Communication as power: the relationship to marital satisfaction

Thumbnail Image
Date
2006-01-01
Authors
Hines, Amber
Major Professor
Advisor
Committee Member
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Altmetrics
Authors
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Organizational Unit
Human Development and Family Studies

The Department of Human Development and Family Studies focuses on the interactions among individuals, families, and their resources and environments throughout their lifespans. It consists of three majors: Child, Adult, and Family Services (preparing students to work for agencies serving children, youth, adults, and families); Family Finance, Housing, and Policy (preparing students for work as financial counselors, insurance agents, loan-officers, lobbyists, policy experts, etc); and Early Childhood Education (preparing students to teach and work with young children and their families).

History


The Department of Human Development and Family Studies was formed in 1991 from the merger of the Department of Family Environment and the Department of Child Development.

Dates of Existence
1991-present

Related Units

  • College of Human Sciences (parent college)
  • Department of Child Development (predecessor)
  • Department of Family Environment (predecessor)

Journal Issue
Is Version Of
Versions
Series
Department
Human Development and Family Studies
Abstract

This study focused on communication as a form of power and its impact on marital satisfaction. Specifically, females may appear to have more power because they speak more often in conversations. However, when dissected, the amount women speak may be a result of lower power status, requiring them to work harder to achieve their desired level of power in the relationship. Successful talkovers, unsuccessful talkovers, support statements, and nonsupport statements were examined to determine their impact on couples' marital satisfaction. Secondary data was utilized for the current study; the original study pertained to the investigation of the relationship between physiological arousal and demand/withdraw patterns. Seventy-three married couples (73 men and 73 women) were recruited for the original study via newspaper advertisements, advertisements posted on bulletin boards, and word-of-mouth in the local schools and community. Paired t-tests and simple linear regression analyses revealed that males' and females' unsuccessful talkover ratios and nonsupport statement ratios were significantly different. In addition, successful talkovers, unsuccessful talkovers, support statements, and nonsupport statements were not found to significantly influence males' or females' marital satisfaction. Relevance to family therapy and clinical implications are discussed.

Comments
Description
Keywords
Citation
Source
Copyright
Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 UTC 2006