The effects of relationship type, partner intent, and gender on the selection of relationship maintenance strategies

Abstract

Most relationships are not set on trajectories toward intimacy; instead, communication is used to maintain relationships. This study determines how intimacy level of the relationship, partner's relationship intent, and gender affect the communication strategies selected to maintain relationships at particular levels. A factor analysis of Ayres's relationship maintenance instrument supports Knapp's explanation of movement occurring within and between relational stages in order to stabilize a relationship at a given level. Although relationship type did not affect the maintenance strategies chosen, partner's relationship intent and the sex‐composition of the dyad had a significant impact upon the selection of directness strategies. While significant differences were found only on the directness scale, individuals are not necessarily more likely to select directness strategies than balance or avoidance tactics. More elaborate investigation in this area may isolate the variables that are predictors of relationship maintenance strategy choices and may examine their relative success in stabilizing the relationship.

Notes

B. Christine Shea is Lecturer of Speech Communication at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and Judy C. Pearson is Professor of Interpersonal Communication, Ohio University. This article is based on a master's thesis completed by the first author and directed by the second author. Both authors wish to express their appreciation to Tom D. Daniels who assisted in the statistical analysis of the data.