Some things are better left unsaid: Topic avoidance in family relationships

Guerrero, Laura K.; Afifi, Walid A.

doi:10.1080/01463379509369977

Cited by 136 publications

(145 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Though it is in line with previous research on family topic avoidance and uncertainty (e.g., Afifi & Schrodt, 2003;Guerrero & Afifi, 1995a, 1995b, it is the first known project to measure sibling uncertainty and topic avoidance. Findings reveal that both sibling general partner uncertainty and topic avoidance are low to moderate experiences (RQ), with partner uncertainty experienced significantly more than relational uncertainty (H1).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

“…Thus, the lack of relationship between partner and relational uncertainty and romantic=sexual relationship topic avoidance may be a function of the type of topic that is avoided by individuals with their siblings. The unique and specific nature of romantic and sexual topics may mean that other factors such as the gender of one's sibling (Guerrero & Afifi, 1995a), sibling relationship satisfaction, and possibly even general family communication patterns (Chaffee, McLeod, & Atkin, 1971;Koerner & Fitzpatrick, 1997) might exert a greater influence on one's decision to avoid or engage in a discussion of this topic compared with general partner and relational uncertainty. As this is the first known exploration of uncertainty as a predictor for romantic=sexual relationship topic avoidance in families, future research should continue to probe these relationships.…”

Section: Topic Avoidancesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Growing evidence indicates that parent-child topic avoidance is prevalent within families (e.g., Afifi & Schrodt, 2003;Guerrero & Afifi, 1995a, 1995bMazur & Ebesu Hubbard, 2004). Specifically, Guerrero and Afifi (1995a) found that adolescents and young adults avoided sexual topics more with opposite-sex than same-sex siblings, cited self protection as a strong predictor of topic avoidance in brother relationships, and found that partner unresponsiveness and social inappropriateness were predictors of sister topic avoidance. Participants also reported moderate sibling topic avoidance about relationship issues, dating experiences, friendships, social inappropriateness, and sexual experiences (Guerrero & Afifi, 1995a).…”

Section: Uncertainty and Topic Avoidancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Specifically, Guerrero and Afifi (1995a) found that adolescents and young adults avoided sexual topics more with opposite-sex than same-sex siblings, cited self protection as a strong predictor of topic avoidance in brother relationships, and found that partner unresponsiveness and social inappropriateness were predictors of sister topic avoidance. Participants also reported moderate sibling topic avoidance about relationship issues, dating experiences, friendships, social inappropriateness, and sexual experiences (Guerrero & Afifi, 1995a). Because of this previously observed moderate level of topic avoidance, it is reasonable to link sibling topic avoidance with the related variables of general partner and relational uncertainty.…”

Section: Uncertainty and Topic Avoidancementioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Factors Associated with General Partner and Relational Uncertainty within Early Adulthood Sibling Relationships

Bevan

Stetzenbach²,

Batson³

et al. 2006

Communication Quarterly

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Guided by the theoretical concept of uncertainty, the present study was an exploratory investigation of general partner and relational uncertainty within sibling relationships. Undergraduate and graduate student participants responded to a written survey utilizing scales measuring general partner uncertainty, relational uncertainty, extent of topic avoidance, and various relational and demographic items. Results revealed that siblings experience significantly more partner uncertainty than relational uncertainty, although both uncertainty types were experienced at low to moderate levels. Further, differing levels of partner and relational uncertainty were associated with frequency of sibling contact, but not with sibling dyadic gender composition. Finally, both general partner and relational uncertainty were significant predictors of levels of general topic avoidance, although neither uncertainty type predicted romantic=sexual relationship topic avoidance levels. Theoretical implications for uncertainty management are discussed in light of the unique sibling relationship.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

Section: Topic Avoidancesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Uncertainty and Topic Avoidancementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Uncertainty and Topic Avoidancementioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Factors Associated with General Partner and Relational Uncertainty within Early Adulthood Sibling Relationships

Bevan

Stetzenbach²,

Batson³

et al. 2006

Communication Quarterly

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For example, many of the wives intentionally avoided talking about their home life because they believed it would make their husbands angry or sad. Similar to previous research, topic avoidance served a self and relationship protection function for these wives (Afifi & Guerrero, 1998;Guerrero & Afifi, 1995). Further, the participants also realized that engaging in small talk was a way to maintain the feeling of a relationship in the cognitive absence of their spouses.…”

Section: Theoretical Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 53%

Contradictions of interaction for wives of elderly husbands with adult dementia

Baxter

Braithwaite

Golish

et al. 2002

Journal of Applied Communication Research

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Adolescent disclosure and concealment: Longitudinal and concurrent associations with aggression

Leavitt

Nelson

Coyne

et al. 2013

Aggressive Behavior

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This longitudinal study assessed the association between prior (preschool) and concurrent physical and relational aggression as they relate to Russian adolescents' disclosure and concealment patterns with their parents. In the initial preschool study, there were 106 boys and 106 girls (mean age = 60.24 months, SD = 7.81). Both peer nominations and teacher ratings of aggression were obtained for these children. Ten years later, the majority of these children (72.2%; n = 153) completed a longitudinal follow-up battery of assessments. Included in these measures was a self-reported measure of aggression as well as an assessment of the extent to which these adolescents disclosed to and concealed information from their parents. Separate models were estimated by gender of child for the 153 children who participated in both Time 1 and Time 2 data collections. Preschool physical aggression proved an important longitudinal predictor of adolescent disclosure and concealment for girls. Concurrently, self-rated relational aggression was also significantly associated with concealment for both boys and girls.

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Some things are better left unsaid: Topic avoidance in family relationships

Cited by 136 publications

References 37 publications

Factors Associated with General Partner and Relational Uncertainty within Early Adulthood Sibling Relationships

Factors Associated with General Partner and Relational Uncertainty within Early Adulthood Sibling Relationships

Contradictions of interaction for wives of elderly husbands with adult dementia

Adolescent disclosure and concealment: Longitudinal and concurrent associations with aggression

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