Citation

Peterson C, O'Neal CW, Futris TG. Fam. Process 2021; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Family Process Institute, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/famp.12689

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Although accepting influence (i.e., being open to the influence of others) is considered important for couple relationships, there is a lack of empirical research on the association between accepting influence and relationship satisfaction. Moreover, research has not examined what family experiences may precede one's ability to accept influence in later romantic relationships, although life course theory and the vulnerability stress adaptation model support the notion that stressful childhood experiences may be consequential for accepting influence adaptive processes, which, in turn, can impact relationship satisfaction. This study used dyadic, couple data and an actor partner interdependence model to investigate the associations between stressful childhood experiences, accepting influence, and relationship satisfaction in a sample of 229 military couples (with one male service member and one female civilian spouse) after accounting for elements of their military context (e.g., rank, number of deployments), relationship length, and mental health. The path model also estimated the indirect effects from both partners' stressful childhood experiences to relationship satisfaction through accepting influence. Female spouses' stressful childhood experiences were associated with their perceptions of male partners' accepting influence, which, in turn, was associated with both partners' relationship satisfaction, demonstrating partial mediation. Military couples, as well as other couples in stressful contexts, may benefit from interventions that address how prior family experiences impact current accepting influence processes. Moreover, accepting influence behaviors can be a tool for couples to utilize to mitigate the possible negative consequences of their stressful circumstances on their relationship.

Language: en

Keywords

Actor-partner interdependence model; Accepting influence; aceptación de la influencia; experiencias estresantes de la niñez; Military couples; modelo de interdependencia actor-pareja; parejas de militares; Relationship satisfaction; satisfacción con la relación; Stressful childhood experiences; 关系满意度; 军人伴侣; 接受影响; 紧张的童年经历; 行为者-伴侣互相依赖模式