The Dyadic Effects of Relationship Uncertainty on Negative Relational Maintenance

Abstract

This study examined the dyadic effects of relationship uncertainty and the use of negative relational maintenance behaviors. Romantic couples (N = 227 dyads) completed a survey assessing their current relationship uncertainty (i.e., definition, mutuality, behavioral, future) and their use of negative behaviors to maintain their relationship (i.e., jealousy induction, avoidance, spying, infidelity, destructive conflict, allowing control). Multilevel modeling was used to calculate actor-partner interdependence models. Actor effects were revealed between relationship uncertainty and negative relational maintenance. Results also revealed some partner effects. However, nine of these effects were moderated with significant actor-by-partner interactions, indicating that actors and partners with low relationship uncertainty use less negative maintenance in their relationships.

Keywords:

• Actor-Partner Interdependence Model
• Negative Relational Maintenance
• Relationship Uncertainty

Notes

^1. For the full reports of empirical distinguishability screening including actor-partner sex interactions and deviance tests, please contact the second author.

^2. To account for relationship status as a covariate, we recalculated all 24 APIMs by entering relationship status as a dummy code (0 = dating relationships, 1 = seriously committed relationships) to control for variance explained by potential mean differences in maintenance based on the type of romantic relationship. Controlling for relationship status did not change the results for 21 of the 24 APIMs. Three changes to the results due to including this covariate were (1) the partner effect for definition uncertainty on spying became significant (B = .17) and (2) the partner effect of definition uncertainty on infidelity (B = .08), and (3) future uncertainty on infidelity (B = .10) became nonsignificant.

^3. For the full reports of actor-by-partner interactions, including simple slopes analyses and figures graphing each interaction, please contact the second author.