René M. Dailey

Confirmation in Parent–Adolescent Relationships and Adolescent Openness: Toward Extending Confirmation Theory

Using self-report and observational data from parent and mid-adolescent dyads, this study examined the role of confirmation in parent–adolescent relationships regarding adolescents’ openness with their parents. Results from the self-report data suggest a positive link between parental confirmation and adolescent openness. The observational data revealed a more complex picture, particularly highlighting adolescents’ role in parent–adolescent communication as well as in their own openness. Adolescents’ confirmation was positively related to their openness, particularly for females. Sequential analyses further revealed that adolescents reporting less openness exhibited a greater mix of confirming and disconfirming messages towards parents, whereas adolescents reporting more openness exhibited more reciprocation of confirmation. The results suggest theory regarding confirmation in family relationships should incorporate a transactional perspective.

A qualitative analysis of on-again/off-again romantic relationships: “It’s up and down, all around”

Although relational research predominantly conceptualizes romantic relationships as either together or apart, some relationships break up and renew (i.e., on-again/off-again relationships). Partners’ accounts of on-again/off-again relational experiences were qualitatively analyzed to explore both reasons for breakups and reasons for renewals. Themes were interpreted within an interdependence framework to explain why partners dissolved as well as renewed their relationships. The themes in combination suggest renewals occurred due to dissatisfying experiences with alternative relationship partners and an increase in outcomes (i.e., rewards minus costs) after breakups. Partners’ post-dissolution contact and their uncertainty about relational status may have further facilitated renewals. More generally, the themes suggest, for on-again/ off-again partners, breakups did not indicate the end of interdependence but rather a redefinition of the relationship.

Relational Maintenance in On-again/Off-again Relationships: An Assessment of How Relational Maintenance, Uncertainty, and Commitment Vary by Relationship Type and Status

Because on-again/off-again (on-off) relationships typically maintain their relationships in some form even after relational dissolution, a communication process that may be particularly relevant to understanding these relationships is relational maintenance. Using cross-sectional data, the current study assessed relational maintenance, uncertainty, and commitment to further understand how on-off relationships differ from relationships that do not have a history of renewals (i.e., noncyclical relationships). The sample of 487 participants completed a survey on either their current dating relationship or a postdissolution relationship. As predicted, on-off partners used less maintenance behaviors than noncyclical partners in current relationships, but, contrary to predictions, on-off partners did not use more maintenance behaviors in their postdissolution relationships than partners without a history of renewing. Path models assessing the interrelationships among maintenance, relationship uncertainty, and commitment also suggest relational maintenance operates somewhat differently in on-off and noncyclical relationships. Implications for on-off as well as dating relationships in general are discussed.

The Relationship between Interviewer Characteristics and Physical and Sexual Abuse Disclosures among Substance Users: A Multilevel Analysis:

Data were collected at assessment for substance abuse treatment from 22 interviewers and 8,276 clients to assess the relationship between interviewer characteristics and disclosure of physical and sexual abuse. Characteristics examined were client and interviewer gender, race/ethnicity, and age. Multilevel regressions that adjusted for the clustering of clients within interviewers were compared to unadjusted logistic regressions to determine the effect of response similarity within clusters. Clustering accounted for only 2–5% of the unexplained variance; however, ignoring the clustering effect generated several misleading results. Adjusted models indicated that clients were more likely to disclose physical abuse to Caucasian interviewers than to African American interviewers and more likely to disclose sexual abuse to female interviewers than to male interviewers. Matching clients and interviewers on gender, race, and age did not increase disclosures of either physical or sexual abuse.

Communication With Significant Others About Weight Management: The Role of Confirmation in Weight Management Attitudes and Behaviors:

The current study employed a confirmation perspective to examine the relationship between communication with significant others and individuals’ weight management. Confirmation was conceptualized as consisting of two components—acceptance and challenge. In Study 1, 413 participants (aged 18-66) completed a survey assessing their diet and exercise behaviors as well as interactions with a significant other about weight management. As predicted, the combination of acceptance and challenge from significant others was related to the highest levels of body self-esteem, eating and exercise self-efficacy, and healthy eating behaviors beyond the individual effects of acceptance and challenge. In Study 2, 161 participants (aged 18-62) rated the effectiveness of messages varying in acceptance and challenge. Messages higher in both acceptance and challenge were rated as more effective in motivating healthy behaviors than messages primarily higher in either acceptance or challenge or lower in both. Overall, both studies suggest the contribution of one component of confirmation was enhanced by the presence of the other component in predicting weight management attitudes and behaviors.

Examining Relational Maintenance in Parasocial Relationships

This study investigates relational maintenance in parasocial relationships (PSRs) by applying an interpersonal model of friendships (the investment model) and an exploratory mediated model. Undergraduate students (N = 490) reported on their relationships with a close friend and a favorite mediated personality. Despite differences in the strengths of associations, the investment model largely predicted commitment in PSRs through similar processes as it did in friendships. Specifically, greater relational investment and satisfaction predicted relational commitment. Unlike in interpersonal relationships, though, attractiveness of alternatives was unrelated to commitment in PSRs. The study further found that parasocial strength was predicted by identification with and commitment to the character and by the characters integration within a larger social network. The findings extend past applications of interpersonal theories to the media context and support the importance of assessing relational commitment, investment, and network status in PSRs.

Perceived relational stability in on-again/off-again relationships:

This study assessed characteristics associated with on-again/off-again (on–off) partners’ perceived relational stability. We employed a three-category conceptualization of stability in which participants were classified as believing the relationship was relatively stable, permanently dissolved, or continuing to cycle between breakups and renewals. Investment theory was first used to distinguish the three stability groups with satisfaction and alternatives mostly strongly associated with perceived stability. We also assessed specific characteristics salient to on–off relationships. Most were associated with perceived stability, but relational uncertainty, relational stress, positive feelings about the relationship, and number of renewals emerged as the best discriminators. Overall, the cycling group reported moderate levels of most characteristics along with greater uncertainty, suggesting they have a more ambivalent view of their relationship.

On-Again/Off-Again Dating Relationships: What Keeps Partners Coming Back?

ABSTRACT Building on research comparing on-again/off-again (on-off) relationships to other dating relationships, the current study focused on a unique feature of these relationships—renewals. A sample of 274 participants who had experienced an on-off relationship completed a survey about why they renewed their relationships, characteristics of their breakups and renewals, and what stressors and benefits they experienced. These characteristics were used to predict the occurrence of renewals, separately as well as in multivariate analyses. In addition to lingering feelings being a predominant reason for renewals, findings suggested uncertainty about what the preceding breakup indicated, not having dated others after breakups, and feeling the on-off nature improved the relationship were all related to an increased chance of renewals. Mutual initiations of breakups, as well as reporting uncertainty about the general nature of the relationship, were also related to a decreased chance of renewals.

Confirmation and Weight Management: Predicting Effective Levels of Acceptance and Challenge in Weight Management Messages

The current study employed a confirmation perspective to assess individuals’ perceptions of weight management messages. Confirmation was conceptualized as being comprised of two components: acceptance and challenge. Building on the main theoretical premise that messages higher in acceptance and challenge would be perceived as more effective in promoting healthy behaviors than messages lower in these components, we assessed how the relationships between the two components and message effectiveness varied by individuals’ characteristics. Specifically, we examined body self-esteem, readiness to change, weight locus of control, motivations for weight management, and communication satisfaction with weight management conversations as potential moderators. Results indicated that, as hypothesized, messages higher in acceptance and messages higher in challenge were perceived as more effective. In addition, body self-esteem, certain stages of readiness to change, and communication satisfaction interacted with acceptance to predict effectiveness, and internal locus of control and appearance and strength motives interacted with challenge to predict effectiveness. These results, in combination, suggest that although messages high in either component of confirmation were perceived as generally effective in motivating healthy behaviors, optimal levels of acceptance and challenge may vary by certain individual and relational characteristics. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed.

Messages About Weight Management: An Examination of How Acceptance and Challenge Are Related to Message Effectiveness

A confirmation perspective was employed to assess weight management messages individuals receive from significant others. Confirmation was conceptualized as having two components: acceptance and challenge. Both were hypothesized to predict message effectiveness. Study 1 explored types of weight management messages and how they varied in acceptance and challenge. Study 2 showed effective messages had higher acceptance and challenge than ineffective messages. Further, acceptance and challenge in hypothetical messages predicted perceived message effectiveness. Analyses also suggested adapting messages based on individual differences (e.g., preferences regarding communication) may be more efficacious in promoting healthy behaviors than adapting messages based on demographic characteristics.