A Longitudinal and Dyadic Study of Communal Coping and Relational Turbulence Among Surviving Parents and Emerging Adult Children After the Death of a Partner/Parent

Abstract

The death of a parent/partner represents a significant and traumatic transition for surviving families. Guided by relational turbulence theory, this longitudinal and dyadic study examines how relationship characteristics in surviving parent-emerging adult child dyads correspond with communal coping and relational turbulence during bereavement. Data were collected from 45 parent-emerging adult child dyads for 6 weeks. Results highlight relational uncertainty and interdependence as factors that shape cognitive, emotional, and communicative features of coping episodes. Communal coping behaviors, when enacted, emerged as a protective mechanism, helping mitigate relational turbulence. Actor-partner effects demonstrated the interdependent nature of coping and relational turbulence. This study extends relational turbulence theory to parent-child relationships and underscores the importance of communal coping during transitions. Practical implications suggest the need to help families enact coping and manage interdependence during bereavement to mitigate relational turbulence and improve relationship outcomes.

Keywords

communal coping parental death partner death relational turbulence

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