Regret for Complaint Withholding

Abstract

This study examines regret for withholding relational complaints. The study sample of 393 participants completed measures of irritant frequency, irritant importance, relational intimacy, emotional distress from withholding, and regret for withholding. Irritant frequency mediated the positive relationship between length of withholding and irritant importance. This process predicted less intimacy and more emotional distress from withholding, the latter of which related to regret. Alternative paths were also found between length of withholding and regret. Results offer important implications for the role of regret management in hurtful confrontations and may inform other avoidance forms.

Keywords:

• Complaint Withholding
• Regret
• Festering Model

Notes

[1] Compared to those reporting on romantic relationships, the frequency of the irritant was significantly greater among those reporting on friendships (β = 0.15, p < 0.018), roommate relationships (β = 0.11 p < 0.032), or unspecified relationships (β = 0.16, p < 0.003), but it did not differ significantly from those reporting on families (β= -0.01, p < 0.887). In addition, the set of dummy codes accounted for significant variance in emotional distress reported while withholding, R² = 0.026, F(4, 392) = 2.63, p < 0.034. Those reporting on romantic relationships indicated significantly higher emotional distress from withholding compared to reports on friendships (β = -0.17, p < 0.0007) and families (β = -0.13, p < 0.028) but did not significantly differ from reports on roommate relationships (β = -0.03, p < 0.599) or unspecified relationships (β = 0.03, p < 0.639). Finally, the set of dummy codes accounted for significant variance in intimacy since withholding started, R² = 0.044, F(4, 392) = 4.437, p < 0.002. Relative to those reporting on romantic relationships, intimacy was significantly lower among those reporting on friendships (β = 0.16, p < 0.013), roommate relationships (β = 0.11 p < 0.038), or unspecified relationships (β = 0.19, p < 0.001), but was not significantly different from those reporting on families (β = 0.03, p < 0.619).

[2] The average level of reported regret (M = 3.42, SD = 1.55) was significantly below the midpoint of the scale (4), t(392) = 7.45, p < 0.05.