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Relational Ethics and Relationship Cycling

Shannon, Samuel Tomas
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1483649086650909

Abstract Details

2017, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Human Ecology: Human Development and Family Science.
Romantic relationships continue to be a challenge to many and the break-down of these relationships impacts partners and offspring in many negative ways. Relationship cycling is a relatively common phenomenon, where couples will separate and reconcile their romantic relationship. There is a lack of information on the way that relationship history in general, and relationship cycling in specific, interacts with relational ethics on predicting relational satisfaction and adjustment. According to contextual theory, the perception of fairness and ethical relating in a relationship are connected to couple satisfaction (Boszormenyi-Nagy & Krasner, 1986). Two samples were collected, including an individual response sample (n = 125) and a couple response sample of 68 couples (n = 136). All participants were newly married or engaged heterosexual couples between the ages of 18 and 35. Data were collected using on-line recruitment and surveys. A new instrument measuring relational ethics was used and found to highly correlate with the Relational Ethics Scale. A description of cycling couples was generated, with cyclers most frequently cycling a single time, with the male partners more frequently considered to be responsible for the problems and cycling in the relationship. Differences in relationship satisfaction, vertical relational ethics, and horizontal relational ethics based on cycling status were explored using a MANOVA, with multiple independent t-tests. Structural equation modeling was conducted to test the association between relationship cycling and couple satisfaction, and whether relational ethics accounts for this association. Results suggest that cycling couples are less satisfied with their relationship, and have lower levels of horizontal relational ethics. An SEM model demonstrated that cycling did negatively predict relationship satisfaction, but this association disappeared when relational ethics were introduced. An SEM model was estimated based on contextual theory. There were no significant effects for vertical relational ethics predicting cycling. There were significant effects for cycling predicting horizontal relational ethics. There were significant actor and partner effects for vertical relational ethics predicting horizontal relational ethics. There were significant actor effects for horizontal relational ethics predicting relationship satisfaction for female partners only. Cycling predicted satisfaction for female partners only. Overall the findings of the study suggest that horizontal relational ethics are negatively impacted by cycling, but act as a buffer between cycling and relationship satisfaction. This suggests that cycling will most likely diminish satisfaction in the relationship, but that other factors that improve relational ethics will mediate that association. Furthermore there seems to be gender differences for how relational ethics and cycling connect with satisfaction.
Suzanne Bartle-Haring (Advisor)
Keeley Pratt (Committee Member)
Anastasia Snyder (Committee Member)
148 p.
Individual and Family Studies; Therapy
Churning, Cycling, Relational Ethics, Marriage and Family Therapy, Romantic Relationship Formation, Young Adults, Intergenerational, Dyadic

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Shannon, S. T. (2017). Relational Ethics and Relationship Cycling [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1483649086650909

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Shannon, Samuel. Relational Ethics and Relationship Cycling. 2017. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1483649086650909.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Shannon, Samuel. "Relational Ethics and Relationship Cycling." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1483649086650909

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1483649086650909
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.