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

Abstract

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.

Children-in-laws’ message processing: Associations among uncertainty, perceived topic avoidance, goal inferences, and martial satisfaction

“…The associations between uncertainty and message production have been well documented (e.g., Knobloch, 2006; Mikucki-Enyart, 2018a) with fewer studies examining associations between ambiguity and message processing. The handful that have, however, have revealed associations between relational uncertainty and more tentative and pessimistic evaluations of partner’s messages (Knobloch & Solomon, 2005; Knobloch et al, 2007).…”

“…In-laws grapple with uncertainty at both the dyadic and family system level (Mikucki-Enyart, 2018, 2018a, 2018b). At the in-law level, they wrestle with relational uncertainty , defined as “the degree of confidence people have in their perceptions of involvement within close relationships” (Knobloch & Solomon, 1999, p. 264), which is comprised of a trio of uncertainties: self uncertainty , one’s own questions about involvement; partner uncertainty , doubts about the partner’s involvement; and relationship uncertainty , concerns about the nature of the relationship in general.…”

“…Previous research supports this conclusion, revealing that self uncertainty often corresponds differently with cognitions (e.g., perceptions of hurtful behavior; McLaren, Solomon, & Priem, 2011; Priem & Solomon, 2011) than partner and relationship uncertainty. Moreover, within the in-law domain, family uncertainty and relationship uncertainty are more potent predictors of parents-in-law’s own topic avoidance than self or partner focused queries (Mikucki-Enyart, 2018a). Thus, in addition to examining general trends, a first research question inquires about the relative strength of uncertainties in predicting perceptions of topic avoidance: RQ1: Is a particular source of uncertainty (relational or family) a stronger predictor of perceived topic avoidance? …”

“…Current scholarship identifies two forms of uncertainty experienced by in-laws—relational uncertainty and family uncertainty (e.g., Knobloch & Solomon, 1999; Mikucki-Enyart & Caughlin, 2018). These uncertainties have implications for in-law’s communication, including message production, how they generate messages (Mikucki-Enyart, 2018a; Mikucki-Enyart & Caughlin, 2018), and message processing, how they make sense of one another’s messages (Knobloch & Solomon, 2005; Knobloch, Miller, Bond, & Mannone, 2007).…”

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

“…Despite formal ties through the legal bonds of marriage, it is often challenging for individuals to feel as if their in-laws are a part of their family. Although research has shown that these nonvoluntary relationships can range from positive to problematic (Hess, 2000;Nuner, 2004;Serovich & Price, 1994), much of the in-law literature relates to the problems experienced in these relationships (e.g., Mikucki-Enyart, 2017;Turner, Young & Black, 2006). Several of these issues addressed by the literature surround the children of daughters-in-law (i.e., the grandchildren of mothers-in-law; e.g., .…”