Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 2023-12
Needing Space During Lockdown: A Test of Relational Turbulence Theory in the Context of Conversations About Physical and Emotional Space During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic upended home life for couples across the globe. Many couples faced increased relational uncertainty and interference from a partner as a result of stay at home and lockdown orders. This study uses relational turbulence theory to examine how (a) relational uncertainty and (b) partner interdependence are associated with cognitions and emotions about needing space conversations with a partner. We examine links between perceptions of needing space conversations and relational turbulence. In the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, 609 adults in a romantic relationship from 29 countries completed an online survey. Relationship uncertainty was negatively associated with relational cognitions (i.e., solidarity and intimacy), and interference from a partner was associated with more intense hopeful feelings about needing space conversations. Relational cognitions were associated with reduced relational turbulence, and hope was associated with higher relational turbulence. Theoretical implications for relational turbulence theory and practical implications for couples are discussed.
CaughlinJ. P. (2010). A multiple goals theory of personal relationships: Conceptual integration and program overview. Journal of Social Personal Relationships, 27(6), 824–848. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407510373262
2.
DelaneyA. L.SharabiL. L. (2020). Relational uncertainty and interference from a partner as predictors of demand/withdraw in couples with depressive symptoms. Western Journal of Communication, 84(1), 58–78. https://doi.org/10.1080/10570314.2019.1635266
3.
FengB.MacGeorgeE. L. (2010). The influences of message and source factors on advice outcomes. Communication Research, 37(4), 553–575. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093650210368258
4.
GoodboyA. K.BolkanS.SharabiL. L.MyersS. A.BakerJ. P. (2020). The relational turbulence model: A meta-analytic review. Human Communication Research, 46(2–3), 222–249. https://doi.org/10.1093/hcr/hqaa002
5.
GoodboyA. K.DillowM. R.KnosterK. C.HowardH. A. (2021). Relational turbulence from the COVID-19 pandemic: Within-subjects mediation by romantic partner interdependence. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 38(6), 1800–1818. https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075211000135
6.
HallE. T. (1966). The hidden dimension. Anchor Books.
7.
HelgesonV. S.ShaverP.DyerM. (1987). Prototypes of intimacy and distance in same-sex and opposite-sex relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 4(2), 195–233. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407587042006
8.
HofstedeG. (2001). Culture’s consequences: Comparing values, behaviors, institutions, and organizations across nations (2nd ed.). SAGE.
JonesH. E.TheissJ. A. (2021 ).Relational turbulence during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal analysis of the reciprocal effects between relationship characteristics and outcomes of relational turbulence. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 38(10), 3033-3058. https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075211044491
11.
JonesH. E.YoonD. B.TheissJ. A.AustinJ. T.LeeL. E. (2021). Assessing the effects of COVID-19 on romantic relationships and the coping strategies partners use to manage the stress of a pandemic. Journal of Family Communication, 21, 152–166.
12.
KarataşZ.TagayÖ. (2021). The relationships between resilience of the adults affected by the COVID pandemic in Turkey and Covid-19 fear, meaning in life, life satisfaction, intolerance of uncertainty and hope. Personality and Individual Differences, 172, 110592. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.110592
13.
KnoblochL. K. (2007). Perceptions of turmoil within courtship: Associations with intimacy, relational uncertainty, and interference from partners. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 24(3), 363–384. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407507077227
14.
KnoblochL. K. (2010). Relational uncertainty and interpersonal communication. In SmithS. W.WilsonS. R. (Eds.), New directions in interpersonal communication research (pp. 69–93). SAGE.
15.
KnoblochL. K.BasingerE. D.AbendscheinB.WehrmanE. C.MonkJ. K.McAninchK. G. (2018). Communication in online forums about the experience and management of relational uncertainty in military life. Journal of Family Communication, 18(1), 13–31. https://doi.org/10.1080/15267431.2017.1373355
16.
KnoblochL. K.SatterleeK. L. (2009). Relational uncertainty: Theory and application. In AfifiT. D.AfifiW. A. (Eds.), Uncertainty, information management, and disclosure decisions: Theories and applications (pp. 106–127). Routledge.
17.
KnoblochL. K.SharabiL. L.DelaneyA. L.SuranneS. M. (2015). The role of relational uncertainty in topic avoidance among couples with depression. Communication Monographs, 83(1), 25–48. https://doi.org/10.1080/03637751.2014.998691
18.
KnoblochL. K.SolomonD. H. (1999). Measuring the sources and content of relational uncertainty. Communication Studies, 50(4), 261–278. https://doi.org/10.1080/10510979909388499
19.
KnoblochL. K.SolomonD. H.TheissJ. A.McLarenR. M. (2021). Relational turbulence theory: Interpersonal communication during times of transition. In BraithwaiteD. O.SchrodtP. (Eds.), Engaging theories in interpersonal communication: Multiple perspectives (3rd ed., pp. 366–378). Routledge.
20.
KnoblochL. K.TheissJ. A. (2011). Relational uncertainty and relationship talk within courtship: A longitudinal actor-partner interdependence model. Communication Monographs, 78(1), 3–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/03637751.2010.542471
21.
Laslo-RothR.George-LeviMargalitM. (2021). Hope during COVID-19 outbreak: Coping with the psychological impact of quarantine. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 34(3–4), 771–785. https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2021.1881762
22.
LazarusR. S. (1999). Hope: An emotion and a vital coping resource against despair. Social Research, 66(2), 663–678. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40971343
23.
LittleT. D.CunninghamW. A.ShaharG.WidamanK. F. (2002). To parcel or not to parcel: Exploring the question, weighing the merits. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 9(2), 151–173. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15328007SEM0902_1
24.
McLarenR. M.SteuberK. R. (2013). Emotions, communicative responses, and relational consequences of boundary turbulence. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 30, 606–626. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407512463997
MerollaA. J. (2014) The role of hope in conflict management and relational maintenance. Personal Relationships, 21(3), 365–386. https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12037
Mikucki-EnyartS. L.CaughlinJ. P. (2018). Integrating the relational turbulence model and a multiple goals approach to understand topic avoidance during the transition to extended family. Communication Research, 45(3), 267–296. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0093650215595075
29.
Mikucki-EnyartS. L.PetitteS. R.WilderS. E. (2018). Relational uncertainty management in adult children of divorce. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 46(4), 469–490. https://doi.org/10.1080/00909882.2018.1500025
30.
Mikucki-EnyartS. L.WilderS. E.BarberH. (2017). “Was it all smoke and mirrors?” Applying the relational turbulence model to adult children’s experience of late-life divorce. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 34(2), 209–234. https://doi.org/10.11770265407516629226
31.
PriemJ. S.SurraC. A. (2013). A communication perspective on cohabitation and contemporary dating relationships. In VaneglistiA. L. (Ed.), The Routledge handbook of family communication (2nd ed., pp. 49–64). Routledge.
32.
ScottA. M.CaughlinJ. P. (2014). Enacted goal attention in family conversations about end-of-life health decisions. Communication Monographs, 81(3), 261–284. https://doi.org/10.1080/03637751.2014.925568
33.
SolomonD. H. (2016). Relational turbulence model. In BergerC. R.RoloffM. E. (Eds.), The international encyclopedia of interpersonal communication (pp. 1–9). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118540190
34.
SolomonD. H.KnoblochL. K. (2001). Relationship uncertainty, partner interference, and intimacy within dating relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 18(6), 804–820. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407501186004
35.
SolomonD. H.KnoblochL. K. (2004). A model of relational turbulence: The role of intimacy, relational uncertainty, and interference from partners in appraisals of irritations. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 21(6), 795–816. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407504047838
36.
SolomonD. H.KnoblochL. K.TheissJ. A.McLarenR. M. (2016). Relational turbulence theory: Explaining variation in subjective experiences and communication within romantic relationships. Human Communication Research, 42(4), 507–532. https://doi.org/10.1111/hcre.12091
37.
SolomonD. H.WeberK. M.SteuberK. R. (2010). Turbulence in relational transitions. In SmithS. W.WilsonS. R. (Eds.), New directions in interpersonal communication research (pp. 115–134). SAGE.
38.
SteuberK. R.PriemJ. S.ScharpK. M.ThomasL. (2014). The content of relational uncertainty in non-engaged cohabiting relationships. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 42(1), 107–123. https://doi.org/10.1080/00909882.2013.874569
39.
SteuberK. R.SolomonD. H. (2008). Relational uncertainty, partner interference, and infertility: A qualitative study of discourse within online forums. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 25(5), 831–855. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407508096698
40.
TheissJ. A. (2018). The experience and expression of uncertainty in close relationships. Cambridge University Press.
41.
TheissJ. A.KnoblochL. K.ChectonM. G.Magsamen-ConradK. (2009). Relationship characteristics associated with the experience of hurt in romantic relationships: A test of the relational turbulence model. Human Communication Research, 35, 588–615. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2958.2009.01364.x
42.
TheissJ. A.NagyM. E. (2012). A cross-cultural test of the relational turbulence model: Relationship characteristics that predict turmoil and topic avoidance for Koreans and Americans. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 29(4), 545–565. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407512443450
43.
TheissJ. A.SolomonD. H. (2006). A relational turbulence model of communication about irritations in romantic relationships. Communication Research, 33, 391–418. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093650206291482
VangelistiA. L.YoungS. L. (2000). When words hurt: The effects of perceived intentionality on interpersonal relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 17(3), 393–424. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407500173005
46.
WeberK. M.SolomonD. H. (2007, November). A relational turbulence model of distress and communication associated with breast cancer [Conference session]. 93rd Annual Convention of the National Communication Association, Chicago, IL.
47.
WorleyT. R.Mucci-FerrisM. (2021). Parent–student relational turbulence, support processes, and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 38(10), 3010–3032. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F02654075211041658
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
