TY - JOUR
T1 - Development and Validation of the Post-Dissolution Relational Communication Index
AU - Lambert South, Andrea
AU - Hughes, Patrick C.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, © 2018 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2018/11/17
Y1 - 2018/11/17
N2 - Relational dissolution is a distressing life event. Dissolution is further complicated when communication between ex-partners is inefficient, unpredictable, and strained. This examination uncovers the aspects of postdissolutional communication in a 2-part study. In Study 1, 271 participants experiencing a breakup completed surveys regarding their communication with an ex-romantic partner. The study empirically operationalizes these behaviors in the Post-Dissolution Relational Communication Index and reports on the factor structure, reliability, and convergent validity of the 2-factor solution produced. Both factors were significantly correlated with participants’ reports of communication satisfaction with a former relationship partner and the perceived seriousness of the relationship. In Study 2, self-reports from 151 participants who had experienced a divorce provided support for its use with divorced couples. A third factor was identified illustrating differences between nonmarital and marital ex-partners. Implications for postdissolution relationships and satisfaction with former partners are addressed. Furthermore, suggestions for practice are discussed.
AB - Relational dissolution is a distressing life event. Dissolution is further complicated when communication between ex-partners is inefficient, unpredictable, and strained. This examination uncovers the aspects of postdissolutional communication in a 2-part study. In Study 1, 271 participants experiencing a breakup completed surveys regarding their communication with an ex-romantic partner. The study empirically operationalizes these behaviors in the Post-Dissolution Relational Communication Index and reports on the factor structure, reliability, and convergent validity of the 2-factor solution produced. Both factors were significantly correlated with participants’ reports of communication satisfaction with a former relationship partner and the perceived seriousness of the relationship. In Study 2, self-reports from 151 participants who had experienced a divorce provided support for its use with divorced couples. A third factor was identified illustrating differences between nonmarital and marital ex-partners. Implications for postdissolution relationships and satisfaction with former partners are addressed. Furthermore, suggestions for practice are discussed.
KW - Communication satisfaction
KW - factor analysis
KW - postdissolutional communication
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85046427891&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10502556.2018.1466255
DO - 10.1080/10502556.2018.1466255
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85046427891
SN - 1050-2556
VL - 59
SP - 616
EP - 632
JO - Journal of Divorce and Remarriage
JF - Journal of Divorce and Remarriage
IS - 8
ER -