Children’s Transitions and Relational Turbulence in Marriage: Can Transition Processing Communication Help?

ABSTRACT

This study engages the frameworks of relational turbulence theory and the experiencing life transitions model to shed light on the associations between parents’ relationship-focused communication and marital qualities during major transitions for their child. An online survey asked parents (N = 311) to evaluate their marital relationship experiences surrounding a period of change during their child’s life. Analyses, which focused on participants who reported a major life event (N = 235), identified 11 categories of transitions. Across the transitions, perceptions of a partner’s engagement in transition processing communication was negatively associated with partner uncertainty and interference from a partner, and positively associated with facilitation from a partner. In contrast to the hypotheses, participants’ own engagement in transition processing communication was positively associated with partner uncertainty. The discussion highlights the potential for relationship-focused communication to attenuate relational uncertainty and improve interdependence as parents navigate transitions associated with raising children.