Troublesome Relationships: A Part of Human Experience

Abstract

In a study of troublesome relationships, 343 university students and employees were surveyed. Issues addressed were the frequency, nature and precursors of negative relationship experiences. Over half of the respondents (55.7%) reported a very troublesome relationship within the previous 5 years. These were most often close relationships that deteriorated markedly as a result of the experience. Negative relationship involvement was related to insecure styles of attachment. Those with an insecure-avoidant attachment style were also more prone to use alcohol or drugs to cope with the troubled relationship and they were more likely to end the relationship. The results support the view that a history of poor attachment relations may compromise later relationships. However, the attachment effects were modest and the pervasiveness of troublesome relationship encounters suggests that these are an ubiquitous part of the human experience.

Attachment and affective resolution following a stressful event: General and religious coping as possible mediators

“…For instance, persons with secure attachment styles tend to use problem engagement coping and social support, whereas persons with avoidant attachment styles tend to use distancing coping and less support seeking. Ambivalent individuals report more emotion-focused coping, turning to alcohol or drugs (Levitt, Silver, & Franco, 1996), and passive coping.…”

Social Relations in Childhood and Adolescence: The Convoy Model Perspective

“…Structural and functional characteristics of the social convoy have been related to both personal and situational influences [Antonucci et al, in press;Levitt, Bustos, Crooks, Levitt, Santos, & Telan, 2000;Levitt, Crooks, Bustos, Levitt, Telan, Santos, Franco, Hodgetts, Milevsky, & Oliva, 2001]. Numerous studies have found convoy support to be associated with psychosocial adjustment; however, convoys do not always function optimally and social relations can sometimes have a negative influence on personal adaptation [Antonucci, 1990[Antonucci, , 2001Levitt, Silver & Franco, 1996].…”

Stalking acknowledgement and reporting among college women experiencing intrusive behaviors: Implications for the emergence of a “classic stalking case”

“…Some studies collect data on any perpetrator type, while others focus on intimate or dating partners (Levitt, Silver, & Franco, 1996;Logan, Leukefeld, & Walker, 2000;McCreedy & Dennis, 1996;Pipes & Lebov-Keeler, 1997). A few studies assess lifetime prevalence (Tjaden & Thoennes, 1998), but some limit the time frame to the academic year of the study (Fisher et al, 2002;Mustaine & Tewksbury, 1999) or to five years (e.g., Levitt et al, 1996).…”

“…Some studies collect data on any perpetrator type, while others focus on intimate or dating partners (Levitt, Silver, & Franco, 1996;Logan, Leukefeld, & Walker, 2000;McCreedy & Dennis, 1996;Pipes & Lebov-Keeler, 1997). A few studies assess lifetime prevalence (Tjaden & Thoennes, 1998), but some limit the time frame to the academic year of the study (Fisher et al, 2002;Mustaine & Tewksbury, 1999) or to five years (e.g., Levitt et al, 1996). Finally, studies vary dramatically in how stalking is defined, with some studies having victims self-define what constitutes stalking (McCreedy & Dennis, 1996;Mustaine & Tewksbury, 1999), others use a behavior list (e.g., Spitzberg & Rhea, 1999), and still others use legal definitions from the study jurisdiction (e.g., Coleman, 1997).…”

“…Studies that did not focus so specifically on the point of breakup in an intimate relationship were associated with lower prevalence rates. For example, Levitt et al (1996) examined stalking by an intimate over the past five years and found a prevalence rate of 11 percent, and McCreedy and Dennis (1996) found a 6 percent lifetime rate among junior and senior college students.…”