thank Dr. Christine Rittenour, my advisor, for being so supportive throughout this process. Your expertise helped me tremendously with this project, and your caring and acceptance kept me grounded throughout. I would also like to thank my cohort members for their tremendous support while I was writing this thesis. I am proud to be a part of such an amazing group ...

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The Mother‐in‐Law Mystique: A Tale of Conflict, Criticism and Resistance

Ward

Linn

2020

ANZ J of Family Therapy

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While women have been described in various disciplines as the kin keepers of family relationships, empirical data show that the greatest rivalry in newly constructed heterosexual families exists between two women: the mother‐in‐law and the daughter‐in‐law. Numerous rituals are employed across cultures in order to ease the expected tension between these two rival women. Yet, the topic seems to have been overlooked by feminist and family therapy research alike. Inspired by Bowen's (1978) concept of differentiation of self and Linn's (1998) and Gilligan's (Linn & Gilligan, 1990) ideas of the resisting self, the present study examines these female rivals as moral critics in the war zone of the family. The study sample consists of 14 mothers‐in‐law, daughters‐in‐law, and sons/husbands, belonging to five Israeli families of diverse cultural origin. Gilligan's Listening Guide was used to assess how participants saw the dilemmas of their situation, adopted a critical distance, and formed an authoritative moral voice.

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Making Sense of Hurtful Mother-in-law Messages: Applying Attribution Theory to the In-Law Triad

Cited by 23 publications

References 52 publications

Parents‐in‐law's topic avoidance: Understanding the role of interaction goals and relational characteristics

Parents‐in‐law's topic avoidance: Understanding the role of interaction goals and relational characteristics

The Role of Communication Accommodation in Mother-in-Law/Daughter-in-Law Relationships

The Mother‐in‐Law Mystique: A Tale of Conflict, Criticism and Resistance

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