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Padgett, Emily 2.pdf (765.7 KB)

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Relational Spirituality and Trajectories of Observed Emotional Intimacy During the Transition to Parenthood

Padgett, Emily A.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1460016655

Abstract Details

2016, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, Psychology/Clinical.
Research regarding marital adjustment during the transition to parenthood has demonstrated that couples experience greater conflict, poorer conflict resolutions skills, and increases in other factors associated with negative communication patterns (e.g., Belsky, Lang, & Rovine, 1985; Belsky & Pensky, 1988; Belsky & Rovine, 1990; Belsky, Spanier, & Rovine, 1983). However, little is known about how new parents use more positive forms of communication during what can be a joyous yet trying transition. Using a sample of 164 married couples during the transition to parenthood, this study used longitudinal data to: 1) examine the trajectory of observed emotional intimacy skills during 10-minute videotaped interactions regarding vulnerable disclosures about becoming new parents and 2), to determine how spiritual variables regarding marriage (i.e. sanctification of marriage, spiritual intimacy, and spiritual one-upmanship) impact emotional intimacy over time. Using the multi-level dyadic discrepancy approach to growth curve modeling, it was determined that both husbands’ and wives’ observed emotional intimacy occurred in a curvilinear trajectory over the first year of parenthood. Additionally, there was a significant gender difference in that wives displayed more emotionally intimate behaviors than husbands. Furthermore, as expected higher reports of sanctification of marriage and spiritual intimacy predicted higher scores of observed emotional intimacy, but unexpectedly spiritual-one-upmanship did not correlate with emotional intimacy.
Annette Mahoney (Advisor)
Alfred DeMaris (Committee Member)
Kenneth Pargament (Committee Member)
Michael Zickar (Committee Member)
119 p.
Families and Family Life; Psychology; Religion; Spirituality
transition to parenthood; couples; marriage; religion; spirituality; observed communication processes; observed interactions

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Padgett, E. A. (2016). Relational Spirituality and Trajectories of Observed Emotional Intimacy During the Transition to Parenthood [Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1460016655

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Padgett, Emily. Relational Spirituality and Trajectories of Observed Emotional Intimacy During the Transition to Parenthood. 2016. Bowling Green State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1460016655.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Padgett, Emily. "Relational Spirituality and Trajectories of Observed Emotional Intimacy During the Transition to Parenthood." Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1460016655

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1460016655
879
© 2016, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.