(PS4-17) Connections That Matter: Examining Romantic Relationship Processes Through Network Analysis

Abstract Text:

Background: Romantic relationships are complex, multivariate systems characterized by a plethora of interrelated processes. Consistent with the Enduring-Vulnerability Stress-Adaptation model of relationship functioning (Karney & Bradbury, 1995), the past 50 years of research on couples and close relationships has identified a plethora of adaptive and maladaptive relationship processes that couples use to navigate day-to-day life. However, it remains largely unclear how these various processes influence one another. Thus, the current study took a holistic approach by measuring a broad set of processes (e.g., spending quality time together, talking about the relationship, reflecting on one’s own contributions to the relationship, fostering gratitude toward one’s partner, maintaining attentive awareness of the relationship, providing emotional support, engaging in negative conflict behavior, being emotionally responsive, physical affection and sexual intimacy) in a large online sample at two waves. The study then used network analysis to examine the interdependent and mechanistic links among change in these processes in an exploratory, data-driven fashion. Specifically, network analysis was used to: (1) reveal the unique and proximal connections amongst the variables examined, (2) uncover possible mechanistic pathways, and (3) highlight optimal points of intervention.

Methods: The current project explored the connection between changes in a comprehensive set of 16 relationship processes within a sample of 1-month change scores of 867 individuals in romantic relationships (85.8% White; 76.6% female; Mage = 51.5) who completed well-validated measures of relationship functioning (e.g., CSI, PN-RQ, AAIRS, SIRRS, QSI), and individual functioning (e.g., PHQ-9, GAD-7, VDL, SQLS).

Results: Model invariance analyses using the Network Comparison Test suggested that our network results were stable across: age, gender, sexual orientation, race, education, and income groups. Results in the full sample identified changes in quality time spent with one’s partner as a markedly central construct (suggesting changes on it might have the strongest spillover effects to a wide range of other processes). Changes in gratitude toward one’s partner and perceived partner responsiveness also emerged as notably central. These constructs had strong proximal links to changes in relationship satisfaction, suggesting that they might serve as potential mechanisms through which more distal variables (e.g., relationship talk, awareness, physical affection) are linked to changes in relationship satisfaction.

Conclusions: This study offers insights into processes central to changes in relationship satisfaction and the potential mechanistic pathways amongst those processes.