Social support, problem solving, and the longitudinal course of newlywed marriage.

Abstract

Married couples (N = 172) were observed as newlyweds and observed again 1 year later while engaging in 2 problem-solving and 2 personal support discussions. Microanalytic coding of these conversations was used to examine associations between problem-solving and social support behaviors for 1 year and their relative contributions to 10-year trajectories of self-reported relationship satisfaction and dissolution. Results demonstrated that initially lower levels of positive support behaviors and higher levels of negative support behaviors predicted 1-year increases in negative emotion displayed during problem-solving conversations. Emotions coded from the initial problem-solving conversations did not predict 1-year changes in social support behaviors. Controlling for emotions displayed during problem-solving interactions eliminated or reduced associations between initial social support behaviors and (a) later levels of satisfaction and (b) relationship dissolution. These findings corroborate models that prioritize empathy, validation, and caring as key elements in the development of intimacy (e.g., Reis & Shaver, 1988) and suggest that deficits in these domains foreshadow deterioration in problem solving and conflict management. Implications for integrating support and problem solving in models of relationship change are outlined, as are implications for incorporating social support in education programs for developing relationships.

Terapia de Casal e Estratégias de Resolução de Conflito: Uma Revisão Sistemática

“…Tais aspectos estão fortemente documentados na literatura científica (Anderson, & Johnson, 2010;Leggett et al, 2012;Markman et al, 2010;Schoebi et al, 2012;Sierau, & Herzberg, 2012;Sullivan et al, 2010;Veldorale-Brogan et al, 2013;Wheeler et al, 2010;Whiting, 2008). Além disso, fatores como regulação emocional são referidos por grupos de pesquisadores com significativa trajetória em pesquisa (Baucom, 1982;Baucom et al, 2011;Kirby & Baucom, 2007a;2007b;Sayers et al, 1991), indicando que se trata de uma área de conhecimento que necessita ser explorada considerando as diferentes perspectivas teóricas e variáveis implicadas nesse processo.…”

“…As destrutivas, por sua vez, caracterizam-se pela identificação de culpados, foco demasiado no problema, racionalização, comportamentos de esquiva e de retraimento, hostilidade, reclamações, rigidez e negatividade (Anderson & Johnson, 2010;Sierau, & Herzberg, 2012;Sullivan, Pasch, Johnson, & Bradbury, 2010;Wheeler, Updegraff, & Thayer, 2010;Whiting, 2008).…”

Discussion topic and observed behavior in couples' problem-solving conversations: Do problem severity and topic choice matter?

“…This raises new questions about how to interpret between-couple differences in communication behavior, especially if they prove predictive of subsequent marital outcomes. For example, given that some of the between-couple variability in negativity is due to perceived problem severity and topic choice, is the association between observed negativity and couples' marital satisfaction over time (e.g., Sullivan, Pasch, Johnson, & Bradbury, 2010) due to certain couples having a relative deficit in communication skills, as is commonly assumed, or is it due to the fact that certain couples have more severe problems or certain types of problems? The cross-sectional design of the current study did not allow us to test these types of questions, but it does highlight a need for longitudinal studies to disentangle the roles of problem severity, problem topic, and communication skills in predicting marital outcomes.…”

Conflito conjugal e estratégias de resolução: uma revisão sistemática da literatura

“…Na resolução construtiva, as estratégias encontradas foram: benevolência, cooperação, suporte, validação, autocontrole, comunicação positiva, utilização de pronomes de integração (nós), identifi cação e abordagem ativa dos problemas, inclinação à mudança de comportamento, bom humor e demonstração de interesse em resolver os desacordos. Na resolução destrutiva, as estratégias encontradas foram: retaliação, autoproteção, ataque, utilização de pronomes de separação (tu), abordagem passiva do problema, comunicação negativa, ocultação de informações do parceiro e esquiva (Bermúdez et al, 2006;Fincham et al, 2004Fincham et al, , 2007Hoppmann & Blanchard-Fields, 2011;Johnson et al, 2005;Leggett et al, 2012;Markman et al, 2010;McNulty et al, 2008;McNulty & Russell, 2010;Paleari et al, 2010;Sanford, 2006;Schoebi et al, 2012;Seider et al, 2009;Simmons et al, 2005;Sullivan et al, 2010;Tallman & Hsiao, 2004;Uysal et al, 2012;Veldorale-Brogan et al, 2013;Verhofstadt, Buysse, Ickes, et al, 2005).…”