{"title":"Relational load: Implications for executive functioning, mental health, and feelings of unity in romantic relationships","authors":"T. Afifi, C. Haughton, Callie Parrish","doi":"10.1080/03637751.2021.1896015","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This study examined how ongoing relationship maintenance and communal perspectives influence relational load and executive functioning immediately after a stressful conversation in the laboratory in a sample of predominantly white romantic partners. It also explored the aftermath of relational load on partners’ communal perspectives and mental health five consecutive days following the conversation. Receiving greater maintenance from one’s partner before the conversation was associated with increased unity and less conflict, which reduced relational load. This was particularly true for men. Women’s communal perspectives were also associated with better executive functioning for themselves and their partners. Finally, greater relational load diminished feelings of unity and mental health in the days after the laboratory, but the effect on mental health was short-lived.","PeriodicalId":48176,"journal":{"name":"Communication Monographs","volume":"88 1","pages":"506 - 529"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1000,"publicationDate":"2021-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/03637751.2021.1896015","citationCount":"7","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Communication Monographs","FirstCategoryId":"98","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03637751.2021.1896015","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"文学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"COMMUNICATION","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 7
Abstract
ABSTRACT This study examined how ongoing relationship maintenance and communal perspectives influence relational load and executive functioning immediately after a stressful conversation in the laboratory in a sample of predominantly white romantic partners. It also explored the aftermath of relational load on partners’ communal perspectives and mental health five consecutive days following the conversation. Receiving greater maintenance from one’s partner before the conversation was associated with increased unity and less conflict, which reduced relational load. This was particularly true for men. Women’s communal perspectives were also associated with better executive functioning for themselves and their partners. Finally, greater relational load diminished feelings of unity and mental health in the days after the laboratory, but the effect on mental health was short-lived.
期刊介绍:
Communication Monographs, published in March, June, September & December, reports original, theoretically grounded research dealing with human symbolic exchange across the broad spectrum of interpersonal, group, organizational, cultural and mediated contexts in which such activities occur. The scholarship reflects diverse modes of inquiry and methodologies that bear on the ways in which communication is shaped and functions in human interaction. The journal endeavours to publish the highest quality communication social science manuscripts that are grounded theoretically. The manuscripts aim to expand, qualify or integrate existing theory or additionally advance new theory. The journal is not restricted to particular theoretical or methodological perspectives.