Demand-withdraw communication in severely distressed, moderately distressed, and nondistressed couples: Rigidity and polarity during relationship and personal problem discussions.

Eldridge, Kathleen A.; Sevier, Mia; Jones, Janice; Atkins, David C.; Christensen, Andrew

doi:10.1037/0893-3200.21.2.218

Cited by 98 publications

(117 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…The results of this study demonstrated a change in both symptoms of depression and attachment avoidance for males from T1 to T2, and the change was predicted by specific communication patterns. With regard to demand-withdraw communication, previous research has consistently demonstrated sex-differences, with females being more likely to demand and males being more likely to withdraw (Klinetob and Smith 1996), and these sex differences have been found to be especially likely in distressed relationships (Caughlin and Vangelisti 1999;Eldridge et al 2007). Bearing that in mind, it is possible that these results support those of Wei et al (2005), who found that detachment (i.e., withdrawal) mediates the relationship between avoidant attachment and depression.…”

Section: Predicting Change In Attachment and Depressionsupporting

confidence: 57%

Longitudinal Impact of Communication Patterns on Romantic Attachment and Symptoms of Depression

Givertz

Safford

2011

Curr Psychol

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This study investigated how communication patterns, romantic attachment, symptoms of depression, and perceptions of relationship quality are related concurrently and prospectively within monogamous dating relationships. Participants completed two self-report assessments at six-month intervals. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that for males, mutual constructive communication was associated with decreases in depressive symptoms, whereas demand-withdraw communication was associated with increases in attachment avoidance and depressive symptoms from T1 to T2. The same variables were not associated with changes in attachment or depressive symptoms for females. Mixed model ANOVAs revealed insecure attachment, symptoms of depression, and negative perceptions of relationship quality were significantly higher for broken up individuals than for those whose relationships remained intact.Keywords Communication patterns . Romantic attachment . Symptoms of depression . Perceived relationship quality Attachment theory (Bowlby 1969(Bowlby , 1973(Bowlby , 1980 postulates the existence of a complex, evolutionarily-derived, psychological-cognitive system that regulates how individuals perceive and relate to significant others to maintain a sense of personal safety. Based on early childhood experiences with primary caregivers, individuals develop an attachment style that shapes how they interact with others. Some research suggests that the attachment style developed during childhood is relatively stable

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Section: Predicting Change In Attachment and Depressionsupporting

confidence: 57%

Longitudinal Impact of Communication Patterns on Romantic Attachment and Symptoms of Depression

Givertz

Safford

2011

Curr Psychol

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“…Partners may look at each other more consistently as a result of being entrenched in a negative state and unable to interact more randomly across a variety of states, as is more often the case with less negative, more satisfied couples. Additionally, the demand-withdraw pattern becomes more predominant in couples' interaction as distress increases (Eldridge et al 2007). Increased looking at one's spouse thus could be a nonverbal indicator of rigidity related to negative affect and the demand-withdraw pattern.…”

Section: Looking-behaviormentioning

confidence: 97%

Nonverbal Behavioral Indicators of Negative Affect in Couple Interaction

et al. 2012

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Affect has been identified across numerous research studies to be a vital element in understanding couple relationship processes. Affect has been shown to distinguish between satisfied and dissatisfied couples and to be important in understanding processes leading to relationship dissolution. However, research has not yet uncovered nonverbal indicators that a couple is experiencing negative affect compared to other affective states. In this study we sought to identify specific nonverbal behaviors associated with different affective states. Results suggested that differences in looking-behavior and smiling can be used to identify affect states during couple communication. We outline how the results can aid couples therapy interventions.

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“…Many lab study results are consistent with the clinical observations of couples' pursuer-distance process, especially those reported by Fogarty (1979). Eldridge, Sevier, Jones, Atkins, and Christensen (2007) found that, while both male and female partners employ demand and withdraw behaviors, the typical female-demand /male-withdraw pattern was more frequent in the distressed group.…”

Section: Pursuer-distancer Processmentioning

confidence: 97%

Development of Pursuer-Distancer Movement Scale - Short Form (PDMS-SF)

Chabot¹,

Cham²

2016

JPBS

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The Pursuer-Distancer Movement Scale (PDMS) (Chabot, 1996) is a reliable and valid 36-item self-report measure of the interpersonal process between individuals in a committed relationship. Chabot and Liu (2015) PDMS-SF). The pursuer subscale of the PDMS-SF had eight items reflecting two factors (communicationconnectedness and change-flexibility). The distancer subscale of the PDMS-SF had nine items reflecting two factors (autonomous-connectedness and methodical-constancy). Results are discussed in the context of pursuerdistancer clinical literature and demand-withdraw research literature.Keywords: pursuer-distancer, demand-withdraw, marital interaction, interpersonal process.A major focus of contemporary clinical and research theories of close interpersonal relationships is what can be termed the pursuer-distancer or demand-withdraw interaction sequence between intimate partners (De Angelis, 2011).This interaction sequence involves one partner proactively initiating an interaction or discussion with varying degrees of command intensity, ranging from suggestion and request to demand, in order to connect with their partner. The other partner responds to the initiated behavior with different degrees of acceptance of the invitation, ranging from agreement and compliance, to refusal to connect. The behaviors are essential feature of the partners' efforts to engage in a process that maintains their relationship and conjointly solves issues of varying degrees of difficulty while maintaining a sense of self. The term pursuer-distancer is used to describe the interaction sequence under both non-stress and stress conditions (Fogarty, 1979).Withdraw-demand is the term used to describe the interaction under stress and conflictual conditions (Christensen, 1987).Contemporary texts of couple and family therapy (e.g., Nichols, 1995) and extensive research and clinical publications (e.g., Wile, 2013) attest to the importance of this process. The dominant research methods to investigate this process in both distressed and non-distressed relationships are clinical observations made in therapy sessions (Guerin, Fay, Burden, & Gilbert-Kautto, 1987) and controlled observations in lab settings (Balderrama-Durbin, Allen, & Rhoades, 2012).In addition to observational methods, Chabot (1996) developed the Pursuer-Distancer Movement Scale (PDMS), a reliable and valid 36-item self-report measure that can be use dseparately or with observational methods to assess this process. Chabot and Liu (2015) used principal component analysis to identify the components in the pursuer and distancer subscales of the PDMS. Their results indicated multiple components on both subscales which were consistent with clinical theory and research observations on the pursuer-distancer process.

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Demand-withdraw communication in severely distressed, moderately distressed, and nondistressed couples: Rigidity and polarity during relationship and personal problem discussions.

Cited by 98 publications

References 28 publications

Longitudinal Impact of Communication Patterns on Romantic Attachment and Symptoms of Depression

Longitudinal Impact of Communication Patterns on Romantic Attachment and Symptoms of Depression

Nonverbal Behavioral Indicators of Negative Affect in Couple Interaction

Development of Pursuer-Distancer Movement Scale - Short Form (PDMS-SF)

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