Duncan Cramer

Relationship Satisfaction and Conflict Style in Romantic Relationships

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine to what extent the association between relationship satisfaction and a negative conflict style in romantic relationships may be due to the frequency of conflict or of conflict not satisfactorily resolved. The 6-item Relationship Assessment Scale (S. S. Hendrick, 1988) and an 11-item conflict scale created by the author for this study were completed by a group of young British adults (65 women and 30 men) concerning their current romantic relationships, all of which were heterosexual. The results confirmed that a negative conflict style was significantly associated with relationship satisfaction when either conflict or conflict not satisfactorily resolved was controlled. Conflict not satisfactorily resolved was also significantly correlated with relationship satisfaction when either conflict or a negative conflict style was controlled. Conflict and a negative conflict style were also significantly correlated with relationship duration.

Perceived empathy, accurate empathy and relationship satisfaction in heterosexual couples

One aim of this study was to test a model derived from Cutrona that conflict and depression partially mediate the relation between perceived and accurate empathy and relationship satisfaction. This was investigated in 149 heterosexual couples using dyadic analysis. As accurate empathy was not significantly related to relationship satisfaction when actual and assumed similarities were controlled, this model was only examined with perceived empathy. Apart from conflict in men, the actor effects of the model were supported. Perceived empathy was positively associated with relationship satisfaction and negatively associated with depression and conflict. Depression and conflict were negatively associated with relationship satisfaction. There were two partner effects. Conflict in women was significantly associated with depression and relationship dissatisfaction in men.

Job satisfaction and organizational continuance commitment: a two-wave panel study

The temporal relationship between job satisfaction and organizational continuance commitment over 13 months was examined in 295 professional employees of a British engineering company using LISREL with latent variables analysis. The cross-lagged path coefficients in the LISREL models were not significantly positive, suggesting that the relationship between these two variables was spurious and due to error variance. Test–retest coefficients for both variables were moderately positive, showing that the relative ranking of individuals on these variables was fairly stable over time.

Personality and marital dissolution

Abstract In the large scale, nationally representative 1984/5 Health and Lifestyle Survey of British adults, Neuroticism and Extraversion (as measured by the Eysenck Personality Inventory) were higher in the 200 women and 99 men who had separated or divorced than in the 1836 women and 1734 men who remained married. When such potentially confounding factors as the Lie scale score, age and social class were partialled out, Neuroticism and Extraversion remained greater in the women but not the men who had separated or divorced. Although not large, the findings provide further support that these personality factors may be involved in marital dissolution.

Emotional Support, Conflict, Depression, and Relationship Satisfaction in a Romantic Partner

One aim of this study was to determine the relative contribution of partner conflict and support to satisfaction with a romantic relationship when conflict and support are measured in terms of the same characteristics. Another aim was to ascertain whether support is indirectly associated with relationship satisfaction through reduced conflict and depression, as suggested by C. E. Cutrona (1996). The Relationship Assessment Scale (S. S. Hendrick, 1988), the Revised SCL-90-R Depression subscale (L. R. Derogatis, 1983), and a conflict and support scale were completed by 76 female and 35 male college students. Relationship satisfaction was explained only by support. Support was indirectly associated with relationship satisfaction through a reduction of depression but was not associated with conflict. The results suggest that a better understanding of satisfaction with a romantic relationship may be obtained through the study of support rather than conflict.

Facilitativeness, Conflict, Demand for Approval, Self-Esteem, and Satisfaction With Romantic Relationships

Abstract This study is an examination of the extent to which satisfaction with a main current romantic relationship is associated with negative conflict, demand for approval, self-esteem, and the 3 facilitative conditions of unconditional regard, empathy, and congruence. One or more of these conditions have been proposed as important determinants of relationship satisfaction by various relationship-enhancement approaches such as behavioral marital therapy and cognitive-behavioral marital therapy. College students (86 women and 58 men) completed S. S. Hendricks (1988) Relationship Satisfaction Scale, a measure of negative conflict formulated by the author, R. G. Joness (1969) Demand for Approval Scale (modified for a particular relationship), M. Rosenbergs (1965) Self-Esteem Scale, and a shortened modified version of G. T. Barrett-Lennards (1964) Relationship Inventory. Relationship satisfaction was most strongly related to the level of regard and empathy, which is consistent with approaches to relationships that emphasize empathy training.

A Cautionary Tale of Two Statistics: Partial Correlation and Standardized Partial Regression

Abstract Partial correlation and standardized partial regression are widely used to control for other variables in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. Two aspects of these statistics can radically alter the interpretation of data and so deserve attention. First, their sign will be opposite to that of the original zero-order correlation when this correlation is of the same sign as and smaller than the product of the other 2 correlations. Second, their size will be considerably larger than a weak zero-order correlation when either that correlation is positive and the product of the other 2 correlations is negative or that correlation is negative and the product of the other 2 correlations is positive. The first aspect is illustrated with data from J. M. Gottman and L. J. Krokoff (1989) on initial conflict behavior and initial and later marital satisfaction, and the 2nd aspect is illustrated with data from C. L. Heavey, C. Layne, and A. Christensen (1993) on the same issue. Their interpretation of their findings is questioned.

How a supportive partner may increase relationship satisfaction

ABSTRACT The way in which satisfaction with a romantic relationship may be affected by how supportive a partner is and how constructively they deal with conflict in that relationship was examined in young adults. Both greater support and less conflict were found to be independently associated with relationship satisfaction, implying that both are necessary for a satisfactory relationship. While support did not mitigate the possible effects of conflict on satisfaction, it may lead to more constructive conflict which in turn may enhance satisfaction. Support seen as being available as well as support that was received were independently associated with relationship satisfaction. Of the different forms of available support measured, only support reflecting being cared for was independently associated with relationship satisfaction. These results suggest that encouraging couples to be emotionally supportive to each other may improve the effectiveness of relationship counselling as well as relationship enhancement and problem prevention programmes.

Satisfaction with a romantic relationship, depression, support and conflict.

A major aim of this study was to determine whether the association between support and conflict would be weaker when assessed in terms of a specific instance than in general and, if so, whether conflict as well as depression would mediate the association between support and satisfaction with a romantic relationship as suggested by Cutrona (1996). The Relationship Assessment Scale (Hendrick, 1988), the Revised SCL-90 Depression Subscale (Derogatis, 1983) and four scales measuring conflict and support as typically and as last shown were completed by 76 female and 24 male college students. Because they were so highly correlated, the typical and the specific measures were combined to form a conflict and a support scale. There was a direct association between support and relationship satisfaction which was not mediated by either conflict or depression. These results indicate that support may play a stronger role in determining satisfaction with a romantic relationship than conflict, which has received the most attention.

Supply and demand : the workforce needs of library and information services and personal qualities of new professionals

Reports results of a questionnaire survey of 888 UK chief librarians, conducted as part of a British Library Research and Innovation Centre research project, to identify and analyse the personal qualities demanded by Library and Information Service (LIS) employers and those personal qualities that new graduate entrants are perceived to lack. Reviews the literature on the changing role of information professionals and the importance of personal factors in library and information recruitment and presents a comprehensive list of 50 desirable personal qualities arranged under five headings: characteristics needed for a user centred approach; characteristics needed for effective team work; thinking orientation; attitude to work; and style of working. Concludes that the ability to accept pressure, deal with a range of users and respond to change, are most essential for information work. The significant overlap between those qualities felt to be most essential and those perceived to be lacking raises the concern that qualities that are high in demand are also in short supply.