When is Topic Avoidance Unsatisfying?: Examining Moderators of the Association Between Avoidance and Dissatisfaction

Abstract

Despite theoretical arguments that avoiding certain topics can be functional, there is consistent evidence that avoiding topics tends to be associated with dissatisfying relationships. This disparity between theory and empirical findings suggests a need to understand better the connection between topic avoidance and relational dissatisfaction. The current study, which is grounded in communication privacy management theory (Petronio, 2002), examines this issue by investigating moderators of the connection between avoidance and dissatisfaction. Data were gathered from 114 parent-child dyads and 100 heterosexual dating couples. Results suggested that the associations between topic avoidance and relational dissatisfaction were moderated by individuals' motivations for avoidance and by personal and relational characteristics that are conceptually linked to such motivations. These findings are consistent with theoretical arguments that topic avoidance can be benign-and even helpful-in some relational circumstances.

A Social Relations Model of Everyday Talk and Relational Satisfaction in Stepfamilies

“…To date, most of the communication research on relational satisfaction has focused primarily on romantic and married couples (e.g., Caughlin, 2002;Caughlin & Huston, 2002;Caughlin, Huston, & Houts, 2000;Miller, Caughlin, & Huston, 2003), parent-child relationships (e.g., Caughlin & Afifi, 2004;Caughlin & Golish, 2002;Sillars, Koerner, & Fitzpatrick, 2005), and general family satisfaction (e.g., Caughlin, 2003). There is, however, more recent evidence documenting various associations among disclosure patterns and relational satisfaction in first-marriage families (e.g., Finkenauer, Engels, Branje, & Meeus, 2004).…”

The Impact of Relational Characteristics and Reasons for Topic Avoidance on Relational Closeness

“…As Afifi and Guerrero (2000) wrote, although the goal of bondedness motivates people to disclose, it is this same goal that often encourages us to avoid disclosure. Furthermore, Altman (1991) argued that avoidance could be a successful method of keeping a relationship at a satisfying level, and some research indeed indicates that topic avoidance may be beneficial under certain circumstances (e.g., Caughlin & Afifi, 2004). However, as previously indicated, the majority of research suggests that topic avoidance leads to increased relational dissatisfaction, despite these good intentions (e.g., Roloff & Ifert, 1998;Sargent, 2002).…”

“…It is interesting to note that topic avoidance is thought to be a specific strategy by which the internal tension between these two opposing desires is managed (Dailey & Palomares, 2004). Furthermore, decisions regarding whether or not to avoid a topic, once enacted, have consequences for the relationship (Caughlin & Afifi, 2004). The use of topic avoidance serves an important protective function by allowing individuals to guard private information.…”

Disclosure of donor conception, age of disclosure and the well-being of donor offspring

“…Recent research has shown that whether or not a secret is harmful depends (amongst other things) on the motivation for keeping the secret. Caughlin and Afifi found for instance that when the motivation for avoiding a topic was the protection of the relationships, a diminishment in negative association between avoidance and dissatisfaction appeared (Caughlin and Afifi, 2004). If none of the, admittedly scarce, empirical studies demonstrate negative effects of nondisclosure, it seems to be time to either revise the theory or to look for an explanation.…”