Emotional jealousy positively predicts relationship quality in fledgling (but not established) relationships

Download
2019
Öztekin, Hazal
Romantic jealousy and attachment anxiety have been found to have negative associations with relational outcomes such as lower satisfaction, trust and commitment. Previous research investigated these associations mostly for longterm relationships, current study aimed to fill the gap regarding fledgling relationships and investigate the role of anxiety and jealousy at different stages of the relationship. Fledgling relationships which are uncertain by their nature may provoke anxiety and jealousy. Those jealous and anxious behaviors may have a positive association with relationship quality at the beginning of the relationship as they could enhance proximity seeking behavior. Regarding the nature of fledgling relationships, the differences between fledgling and long-term relationships in terms of anxiety and jealousy were investigated. Also, the moderating role of relationship stage for the associations of anxiety and jealousy with relationship quality were tested. Two hundred and sixty two participants who were in a relationship for less than two months or more than a year were recruited (130 for the fledgling group, 132 for the long-term group). Participants completed the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised, Multidimensional Jealousy Scale and Perceived Relationship Quality Components Inventory in a laboratory setting. Results revealed that the fledgling group had higher levels of attachment anxiety and emotional jealousy than the long-term group. Also, only emotional jealousy was found to have a positive association with relationship quality in fledgling romantic relationships but no significant associations were found for long-term relationships. Even though the moderating role of relationship stage on the associations of jealousy and anxiety with relationship quality was pa rtially supported, current study supports the adaptive role of emotional jealousy in fledgling relationships.

Suggestions

Attachment insecurity and restrictive engulfment in college student relationships: the mediating role of relationship satisfaction
Toplu-Demirtas, Ezgi; Murray, Christine; Sümer, Zeynep (Emerald, 2019-02-11)
Purpose Studies on restrictive engulfment (RE) - a subtype of psychological aggression in intimate relationships - have focused either on insecure attachment or relationship satisfaction, not both. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate relationship satisfaction as a potential mediator of the associations between anxious and avoidant attachment and RE perpetration among college students. Design/methodology/approach A sample of 322 college students (178 women, 137 men, and seven other gender-...
Breakup Adjustment in Young Adulthood
Barutçu Yıldırım, Kadriye Funda; Demir, Ayhan Gürbüz (2015-01-01)
The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of young adults to adjust to the breakup of a romantic relationship by examining the possible predictors. The sample comprised 140 women and 143 men. Simultaneous regression analysis indicated that initiator status, existence of a new partner, certainty of the reasons for the breakup, and perceived social support were significant predictors and accounted for 18% of the variance in the measure of adjustment to breakup.
INSECURE ATTACHMENT AND RELATIONSHIP SATISFACTION: TESTING THE BUFFERING ROLES OF MINDFULNESS, SELF-COMPASSION, AND COGNITIVE DEFUSION
Taşkesen, Nureda; Barutçu Yıldırım, Kadriye Funda; Department of Educational Sciences (2022-7)
This study aims to test a multiple-mediation model which examines mindfulness, relationship mindfulness, self-compassion, and cognitive defusion as possible mediators of the relationship between attachment insecurity and romantic relationship satisfaction. The sample consisted of 521 emerging adults in a romantic relationship for at least one month (70% female, 27% male, and 3% non-binary). Their ages ranged from 19 to 29 years old (M = 22.52, SD = 2.45). In data collection, Relationship Assessment Scale, E...
Adult attachment, stage of threat, and romantic jealousy in relation to psychopathological symptoms: importance of personal characteristics and quality of relationship
Arslan, Selen; Gençöz, Tülin; Department of Psychology (2015)
The present study aimed (1) to examine differences of certain personal and relational variables on romantic jealousy; (2) to examine differentiation of romantic jealousy expressions according to adult attachment styles in different stages of threat; (3) to investigate associations of romantic jealousy with psychopathological symptomatology. Data was collected from 366 adults, having a romantic relationship for at least six months and, their ages ranged from 18 to 65. Results revealed that romantic jealousy ...
Experience and expression of emotions in marital conflict : an attachment theory perspective
Özen, Ayça; Sümer, Nebi; Department of Psychology (2012)
The current study aims to explore the potential mediating role of emotional experiences and expression during conflictual situations in marital relationships. Past studies have documented a strong relationship between attachment dimensions and/or styles and relationship satisfaction. It was also shown that negative emotions and dysfunctional and destructive expression of emotions have detrimental effect on marital functioning. The current study aims to empirically tie these two areas of research by explorin...
Citation Formats
H. Öztekin, “Emotional jealousy positively predicts relationship quality in fledgling (but not established) relationships,” Thesis (M.S.) -- Thesis (M.S.) -- Graduate School of Social Sciences. Psychology., Middle East Technical University, 2019.