An Interdependence Approach to Relationship Maintenance in Interracial Marriage

Abstract

This study investigated the extent to which positive and negative maintenance communication predicted marital satisfaction and commitment in a sample of 90 individuals in an interracial marriage. An interdependence theory approach was used. Participants completed an online survey using SurveyMonkey's audience request. Results of a regression equation indicate that four maintenance activities predicted 52% of the variance in satisfaction, with two being negative predictors (infidelity and avoidance) and two being positive predictors (conflict management and social networks). Three maintenance behaviors predicted commitment, with infidelity and giving advice being negative predictors and the use of social networks being a positive predictor. Finally, consistent with interdependence theory, marital satisfaction fully mediated the relationship between maintenance activity and commitment.

Interracial Couples in Therapy: Common Themes and Issues

“…In other words, when one is uncertain about the personal implications of marrying someone from a different race, they may exhibit doubt or indecision about the relationship. Given the strong association between marital satisfaction and commitment reported by Dainton (2015), in this volume, it may also be that racial identity issues can be manifested in partner's reports of marital satisfaction. Thus, for interracial couples expressing dissatisfaction with the relationship or doubts or questions about their future, a therapist may want to explore how being in this relationship has impacted each partners' identity and sense of self.…”

Relationship Maintenance: A Review of Research on Romantic Relationships

“…The limited research in this area indicates, for example, that pervasive social stigma of interracial relationships remains despite the removal of formal institutional barriers. Interracial partners have been found to rely on specific strategies like avoidance, conflict management, and social networks (Dainton, ). Supportive and open communication about culture was also associated with more satisfaction and less relationship distress in intercultural couples (Reiter & Gee, ).…”

Confidence in the Police, Due Process, and Perp Walks

“…Opt-in panels are growing in popularity throughout the social sciences because of their low cost, and because they mitigate the inadequate response rates and coverage issues that plague more traditional methods of survey administration, such as random digit dialing and mailings (Ansolabehere and Rivers, 2013;Rivers, 2006Rivers, , 2007Vavreck and Rivers, 2008). Such panels have been used to examine public attitudes on issues related to crime and criminal justice (e.g., Harris and Socia, 2014;Mancini and Pickett, 2016;Pickett, Loughran, and Bushway, 2016), psychology (e.g., Blodorn and O'Brien, 2013;Dainton, 2015), and many other fields (for an excellent overview of opt-in panel designs, see Thielo, 2017). Because panel members are required to provide certain basic social and demographic information, the representativeness of a sample to the population of interest can be ascertained.…”