Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

We Need To Text Patterns Of Cummunication Channel Use In Emerging Adult Romantic Relationships, Samuel Jackson, Scott Braithwaite

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Communication in romantic relationships is changing. Partners today increasingly choose to communicate via technology¹, and use a mix of communication channels ranging from purely verbal formats (e.g., text messaging) to those rich in nonverbal expression (e.g., video chats). Despite this, theories about romantic communication tend to assume or focus on only face-to-face interactions, or lump all computer-mediated channels into a single category². These limitations harm the study of modern relationships. Expanding scientific knowledge about how young people use various media in their relationships can greatly benefit the future study of romantic communication and mate selection, and …

Sheltering For Safety In Community Women With Divorce Histories., Ashlee J. Warnecke, Yvette Z. Sabo, Vicki E. Burns, Rafael Fernandez-Botran, James J. Miller, Tamara L. Newton

Tamara L Newton

This cross-sectional study compared the prevalence of formal and informal sheltering (i.e., staying in an agency shelter, or with friends/family, respectively), and evaluated associations with abuse severity. Community women (N = 197) with divorce histories reported on lifetime intimate partner abuse, including sheltering for safety. Prevalence of informal sheltering (43%) exceeded that of formal sheltering (11%). Rates/levels of coercive control, severe violence, injury, and police involvement were comparable for women who sheltered formally or informally, and exceeded those of women who never sheltered. Sheltering histories can be identified in community samples of women with divorce histories. Informal sheltering is prevalent, …

How Having A Child With Special Needs Affects Family Functioning In Families Of Different Types, Victoria Nascati

Theses and Dissertations

A number of children in the United States are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder each year. In the past several years, there has been an increase in this diagnosis. Along with this increase, there has been an increase in the variety of therapies, resources, and services available to children diagnosed with ASD. However, previous research has shown that there is a lack of resources for the parents and families of those children. The purpose of the current study is to gain insight into the daily lives of a family who has a child with Autism in order to assess the …

Divorcing Couples' Experience With Child Custody Mediation And Litigation, Jessica Leonard Anderson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Couples who divorce are likely to experience increased levels of psychological distress, decreased levels of happiness, and increased levels of depression. To reduce these negative effects, litigators use mediation to resolve disagreements including child custody disputes. The purpose of this quantitative study was to compare divorcing parents' depression and satisfaction with the process after the use of mediation or litigation. Wexler's theory of therapeutic jurisprudence provided the theoretical framework. Data was collected from 170 participants who were recruited using convenience sampling through Facebook. Participants voluntarily completed a survey which included a researcher developed questionnaire, the Acrimony Scale, the Nonacceptance of …

Parental Stress And Parent-Child Relationships In Recently Divorced, Custodial Mothers, Kelly Lyn Murphy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Divorce creates significant stress that can have an impact on parent-child relationship satisfaction. Past researchers have indicated that in times of high stress, parents may not be available for their children due to their personal issues. Attachment theory demonstrates the importance of the parent-child bond for the child as he or she matures, so this bond needs to be protected. The purpose of this quantitative, nonexperimental study was to examine the predictive relationship between parental stress as measured by the Parenting Stress Index, 4th Edition, Short Form (PSI-4-SF) and the parent-child relationship satisfaction as measured by the Parent-Child Relationship Inventory …

Marriage Dissolution In The Active Duty Air Force, Mark Edelstein

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

With the advent of the Global War on Terror in 2001, more than 2 million troops have deployed in support of contingency operations throughout the world. During this time, the divorce rates have increased throughout the military, hitting an all-time high in 2011, and dropping slightly thereafter. Enlisted members on active duty in the United States Air Force exhibited a higher rate of divorce than did their counterparts in any other branch of military service. At present, the reasons for the heightened Air Force divorce rates are still unknown. Perhaps more importantly, research has not identified which specific subgroups within …

Quality Of Sibling Relationship And Age Spacing In Single-Parent Households Versus Two-Parent Households, Mari Varga Overlock

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sibling relationship quality is affected by several variables, such as gender, age spacing, marital conflicts, parenting, and parent-child relationship, which simultaneously influence personality and developmental outcomes. Furthermore, sibling relationships can significantly influence the social climate of the family and vice versa. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of household composition (1-parent home vs. 2-parent home) and the number of years between siblings ages on sibling relationship quality, and to determine whether parental conflict response management strategies differ between single-parent and 2-parent homes. The participants were 124 adult mothers with at least 2 children. Participants provided demographic …

The Relationship Between Emerging Adulthood And Communication Patterns, Eli Felt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adults who have not developed effective communication skills are at an increased risk of

having unsuccessful relationships. Children of divorce are less likely to have communication behaviors modeled to them, resulting in undeveloped communication and therefore a higher likelihood to get divorced themselves. The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental study was to determine if there was an association between the successful transition to emerging adulthood and the development of communication behaviors among adults. The research question focused on whether successful transition through emerging adulthood positively discriminates communication patterns among adults, specifically using Gottman's framework of the Four Horsemen of the …

Exploring The Experience Of Separation In Australia: Perspectives From Formerly Married And Cohabiting Parents, Sarah M. Barbas

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The increase in separation and divorce rates during the 20th century brought with it many far-reaching social implications for all involved, sparking a high level of interest among researchers. Most research in this area has been approached from stress frameworks that have conceptualised separation and divorce as a stressful life transition that individuals must adjust to. Yet, attempts to understand separation and divorce to date have been dominated by quantitative methods that have resulted in a relatively static and objective understanding of this experience; particularly in Australia. Furthermore, although international rates of divorce are declining, rates of separation following cohabiting …