Patrick C. Hughes

An Exploratory Investigation into Dating Among Later-life Women

Much of the previous research on dating focused on the close relationships of younger adults, with little attention given to individuals dating in their later life. In addition, the opportunity for intergenerational relationships, such as friendships among members of different age cohorts and non‐typical romantic relationships have significantly increased. The purpose of this study was to describe the dating experiences among later‐life women. Fifteen women participated in in‐depth interviews that examined their communicative experiences, impressions, and struggles while dating later‐life men. Three themes emerged from this study: the need for independence, the need for companionship, and gender role conflict between dating partners. The results were also discussed in terms of the paradoxes that dating creates for later‐life women. Finally, these results are discussed in terms of the unique relational challenges facing later‐life women.

Communication, Marital Satisfaction, and Religious Orientation in Interfaith Marriages

On the assumption that differences in faith traditions may prompt difficulties for married couples, this descriptive study examined interfaith couples’ reports of intrinsic and extrinsic religious orientation, communication during a religious disagreement, social network composition, and social support (N = 87). Spousal intrinsic religious orientation (a strong commitment to faith) is associated with reports of marital satisfaction and constructive communication and inversely associated with demand–withdrawal communication. In contrast, spousal extrinsic religious orientation (religion as a means to another end) is inversely associated with marital satisfaction and constructive communication and directly associated with demand–withdrawal communication and social support satisfaction. Regression analysis suggests spousal intrinsic religious orientation and social support from social network members explain significant unique variance on marital satisfaction, but constructive communication during a religious disagreement is the strongest predictor of marital satisfaction among interfaith couples. An agenda for future research about communication and interfaith couples is suggested.

The Communication of Solidarity in Friendships among African American Women

Much of the previous research on culture and friendship is comparative, highlighting different patterns and/or preferences for friendship communication between various racial and ethnic cultures. However, relying on Houstons (2002) call for experiences from within African American cultures and Shuters (1990 1998) notion of the “centrality of culture,” the authors describe in-depth cultural values and communicative meanings for friendship that exist within a given culture. Thirty-six African American women described their experiences with intraracial friendship communication. Their descriptions suggest that at least one function of the intraracial communication for this group of women is to construct solidarity among African American friends. Three themes emerged around the core concept of solidarity: friendship dichotomies, Black vernacular, and “authentic” communication.

Black, white, and shades of gray: Communication predictors of “stereotypic impressions”

This study examined communication behaviors and perceptions of Black and White communicators. Seventeen behaviors were identified in the literature as representing either “Black” or “White” communication. Black and White university students (N = 525) were asked to recall a past conversation with a Black or White communicator and to complete a questionnaire regarding their overall impressions of the racial others communication behaviors. Factor analyses were conducted to create stereotype clusters for Black and White participants. The findings suggest three strong second‐order stereotypic impressions for each sample. Multiple regression analysis revealed that certain behaviors are associated with each stereotypical impression. Results suggest that there is a diversity of communication styles among a single ethnic group and various stereotypic impressions are associated with particular communication behaviors.

Expression of Patients’ and Providers’ Identities During the Medical Interview

We apply the Communication Theory of Identity to investigate how patients display their ethnic identities during intercultural patient—provider interactions. Ethnic identity displays play a large part in reflecting patients’ and providers’ assumptions about the other, as well as their communicative needs. We collected paper-and-pencil responses from a convenience sample of providers and their patients, and conducted a constant comparative analysis of their open-ended reports of a recent intercultural medical interview. The results revealed how both parties viewed their roles in intercultural medical encounters and how they looked for accommodative behaviors from the other party. We draw implications for new applications and future developments of the Communication Theory of Identity and Communication Accommodation Theory.

The Influence of Goodwill, Secure Attachment, and Positively Toned Disengagement Strategy on Reports of Communication Satisfaction in Non-Marital Post-Dissolution Relationships

Previous research on relationship dissolution focuses on the psychological and emotional effects of the break-up on the individuals, with less attention given to the quality of the post-dissolution relationship (PDR) between the former romantic partners. The objective of this study was to examine the construct of goodwill as a predictor of PDR communication quality. Results of this study show that goodwill is among the best predictors of communication satisfaction among PDR partners, in combination with less secure attachment and less positively toned disengagement strategies.

Conflict in later‐life, long‐term marriages

This study provides insight into descriptions of how conflict was experienced by twenty‐five couples who were married 40 years or more. They participated in a face‐to‐face interview regarding their experiences with conflict in the present and their recollections of conflict earlier in their marriage. Two major findings emerged. First, these couples tended to minimize the relevance of conflict in their present stage of life. Second, they reported that present‐day conflict patterns are considerably different from how they managed conflict earlier in their marriage. Two implications of these findings are discussed: Research on communication in later life couples in general needs to acknowledge the importance of life stages, and scholars of marital communication need to question the assumption that couples maintain stable conflict patterns over time.

Development and Validation of the Post-Dissolution Relational Communication Index

ABSTRACT Relational dissolution is a distressing life event. Dissolution is further complicated when communication between ex-partners is inefficient, unpredictable, and strained. This examination uncovers the aspects of postdissolutional communication in a 2-part study. In Study 1, 271 participants experiencing a breakup completed surveys regarding their communication with an ex-romantic partner. The study empirically operationalizes these behaviors in the Post-Dissolution Relational Communication Index and reports on the factor structure, reliability, and convergent validity of the 2-factor solution produced. Both factors were significantly correlated with participants’ reports of communication satisfaction with a former relationship partner and the perceived seriousness of the relationship. In Study 2, self-reports from 151 participants who had experienced a divorce provided support for its use with divorced couples. A third factor was identified illustrating differences between nonmarital and marital ex-partners. Implications for postdissolution relationships and satisfaction with former partners are addressed. Furthermore, suggestions for practice are discussed.

The Influence of Expectations for Health-Related Talk on Reports of Marital Satisfaction A version of this paper was presented at the 2002 annual meeting of the National Communication Association in New Orleans, LA.

The present study empirically operationalizes the health-related talk of married individuals (N = 349) and reports on the factor structure of these health-related talk expectations and the reliability and convergent validity of the two-factor solution. Both factors were significantly correlated with participants’ self reports of marital satisfaction. Implications for the relationships between health-related talk and marriage are discussed.