Abstracts - Carleton University

Abstracts

2019InternationalAssociationforRelationshipResearchmini-conferenceTheme:PositiveActioninRelationships

Conferencevenue:RichcraftHall,CarletonUniversityOttawa,Ontario,Canada

June20-22,2019

ConferenceorganizersCherylHarasymchuk(Chair),JohannaPeetz,MarinaMilyavskaya,AmyMuise,&EmilyImpett

AbstractIndex

KeynoteSpeakers(sortedalphabeticallybyKeynoteSpeakerlastname)

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Symposia(groupabstracts)(sortedalphabeticallybythesymposiumtitle)

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Symposia:IndividualPresenter(groupedbysymposium)

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IndividualTalks(sortedalphabeticallybythelastnameofthepresenter)

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DataBlitz(sortedalphabeticallybythelastnameofthepresenter)

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Posters(sortedalphabeticallybythelastnameofthepresenter)

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Note.SpecialthankstoShamarukhChowdhuryforpreparingthisdocument!

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KeynoteSpeakers:AbstractsPositiveinterpersonalprocessesSaraAlgoeUniversityofNorthCarolinaatChapelHill

Goodrelationshipsarecharacterizedbyfrequentpositivesocialinteractions,suchashavingfuntogether,sharinglaughs,doingkindthingsforoneanother,andexpressinggratitude.Here,buildingonrapidly-emergingfindingsthatbridgeaffectiveandrelationshipscience,Iarticulatecorefeaturesofpositiveinterpersonalprocesses.Thisapproachleadstousefulspecificityinpredictionsaboutrelationshipconsequencesandsimultaneouslycontributestobothaffectiveandrelationshipscience,twodomainsthatspandisciplineswithinthepsychologicalliterature.Inturn,basicresearchoneverydaypositiveinterpersonalprocessespointstowardnewavenuesforunderstandingthewell-establishedlinksbetweengoodrelationshipsandhealth.Whyarerelationshipsdifficulttochange?ThomasBradburyUniversityofCalifornia,LosAngeles

Theinterpersonalprocessesthatarevitaltorelationshipsandtorelationshipsciencearewidelyunderstoodtogeneratevaluedrelational,familial,andsocialbenefits.However,effortstoactivelychangethesegenerativeprocesses,throughclinicalandpreventiveinterventions,haveyieldedmixedandunexpectedresults.InmytalkIwilloutlinethevalueofdevelopingtheappliedsideofrelationshipscience,whilehighlightingsomeofthechallengesthatarisewhenattemptingtomakebasicresearchfindingsactionable.Aftersummarizingwhymyresearchonsocialsupportmightserveasacautionarytale,IreviewaseriesoffindingsthatIbelievehelpexplainwhyithasprovendifficulttocreatelastingchangeinrelationshipsforcouplesintheearlystagesofcommittedpartnerships.Thetalkwillconcludewithafewwaysinwhichresearchandtheorycanallowustoharnesstheprosocialforcesthatresideinourclosestrelationships,perhapsenablingmorecouplestoreapthebenefitsthatareinherentinoursocialbonds.Gettingwhatyouwant:Differenttypesofsexhavedifferentbenefitsforheterosexualandsexual-minoritywomenLisaDiamondUniversityofUtah

Inthistalk,Ireviewpreviousresearchlinkingsexualsatisfactiontomentalandphysicalhealth,highlightingthedegreetowhichthisresearchhasbeenconductedalmostexclusivelyamongheterosexuals.Someofthisresearchhasarguedthatpenile-vaginalintercourseismore“beneficial”forwomen’swell-beingthanothersexualacts.InthistalkIpresentdatacollectedfromsexual-minorityandheterosexualwomenshowingthattheday-to-daybenefitsofdifferentsexualactsdependsonthedegreetowhichwomenpersonallyvaluedifferenttypesofacts.

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Youtanglemyemotions:TheregulationofemotionsbycloseothersShellyGableUniversityofCalifornia,SantaBarbara

Closerelationshippartnerscanactivelyinfluenceoneanother’semotionalexperiences;aprocesscalledextrinsicinterpersonalemotionregulation(EIER).RelationshipresearchershavelargelybeenconcernedwithEIERprocessesthatoccuraftertheotherhasexperiencedanemotion,suchasattemptsatdown-regulatingnegativeemotionsthroughsocialsupport.IwillpresenttheoryanddatasupportinganexpandedmodelofEIERacrossthetemporalspectrumofanemotionalexperience.Wefindthatpeoplefrequentlyengageinextrinsicinterpersonalemotionregulationbyusingstrategiesfocusedontheantecedentsofanemotionalexperience,suchascreatingsituationstoincreaseordecreasethelikelihoodofanemotionbeingexperienced,aswellasstrategiesemployedinresponsetotheexperienceoftheemotion,suchassuppressingthecloseother’sexpressionofemotion.Thesestrategiescanbeaimedatmakingtheotherfeelbetterormakingtheotherfeelworse,andtheiruseplaysaroleincloserelationships.Iwillendwithadiscussionofimplicationsthatthisworkhasforresearchonemotionregulationandresearchoncloserelationships.

Whengoodisstrongerthanbad:RewardandthreatinthepursuitofrelationshipsGeoffMacDonaldUniversityofTorontoSocialpsychologistshavearguedthatpeoplearemoremotivatedbyavoidingbadoutcomesthanpursuinggoodones.Butresearchinmylabsuggeststhatwhendecidingwhethertoinvestinarelationship,peoplemaybemorestronglyinfluencedbyrewards(e.g.,intimacy)thanthreats(e.g.,rejection).Iwilldescriberesearchshowingthatpeopleregretmissedrelationshipopportunitiesmorethanrejections,stayattachedtoex-partnerswhoarerewardingratherthansafe,andaremorelikelytostaytogetherinthelongtermwithpartnerswhoofferreward.Iwillprovideevidencethattherewardsofrelationshipsmaybesoenticingbecausetheyaremediatedbythereleaseofendogenousopioids.Finally,Iwillarguethatavoidantlyattachedindividualsactivelydefendagainstsocialrewardanddiscussresearchsuggestingthatcommunicatinglovetoavoidantswithhighlyactivenonverbalmessagesmaybeonewaytoworkpastthesedefences.

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Symposia:GroupAbstracts(sortedalphabeticallybythesymposiumtitle)

Automaticprocessesincloserelationships:Howimplicitevaluationsofsignificantotherspromoterelationship-maintenancemechanismsPresentingAuthors:Faure,Reis,&ZayasChair:RuddyFaureGrowingevidencesuggeststhatimplicitevaluations–theautomaticaffectiveassociationstowardone’ssignificantother–areapowerfulpredictorofrelationshipsuccessovertime.Inthissymposium,wediscussnovelfindingsthatfurtherilluminatethereasonswhyimplicitevaluationshavesubstantiallong-termimplicationsand,toabroaderextent,howautomaticprocessesimportantlycontributetoourunderstandingofrelationshipscience.Acrossthreepresentations,wefirstprovideconvergingevidencethatimplicitevaluationscapturebothspecificandgeneralaspectsofone’srelationshipthatcanhardlybeassessedthroughexplicitself-report.Then,wedescribetheconditionsunderwhichmorepositiveimplicitevaluationsofanimportantothermayautomaticallyfosterbothcognitive(i.e.,resistancetorelationalthreat,rose-coloredperceptionofpastandpresentinterpersonalexperiences)andbehavioral(i.e.,forgiveness)processesthatarecrucialformaintainingsatisfyingrelationshipsinthelongrun,andthisoverandaboveexplicitevaluations.Broadeningandbuildinginthebedroom:Relationshipprocessesthatenhancecouples’sexlivesPresentingAuthors:Brady,Genesse,Raposo,&VannierChairs:AmyMuiseandStephanieRaposoMaximizingthebenefitsofsexinrelationshipspromotesrelationshipsatisfactionandmaintenance.Inthissymposium,wepresentresearchonseveralrelationshipprocesses—self-expansion,savouring,gratitude,andbalancingautonomyandconnectednessneeds—thatareassociatedwithcouples’sexualdesireandsatisfaction.Inthefirsttalk,Raposoexamineswhetherself-expansion(i.e.,novelty,excitement,broadening)canhelpcouplesmaintainsexualandrelationshipwell-beingwhencopingwithlowsexualdesire.Inthesecondtalk,Vannierinvestigateshowsexualsavouring(i.e.,reminiscingabout,anticipating,andsavouringsexualexperiences)canpromotedesireandsatisfactioninrelationships.Inthethirdtalk,Bradyexploreshowgratitudefacilitatesmotivationstomeetapartner’ssexualneeds.Inthefourthtalk,Genessediscusseshowbalancingautonomyandconnectednessneedsisfacilitatedbysecureattachmentandassociatedwithhigherdesireandsatisfaction.Theresearchinthissymposiumprovidesinsightintotheprocessesthathelpcoupleskeeptheirsexualsparkalive.

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Inthepursuit(oravoidance)ofsexualpleasure:RelationshipsincontextPresentingAuthors:Clark,Garcia,Lyons,&O'SullivanChair:LuciaO'SullivanPleasureisrarelythefocusofsexualityresearch.Oftheworkthatdoesexist,researchoftensurprisinglyoverlookstherelationshipcontextofthesepartneredsexualexperiences.Ispleasureinherenttoourconsensualsexualinteractions?Whatarethecomponentsofasexuallifethataremostcloselylinkedtopleasure?Thissymposiumcomprisesasetoffourpapersthatexamineexpressionsofsexualpleasureinthecontextofintimaterelationships.Thepapersaddress(1)whichindividualandrelationalfactorsbestpredictpleasurableversusproblematicsexualfunctioningamongyoungpeople,(2)sex-positive,neutral,andsex-averseattitudesamongsexualandasexualpeopleastheynavigateintimaterelationships,(3)active,limited,andfrustratedexpressivepathsinthesexualityofagingadults,and(4)anin-depthanalysisofthesexualactivitiesthatconstitutesatisfyingandpleasurablesexintherelationshipcontext.Perceivingyou,perceivingme:SourcesandbenefitsofaccuracyandbiasininterpersonalinteractionsPresentingAuthors:Elsaadawy,Gere,Tissera,&VissermanChairs:HasaganiTisseraandNorhanElsaadawyArepeopleaccurateintheirperceptionsofothers?Doesaccuracyrelatetointerpersonaloutcomes?Inthissymposium,weexplorewhetherindividualsareabletoachieveaccuracyinvarioustypesofinteractionsandwhetheraccurateandmeta-accurate(i.e.,accuratebeliefsaboutwhatothersthinkaboutus)perceptionsinfluenceinterpersonaloutcomesinbothnovelandestablishedrelationshipcontexts.Specifically,talkswilladdress1)whetherpeopleareaccurateatperceivingtheirpartners’sacrificesandtherelationalconsequencesstemmingfromtheseperceptions,2)whetherpeopleaccuratelyperceivetheirpartners’socialcontrolbehaviors(i.e.,persuasion,pressure,autonomysupport,undermining)andhowthisaccuracyaffectstheirdailyexperiences,3)whatfactorspredictmeta-accuracyinvariousinterpersonalcontexts,andfinally4)whethermeta-accuracyisassociatedwithpositiveinterpersonaloutcomesduringplatonicandromanticrelationshipinitiation.PositiveactioninteachingrelationshipsPresentingAuthors:Bartolic,Miller,Orbuch,O'Sullivan,&VeretteLindenbaumChair:JulieVeretteLindenbaumPositiveActioninTeachingRelationshipsunitesthemissionoftheTeachingSymposiumspeakers.PerspectivesontheprocessofteachingincludeRowlandMiller’smovefromtraditionaltoonlineteaching(FulfillingorFoolish?LessonsLearnedfromTeachingCloseRelationshipsOnline),LuciaF.O’Sullivan’sadviceonprudenttechnologyuse(Tech-enabled[nottech-eclipsed]!),andTerriOrbuch’sexperienceswithextendedteachingcontexts(TeachingRelationshipScienceOutsidetheTraditionalClassroom).SilviaBartolicwilldescribeherassignment(co-authoredwithDanielPerlman)thatpromotesdiversityinrelationship

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perspectives(International,Cross-InstitutionUndergraduateStudentDiversityAssignment)andJulieVeretteLindenbaumwillshareherresearchindicatingthatstudentsvalueteacherswhodemonstratequalitiesconsistentwithperceivedteacherresponsiveness(StrengtheningConnections:Students’PerceptionsofEffectiveTeachers).EachmemberofthisTeachingSymposiumtakespositiveactiontowardenhancingtherelationshipsbetweenTeachers(viadynamicteachingprocesses,assignments,contexts,orcharacteristics)andStudents(viaengagement,application,andacademicsuccess).ThepositiveoutcomesofthefastfriendsprocedureinboththelaboratoryandrealworldPresentingAuthors:Aron,Clark,Fehr,&SprecherChairs:SusanSprecherandArthurAronCloseness-inducingtasks,or“FastFriends”procedures,havebeendevelopedtogenerateclosenessbetweenstrangersandenhancesatisfactionandclosenessinexistingrelationships.ThissymposiumhighlightstheuseofFastFriendsprocedurestostudyfactorsthatenhanceclosenessandotherpositiveoutcomes.ArtAronwillopenthesymposiumbyabriefreviewoftheoriginalpurposeoftheFastFriendsprocedure.SusanSprecherwillthendiscussresearchusingaFastFriendsproceduretoexaminehowvariousfactors(includingmodalityofcommunication)affectclosenessoutcomesingetting-acquainteddyads.BeverleyFehrwillthendiscusstheroleoftheprocedure(vs.aphysicalactivity)forenhancingsatisfactioninmale-malevs.female-femaleexistingfriendships.MargaretClarkandEricaBoothbywilldiscussresearchthathasexaminedtheoutcomesfromtheFastFriendsprocedure,includingforenhancingsharedexperiences.ArtAronwillclosethesymposiumbydiscussingotherreal-worldapplicationsoftheFastFriendsprocedure.Theprotectiverolesofattachmentsecurity,partnersupport,andcommitmentinshapingrelationshipwell-beingPresentingAuthors:Daspe,Lessard,Morissette-Harvey,&PéloquinChair:KatherinePéloquinMeta-analysesandepidemiologicalstudieshaveshownthatrelationshipdistressisassociatedwithlowerlevelsofpersonalwell-beingandisamainriskfactorforpsychopathology(Braithwaite&Holt-Lunstad,2017;Whisman&Baucom,2012).Thesefindingsjustifytheempiricaleffortsaimedatpreventingrelationshipdistressandatidentifyingthemechanismsunderlyingoptimalrelationshipfunctioningandwell-being.TheVulnerability-Stress-AdaptationModel(Karney&Bradburry,1995)positsthatrelationshipdistressarisesfromthecombinationofenduringvulnerabilities,stressfulevents,andpooradaptiverelationalprocesses.Thismodelstatesthatrelationshipfunctioningdeterioratesaspartners’individualvulnerabilitiesandstressfullifeeventsundermineorevenoverwhelmthecouple’sadaptiveprocesses.Yet,positiverelationalprocessesmaybufferagainstthenegativeeffectsofpersonalvulnerabilitiesorstressors.Thissymposiumwillfocusontheroleofthreerelationalprotectiveprocessesinshapingrelationshipwell-beinginvariousrelationalcontextssusceptibletoimpederelationalwell-being—namely,attachmentsecurity,partnersupport,andcommitment.

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Togrowornottogrow?Whenandwhyself-expansionhelpsorhurtsrelationshipqualityPresentingAuthors:Carswell,Hughes,Emery,&McIntyreChairs:KathleenL.CarswellandLydiaEmeryAgrowingbodyofresearchsuggestsself-expansion—addingpositivecontenttotheself—enhancesbothrelationshipandindividualwell-being.Thissymposiumexploreswhenandwhyself-expansionhelpsorhurtsrelationshipquality.KevinMcIntyrefirstdiscusseswhyself-expansionwithinrelationshipsbenefitsrelationshipqualityandindividualwell-being,suggestingthatbasicpsychologicalneedfulfillmentmediatestheseassociations.KathleenCarswellthenexamineshowpersonalself-expansion—positiveself-changeandpersonalgrowthwithoutthepresenceofaromanticpartner—influencesrelationshipqualityanddesire.Althoughbriefincreasesinself-expansionbenefitrelationships,toomuchmayleadpartnerstodriftapart.Next,ErinHughesexploresindividualdifferencesinpreferencesforself-expansionandhowtheyrelatetoindividualandrelationshipwell-being.Finally,LydiaEmeryinvestigateswhypeoplemightnotsupporttheirpartner’sself-expansion,findingthatpeoplewithlowself-conceptclarityattempttounderminetheirpartner’spersonalself-expansion,whichcorrodesrelationshipquality.Welcometothedarkside:ExploringtheinfluenceofthedarksideofpersonalityonrelationshipsPresentingAuthors:Boon,Paulin,Scharfe,&VisserChairs:ElaineScharfeandSusanBoonThe“darktriad”ofpersonalityincludesthreeoverlappingbutdistinguishabletraits(Paulhus&Williams,2002):Machiavellianism,narcissism,andpsychopathy.Recentlyresearchershavestartedtoexploretheassociationsbetweendarkpersonalitiesandthedarksideofrelationships.Inthecurrentsymposium,weproposetoextendthesefindingstoantecedentsofthedarktriadinfamilyrelationships(Scharfeetal.)aswellaspersonalitydevelopment(Visseretal.).Wewillalsopresentdataexploringtheassociationofthedarktriadwithotherdarkrelationshipbehavioursincludingrevengeinsocialmedia(Paulin&Boon)andrevenge,interpersonalviolenceandattitudestowardinfidelityinromanticrelationships(Boonetal).Overall,inthissymposium,wewillhighlightthebenefitsoftakinganintegrativeapproachinexplainingtheoriginsandmanifestationsofdarkrelationshipbehaviours.

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Symposia:IndividualAbstracts(groupedbysymposium)

Symposiumtitle:Automaticprocessesincloserelationships:Howimplicitevaluationsofsignificantotherspromoterelationship-maintenancemechanismsTheheatison...Ormaybenot:ImplicitsexualdesireinromanticcouplesHarryT.Reis1,DavidC.deJong2,&GuritE.Birnbaum31UniversityofRochester,2WesternCarolinaUniversity,3InterdisciplinaryCenter(IDC)HerzliyaWewilldiscusstwostudiesusinganewmeasureofimplicitsexualdesireforone'spartner.WedevelopedtheSD-IAT(SexualDesire-ImplicitAssociationTest)toassessthestrengthofassociationbetweenasingletargetconcept(one'sromanticpartner)andanevaluativedimension(hot-sexytobland-boring).Inacommunitysampleof110heterosexualcouples,wefoundthat,overandaboveexplicitsexualdesire,implicitdesirepredictedgreaterdesireandarousalduringsex,andperceivingthatpartnersweremoreresponsiveandfeltmoredesireandsatisfactionduringsex.Inasecondstudy,implicitsexualdesirewasshowntohelpinoculatewomeninacommittedromanticrelationshipagainstattractivealternatives.TheSD-IATmaybeparticularlyrelevanceforpredictingsubjectiveimpressionsofapartner'sexperience—impressionsthatindividualscannotdirectlyknowandmustthereforeinfer.Mygutsaysso,butdoIlistentoit?Executivecontrol:WhenandforwhomimplicitpartnerevaluationspredictforgivenessRuddyFaure1,FrancescaRighetti1,GraceLarson2,&WilhelmHofmann31VrijeUniversiteitAmsterdam,2UniversityofCologne,3Ruhr-UniversityBochumRecentworksuggeststhatimplicitpartnerevaluationsareapowerfulpredictorofrelationshipsuccessbecausetheypredictbehaviorwhenpeoplehaverestrictedopportunitiestoengageinmorecontrolledresponses.Yet,surprisingly,verylittleevidenceshowswhetherimplicitpartnerevaluationsaffectovertbehaviorsanddecision-makingprocessesunderthesecircumstances.Consistentwithdual-processtheories,wepredictedthatwhenpeoplehavelimitedexecutivecontrol,theirimplicitpartnerevaluationswouldinfluencetheirforgivenessdecisionstowardtheirpartner;acrucialrelationship-maintenancebehavior.Resultsrevealedthatwhentemporarilyimpairingpeople’sexecutivecontrolwithanexperimentalmanipulation(Study1),orforpeoplewithlowertraitexecutivecontrol(Study2),morepositiveimplicitpartnerevaluationswereassociatedwithmorewillingness(Study1)andmorereal-lifeforgivingbehaviorstowardapartner’soffense(Study2).Together,ourfindingshighlighttheimportanceofimplicitpartnerevaluationsunderspecific,yetcommon,conditionsforpromotingrepairbehaviorsthatareessentialforrelationshipsuccess.

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HowIthinkofyou?PositiveimplicitsignificantotherevaluationspredictmotivatedrelationshipmaintenanceVivianZayas1,EmreSelcuk2,&GizemSurenkok11CornellUniversity,2MiddleEastTechnicalUniversityInteractionswithsignificantothers(SO)areaffectivelycomplex.Peoplecanrecallpositivememories,butalsonegativeones.HowdoesrecallinganegativememoryinvolvingaSOaffectone’sevaluationsoftheSO?Pastworkindicatesthatimplicitevaluationsmayservetocolorhowpeopleevaluateevents,includingpastevents.Thepresentexperimentexamined1)theeffectofamemoryrecall(positivevs.negative)involvingaSOonexplicitevaluationsoftheSO,and2)theextenttowhichchangesinexplicitevaluationsinresponsetothenegativememoryrecallwereaffectedbyimplicitevaluationsoftheSO.Weshowthat,followinganegativememoryrecall,participantswithstrongerpositiveimplicitevaluationsmaintainedpositiveexplicitevaluationstowardstheSO.Incontrast,participantswithlesspositiveimplicitevaluationsexpressedlesspositiveexplicitevaluationstowardstheSO.Findingshighlighttheroleofimplicitevaluationsinrelationshipmaintenanceprocesses.Symposiumtitle:Broadeningandbuildinginthebedroom:Relationshipprocessesthatenhancecouples’sexlivesThebenefitsofself-expansionforcouplescopingwithlowsexualdesireStephanieRaposo1,NatalieO.Rosen2,&AmyMuise1,1YorkUniversity,2DalhousieUniversitySelf-expansioninarelationship–expandingone’ssenseofselfthroughnovelandexcitingexperienceswithapartner–mayhelpcouplescopewithlowsexualdesire.However,self-expansionhasnotbeenappliedtochallengingrelationshipissues.Inastudyof97couplesinwhichthewomanwasdiagnosedwithclinicallylowsexualdesire,wefoundthatwhenwomenreportedhigherself-expansionintherelationship,theyreportedgreaterrelationshipandsexualsatisfaction,andhadmoredesireforandweremoreaffectionatewiththeirpartners.Whentheirpartnersreportedhigherself-expansion,theyfeltmoresatisfiedwiththeirsexlifeandrelationship(andsodidthewomen),lowersexualdistressandlessrelationshipconflict.Thisisthefirststudytoourknowledgetoapplyself-expansiontheorytocouplescopingwithlowdesireandprovideevidencethatself-expansionmighthelpcouplesmitigatethenegativeconsequencesofaclinicalsexualissue.

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Sexualsavouringasapro-relationshipprocess:Linkswithsexualsatisfaction,sexualdesire,andrelationshipsatisfactionacrossthreesamplesSarahA.Vannier1,StephanieRaposo2,AmyMuise2,&NatalieO.Rosen31St.ThomasUniversity,2YorkUniversity,3DalhousieUniversityAlthoughsexualityisakeycomponentofromanticrelationships,sexualsatisfactionanddesiretypicallydecreaseovertime.Savouringisanemotionregulationprocessthathelpsindividualstogenerate,prolong,andintensifytheirpositiveaffectiveexperiences.Thecurrentstudyexaminedsavouringofpositivesexualexperiences.Weproposethatsexualsavouringisapro-relationshipprocessthathelpsindividualsmaximizethepositiveaspectsoftheirsexualrelationshipandultimatelymaintainthequalityofthatrelationshipovertime.Weexaminedthelinksbetweensexualsavouring,sexualsatisfaction,sexualdesire,andrelationshipsatisfactioninthreestudies:1)cross-sectional(n=303),2)dyadicdaily-diary(n=118couples),and3)experimental(n=224).Acrossstudiessexualsavouringpredictedgreatersexualsatisfaction,sexualdesire,andrelationshipsatisfaction.Thisstudyextendsthesmallbutgrowingbodyofresearchonpro-relationshipprocesses.Sexualsavouringmayhelppeoplenavigatethesexualupsanddownsofalong-termrelationship.GratitudeisassociatedwithgreatersexualcommunalstrengthAshlynBrady1,LeviR.Baker1,EmilyA.Impett2,&AmyMuise31UniversityofNorthCarolinaatGreensboro,2UniversityofTorontoMississauga,3YorkUniversityMaintainingsexualsatisfactionisacritical,yetchallenging,aspectofmostromanticrelationships.Sexualcommunalstrength(SCS)—theextenttowhichpeoplearemotivatedtomeettheirpartners’sexualneeds—hasbeenshowntodeterminewhetherornotcouplesmaintainsexualandrelationshipsatisfactiondespitesuchchallenges.However,researchhasyettoidentifywhatqualitiesorbehaviorspromoteSCS.Giventhatexpressingandreceivingexpressionsofgratitudemotivateintimatestomaintainvaluablerelationships,wepredictthatbothexpressingandreceivinggratitudewillincreaseSCS.TwostudiestestedthesehypothesesbyexaminingifexpressingandreceivinggratitudesignificantlypredictedgreaterlevelsofSCS.ResultsfrombothstudiesrevealedthatfeelingsofgratitudetowardthepartnerandreceivingexpressionsofgratitudefromthepartnersignificantlypredictedSCS.Thesefindingsextendpastresearchbyintroducingapossiblemechanism—expressingandreceivinggratitude—thatpromotesSCS.Beingmeandlovingyou:ThebalanceofautonomyandconnectioninpromotingdesireandsexualsatisfactionDaphnéeGenesse1,AmyMuise2,AudreyBrassard1,&KatherinePéloquin31UniversitédeSherbrooke,2YorkUniversity,3UniversitédeMontréalSexualdesireandsexualsatisfactiontendtodeclineovertimeinromanticrelationships.Accordingtoself-determinationtheory(SDT),onewaycouplescanmaintainsatisfactionistobalancebothpartners’needtoactaccordingtowhotheyreallyare(autonomyneed)andtheir

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needtofeelconnectedintheirrelationship(connectionneed).Thegoalofthisstudyistoassessassociationsbetweentheexpressionofautonomyandconnectionneeds(andthebalancingorconciliationofthesetwoneeds)andbothpartners’sexualsatisfactionanddesire.Inasampleof145long-term,French-Canadianmixed-sexcouples,wefoundthatexpressingbothautonomyandconnectionneedsandbalancingthetwowasassociatedwithbothpartners’desireandsatisfaction.Securelyattachedpeopleweremorelikelytoconciliatetheirautonomyandconnectionneeds,whichisonereasonwhytheyreportedhighersexualdesireandsatisfaction.ImplicationsforSDTarediscussed.Symposiumtitle:Inthepursuit(oravoidance)ofsexualpleasure:RelationshipsincontextMakingitwork:HowintimaterelationshipsprovideacontexttoresolveproblemsinsexualfunctioningforyoungpeopleLuciaO'Sullivan1,E.SandraByers1,&KathleenHughes21UniversityofNewBrunswick,2UniversityofCalgaryYoungpeopleexperiencehighratesofproblemsinsexualfunctioning(i.e.,desire,arousal,orgasm,sexualpain),similartoadults.Researchershavenotexaminedexperiencesofsuchproblemsinthecontextofanintimaterelationshipeventhoughmostofyoungpeople’ssexualactivityoccurswithinromanticpartnerships.Thecurrentstudyexaminedtheextenttowhichindividualandrelationshipfactorspredictedsexualfunctioningamonglateadolescentsandyoungadultsinromanticrelationships.Participants(N=409;172men,237women;18to24)completedanonymousonlinesurveys.Morefemale(22.8%)thanmaleparticipants(4.7%)reportedaclinicallysignificantsexualproblemandasexualprobleminatleastonesexualfunctioningdomains(53.2%vs.20.3%).Beingmaleandreportinggreaterpartnercaring,relationshipsatisfaction,sexualfrequency,andverbalsexualcommunicationwereuniquepredictorsofsexualfunctioning.Thefindingsindicatethatbeinginasatisfyingcommittedromanticrelationshipmaybeprotectiveagainstpoorsexualfunctioningforyoungpeople.Attitudesaboutsexualintimacy:AcomparisonofasexualandsexualpeopleAlyssaClark&CorinneZimmermanIllinoisStateUniversityTherearelargegapsinasexualityresearch.Althoughthereisnoagreed-upondefinitionofasexuality,thereissupportforasexualitybeingdefinedaseither“low”or“no”sexualattraction.However,pastresearchhasnotexaminedvariationsinattractionorinsexualbehaviorattitudes.Combiningindividualsacrossthesemeasuresmaycontributetoinconsistentfindingsinpastasexualrelationshipresearch.Weanalyzedsexualintimacyattitudesamongindividualswhoidentifiedassexual(n=395)orasexual(n=101).Participantswerealsoaskedtoself-identifyassex-positive,sex-neutral,orsex-averse.Asexpected,mostasexualpeopleidentifiedassex-averseorsex-neutral,whereasthemajorityofsexualpeopleidentifiedassex-positive.Wereportdifferencesbysexualorientationandsexattitudewithrespecttosexual

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history,attitudesaboutengaginginsexualintimacy,andfuturewillingnesstoengageinvarioussexualbehaviors.Changesinsexualexpressionamongoldercouples:AdyadicanalysisDavidF.Warner1&HeidiA.Lyons21UniversityofAlabama,2OaklandUniversityManyadultscontinuetoengageinsexualbehaviorastheyage.Thereislittleresearchthatexamineshowrelationshipcharacteristicsinfluencesexualexpressionatthedyadlevelamongolderadults.Usinglatentclassmixturemodelingandthenationallyrepresentativedyadicdataon955couplesfromtheNationalSocialLife,Health,andAgingProject(NSHAP),weexaminehowpartners’characteristicsandrelationshipqualityinfluencethetypologyofsexualexpressioneachmemberofthecouple.Preliminaryanalysisshowsthatbothappraisalsofrelationshipqualityandone’sownandpartner’shealthaffectsexualexpression.However,womenaremoreinfluencedbyappraisalsoftheirrelationshipqualityandpartner’shealth,whereasmen’ssexualexpressionismoreafunctionoftheirownhealth.Basedonthesefindings,itisimportanttoconsiderhowcouple-levelfactorsbothpositivelyandnegativelyinfluencesexualexpression.Intimatebehaviorsthatpromoterelationshipsatisfaction,sexualsatisfaction,andorgasm:AclusteranalysisofbehavioralrepertoiresatlastsexualeventJustinR.Garcia1,AmandaN.Gesselman1,TaniaA.Reynolds1,DavidA.Frederick2,&KristenP.Mark31IndianaUniversityBloomington,2ChapmanUniversity,3UniversityofKentuckySomeintimateandsexualbehaviorshavebeenassociatedwithinterpersonalfactorsincludingrelationshipandsexualsatisfactioninbothmenandwomen.Thecurrentstudysoughttounderstandwhatcombinationsofbehaviorswereassociatedwithhighvs.lowrelationshipsatisfaction,sexualsatisfaction,andfrequencyoforgasmduringsexualactivity.Weinvestigatedtheoccurrenceof18specificintimateandsexualbehaviorsduringthelastsexualeventinadiversenationalU.S.sampleof1,001adultmenandwomeninacommittedromanticrelationship.Weconductedclusteranalysesandidentifiedanalyticlimitationstopreviousstudies,namelythatsomebehaviorsweresocommontheywerenotuniquetoeitherhighorlowsatisfactionquartiles.Otherbehaviorsassociatedwithgreaterintimacyandaffectionwereuniquetohighlysatisfiedandhighlyorgasmicindividuals:talkingbefore,during,andaftersexualactivity,cuddlingandcaressing.Findingshaveimplicationsforindividualandcouplerelationshipandsexualoutcomes.

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Symposiumtitle:Perceivingyou,perceivingme:SourcesandbenefitsofaccuracyandbiasininterpersonalinteractionsTo“see”istofeelgrateful?Aquasi-signaldetectionanalysisofromanticpartners’sacrificesMarikoVisserman1,2,EmilyA.Impett1,FrancescaRighetti3,AmyMuise2,DacherKeltner4,&PaulA.M.VanLange31UniversityofTorontoMississauga,2YorkUniversity,3VUAmsterdam,4UniversityofCaliforniaAlthoughgratitudeplaysacentralroleinthequalityofrelationships,littleisknownabouthowgratitudeemerges,suchasinresponsetopartners’sacrifices.Dopeopleneedtoaccuratelyseetheseactstofeelgrateful?Intwodailyexperiencestudiesofromanticcouples(totalN=426),weusedaquasi-signaldetectionparadigmtoexaminetheprevalenceandconsequencesof(in)accurately“seeing”andmissingpartners’sacrifices.Findingsconsistentlyshowedthatsacrificesareequallylikelytobemissedastheyaretobeaccuratelydetected,andabouthalfofthetimepeople“see”asacrificewhenthepartnerdeclaresnone.Importantly,“seeing”partners’sacrifices—accuratelyorinaccurately—iscrucialforboostinggratitude.Incontrast,missedsacrificesfailtoelicitgratitude,andthelackofappreciationnegativelycolorsthepartner’ssatisfactionwiththerelationshipwhenhavingsacrificed.Thus,thesefindingsillustratethepowerthatperceptionholdsinromanticcouples’dailylives.PerceptionsofdailypartnersocialcontroluseanditsconsequencesfordailyexperiencesJudithGere1,JessicaE.LaBuda1,&TiffanyL.Berzins21KentStateUniversity,2ColumbusStateUniversityWeexaminedaccuracyandbiasinpeople’sperceptionsoftheirromanticpartner’sdailysocialcontrolattemptstowarddailyhealthbehaviors.109communitycouplesreportedontheirownandtheirpartner’sdailysocialcontrolattempts(i.e.,persuasion,pressure,autonomysupport,undermining)andtheirowndailyexperiences(i.e.,positiveandnegativeaffect,relationshipsatisfaction,closeness)across14consecutivedays(N=2639reports).Weusedmultilevelpathmodelstoexaminetrackingandmean-levelaccuracy,andbias(projection)inreportsofpartnersocialcontroluse,aswellasdailyconsequencesofmean-levelbias.Perceptionsofpartnersocialcontrolusecontainedsignificanttrackingaccuracyandprojection,andshowedmean-levelaccuracyinpartneruseofpersuasionandpressure.People,however,overestimatedtheirpartner’sunderminingoftheirhealthbehaviorsandunderestimatedtheirpartner’sautonomysupportoftheirhealthbehaviors.Resultsalsoindicatedthatoverestimatingorunderestimatingpartnersocialcontroluseresultsinmorenegativedailyexperiences.

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Doesittaketwotoachieveaccuracy?Testingindividualdifferencesanddyadiceffectsofmeta-accuracyNorhanElsaadawy1,ErikaN.Carlson1,&LaurenJ.Human21UniversityofToronto,2McGillUniversityAgrowingbodyofworksuggeststhatknowinghowothersexperienceourpersonality(i.e.,meta-accuracy)canfosterrelationshipquality(e.g.,Carlson,2016;Carlson&Oltmanns,2018),butismeta-accuracyaskillwebringtoourrelationshipsorisitsomethingthatarisesunderspecialcircumstances(e.g.,withaspecificpartner)?Inthreesamplesspanningdiversesocialcontexts(classmates,N=240;platonicdyads,N=547;speeddatingdyads,N=378),wetestedtheextenttowhichmeta-accuracyforcorepersonalitytraitswasinfluencedbymeta-perceivers,targets(i.e.,whometa-perceiversinteractwith),anddyads(i.e.,uniquemetaperceiver-targetpairings).Resultsdemonstratedthatmeta-accuracywaslargelydrivenbymeta-perceiversandthatgoodmeta-perceiverswereabletoachieveaccuracyacrosseasyanddifficulttoreadtargets.However,targetsanddyadsalsoinfluencedmeta-accuracy,suggestingthatmeta-accuracyisnotalwaysinthecompletecontrolofmeta-perceivers.Possiblefactorsthatexplainindividualdifferencesinmeta-perceivers,targets,anddyadsarediscussed.Knowinghowyouseeme:Theinterpersonalcorrelatesofmeta-accuracyinfirstimpressionsandtheroleofsocialanxietyHasaganiTissera1,LaurenGazzardKerr1,ErikaN.Carlson2,&LaurenJ.Human11McGillUniversity,2UniversityofTorontoDopeople’smetaperceptions(i.e.,beliefsabouthowothersperceivethem)influencethelikelihoodofrelationshipinitiation?Thepresentresearchexaminedwhetherpositivity,andaccuracyofmetaperceptionsarerelatedtopositiveinterpersonalcorrelatesduringfirstimpressioncontexts.Furthermore,weexaminedwhetherdecreasedpositivityandaccuracyinmetaperceptionsexplainwhysomeexperiencemoredifficultyinitiatingrelationships,suchasthosehigherinsocialanxiety.Wecollecteddatafromtwosamples:aplatonicin-labsetting(N=270)andaromanticspeed-datingsetting(N=172).Acrossbothsamples,1)bothgreaterpositivityandaccuracyinmetaperceptionspredictedgreaterliking,and2)positivityandaccuracyofmetaperceptionscontributedtothenegativeassociationbetweensocialanxietyandliking.Overallthen,itisbeneficialtoholdbothpositiveandaccuratemetaperceptionsduringfirstimpressionsanddecreasedpositivityandaccuracyinmetaperceptionshelpexplainwhythosehigherinsocialanxietyexperienceinterpersonaldifficulties.

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Symposiumtitle:PositiveactioninteachingrelationshipsStrengtheningconnections:Students'perceptionsofeffectiveteachersJulieVeretteLindenbaumTheSageCollegesAsCloseRelationshipteachers,weenthusiasticallystrivetoconnectwithstudentsabouttheories,research,andapplicationsthatdefineourfield.Wereflecton–andrefine-practicesandteachingmethodsthatsuccessfullyengagestudentlearning.Thenatureoftherelationshipbetweenteacherandstudentmayalsocontributetostudentperceptionsofeffectiveteaching,andinlearningaboutCloseRelationships.Wecanstrengthenthisstudent-teacherconnectionwithawarenessofdimensionsthatdefinestudents’perceptionsofeffectiveteachers,especiallyregardinglearningandstudentsuccess.Thistalkproposesthatsomeofthemechanismssupportingsuccessfulfunctioningamongpartnersincloserelationships(suchasperceivedcaringandresponsiveness)mayalsosupportacademicrelationshipsbetweeneffectiveteachersandtheirstudents.Tech-enabled(nottech-eclipsed)!LuciaF.O'SullivanUniversityofNewBrunswickTeachingaboutcloserelationshipsrarelyraisesissuesofpoorstudentengagement.Weareprovidinginformationthatisinherentlyapplicabletotheirlivesandaddressingtopicsthatareapreoccupationformoststudents.However,thetechnologyweemploytosupportthecontentcandistractfromthemessagesthemselves,andstudentsareever-willingtobepassiverecipientsofinformationratherthanactivecontributorstothelearningprocess.ThistalkwillreviewcontentdisplaytechnologiesthatexistbeyondthemediumofPowerpoint®(suchasDoceri®,OneNote®,Prezi®,SurfacePro®),aswellasstrategiesforkeepingstudentsengagedbutnotoverwhelmedwiththeinformation.International,cross-institutionundergraduatestudentdiversityassignmentSilviaBartolicTheUniversityofBritishColumbiaThispresentationwillreportonanassignmentinwhichstudentsfromaCanadianandU.S.universityinteractedviavideochattechnologytodiscusstheirideasabouthealthyrelationshipsandexplorediversityinattitudes,behaviorsandbeliefsbetweenthetwogroups.Inthispresentationwewilldescribe:oureducationalgoals,pedagogicalunderpinningsoftheassignment,theuniversitiesandstudentsinvolved,theassignmentitself,theevaluationoftheassignment,andfinalreflections.LearningGoals:Anoverarchinggoaloftheassignmentwastohaveanexperiencethatwouldbeinformative,engagingforstudentsandbroadentheirperspectivesaboutrelationships.

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Morespecificgoalsincludedhavingstudents:•identifyandarticulatetheirownculture’svalues,beliefs,normsandpracticesregardingcloserelationships;•similarlyexplorecloserelationshipsinadifferentculture;•comparethesimilaritiesanddifferencesincloserelationshipinthetwocultures;and•developactivelisteningandempathyskills.TeachingrelationshipscienceoutsidethetraditionalclassroomTerriOrbuchOaklandUniversityRelationshipscholarshavefocusedonteachingundergraduateandgraduatestudentsaboutinterpersonalrelationshipsinthetraditionalclassroom.Butthereareotherwaysthatpeoplecanbenefitbythetheories,researchfindings,andmethodsusedtostudysocialandpersonalrelationshipsinthegrowingscienceofinterpersonalrelationships.Thispresentationfocusesonthreewaystoteachrelationshipscienceoutsideofthetraditionalclassroom.First,undergraduateandgraduatestudentscanbenefitfromdirecthands-onexperienceapplyingrelationshipscholarshipinaninternshipexperience.Second,thestudyofinterpersonalrelationshipscanbetaughttopeopleincommunityworkshops,whichfocusonhealthymarriageandrelationshipeducation.Lastly,thescienceofinterpersonalrelationshipscanbetaughttoprofessionalswhoaretrainingtobedatingandrelationshipcoaches.Theseuniqueadditionaloptionsinteachingrelationshipsciencewillbediscussed.Fulfillingorfoolish?LessonslearnedfromteachingcloserelationshipsonlineRowlandMillerSamHoustonStateUniversityInthispresentation,anIARRTeachingAwardwinnerdescribestheprosandconsofofferingaRelationshipscourseonline.Preparingsuchacourserequiresmoreworkandcreativitythanaface-to-facecoursedoes,andadministeringthecourseisacomparativelymundaneexperience.Thehasslesandfrustrationsoneencountersarealsomorevariedandfrequent,andoneismoredependentonone’sSupportstaff.Nevertheless,onecanreachwiderandmorediverseaudiences,teachthecoursefrom(nearly)anywhere,and(often)pleaseone’sbosses.AnonlineRelationshipscourseisnotforeveryone,butrealisticexpectationscanmakeonefulfilling,andnotfoolish.

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Symposiumtitle:ThepositiveoutcomesofthefastfriendsprocedureinboththelaboratoryandrealworldApplyingfastfriendsintherealworldArthurAronStonyBrookUniversityFastFriends,originallydeveloped(Aronetal.,1995)topermittestingeffectsofclosenessexperimentally,hasbeenusedindiverseresearch(brieflyreviewed),plushavingapparentreal-worldpublicimpact(e.g.,aNYTimesArticledescribingusingittofallinloveseeminglyinspiredwidespreadincreasedself-disclosureinpersonalinteractions),andsystematictestofpotentialreal-worldapplications(e.g.,inDaviesetal.,2007,mostofafreshmanclassdidFastFriends;thoserandomlyassignedtoacross-ethnicitypartnershowedlessprejudice2weekslater).Regardingclose-relationshipsspecifically,Slatcher(2010)foundthatwhentwoexistingcouplesdidFastFriendsasafoursome,itincreasednotonlyclosenesstotheothercouple,butwithin-couplecloseness(andevenpassionatelove,Welkeretal,2014).Aronwillopenthesymposiumdiscussingbrieflythedevelopmentandhistory;andendthesymposiumwithareviewofthemostrecentresearchnotcoveredbyothers,plusfuturedirections.Outcomesofthefastfriendsprocedureforgetting-acquaintedpairs:OverviewtoalineofresearchandfindingsfromarecentstudyontheeffectsofmodalityswitchingSusanSprecherIllinoisStateUniversityInthispresentation,Ifirstsummarizemyresearchwithgetting-acquaintedpairsusingaFastFriendsprocedure.Severalexperimentswillbebrieflyreviewed,whichhaveresultedininterestingfindingsaboutfactorsthatenhancetheclosenessexperiencedasaresultofaFastFriendsProcedure,aswellaspositivebenefitsforstudentparticipantsandundergraduatestudentexperimenters.Afterthisoverview,Iwillhighlightonerecentexperimentwhichexamineshowtheorderofmodalityswitchingincommunication(movingfromface-to-face[FtF]tocomputer-mediatedcommunication[CMC]versusthereverse)affectstheoutcomesexperiencedasaresultoftheFastFriendsProcedure.ResultsindicatethatwhilethoseintheinitialCMCconditionhadlesspositiveoutcomesthanthoseintheFtFcondition,therewasnodifferentialoutcome(basedonmodalityorder)afterthesecondsegmentofinteraction.Additionalfindingswillbediscussedincludinghowtheparticipants’shynessaffecttheirpositivereactionswithinthetwomodalities.Theroleofself-disclosureandsharedactivitiesinpredictingfriendshipsatisfactionBeverleyFehrUniversityofWinnipegWomen’sfriendshipsgenerallyrevolvearoundtalking,whereasmen’sfriendshipstendtorevolvearoundactivities.Womenalsoratetheirsame-genderfriendshipsasmoresatisfyingthandomen.Itestedwhethermen’sfriendshipsatisfactioncouldbeincreasedbyengagingin

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intimateself-disclosurewithasame-genderfriend.Inaseriesofstudies,friendpairswereassignedtooneoffourconditions:the“fastfriends”self-disclosuretask(Aronetal.,1997);theneutral“smalltalk”task;playinganexcitingsportsactivity;orwatchinganexcitingsportsevent.Formen,bothintimatedisclosureandparticipatinginanexcitingsportsactivityboostedsatisfaction.Women’ssatisfactionwashighandnotaffectedbythemanipulations.Althoughmenarenotparticularlymotivatedtoopenuptotheirsame-genderfriends,theyreapthebenefitofenhancedfriendshipsatisfactionwhentheydoso.Sharingexperienceswithafriendorwithafast-friendenhancestheirimpact:LessonsaboutpeopleandrelationshipswecanlearnfromthisMargaretClark&EricaBoothbyYaleUniversityAseriesofstudiesrevealsthatsharingexperienceswithafriendorwithafastfriendenhancestheimpactofthoseexperiencesmakingpleasantexperiencesmorepleasantandunpleasantexperienceslesspleasant.Sharingexperienceswithastrangerdoesnotresultinsuchenhancementofexperiences.Asothershaveproposed,peopleseemtobebuiltandveryreadytobesocialcreatures(Beckes&Coan,2011).Intheabsenceofhavingusedourfast-friends-ice-breakerinthiswork,readers(andwe!)mighthaveimaginedthatthebenefitsofsharingtakemonthsorevenyearsofrelationshipdevelopmenttoemerge.Yetthatisclearlynotthecase.Thebenefitsemergedveryquicklyoncesomeminimallybasedtrustandintimacywasestablishedthroughouruseofthefastfriendstechnique.Inturn,thosebenefitsshouldfeedbackandfurtherstrengthenrelationshipslikelycarryingthefastfriendseffectsforwardinarapid,quicklyescalatingfashion.Symposiumtitle:Theprotectiverolesofattachmentsecurity,partnersupport,andcommitmentinshapingrelationshipwell-beingCumulativechildhoodtrauma,partnersupport,andcouplesatisfaction:ThemediatingroleofmindfulnessFrancisMorissette-Harvey1,GaëlleBakhos1,AlisonParadis,YvanLussier,MartineHébert,&NatachaGodbout.1UniversitéduQuébecàMontréalResearchshowsthatcumulativechildhoodtrauma(CCT)survivorsareathigherriskofsufferingfromseveralinterpersonalissuesinadulthood,includingcoupledissatisfaction.Beyondpreviousresearchdocumentingmindfulnessasanexplanatorymechanismofpost-traumaticsymptomatology,mindfulnesshasalsobeenfoundtopredictincreasedmutualsupportbetweenintimatepartners,andhighercouplesatisfaction.ThisstudyaimstoassessmindfulnessasmediatorintherelationshipbetweenCCT,dyadicsupportandcouplesatisfactionusingasampleof502participantsfromthecommunity.PathanalysesconfirmedthattheassociationbetweenCCTandcouplesatisfactionwasfullyexplainedbyindirecteffects

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throughmindfulnessandcouplesupport.Theintegrativemodelaccountsfor32%ofthevarianceincouplesatisfaction.FindingsallowabetterunderstandingofthemechanismsthroughwhichCCTsurvivorsmaycometosufferfromcoupledissatisfaction.Cumulativechildhoodtraumaandcouplesatisfaction:AttachmentasaprotectivefactorMarie-ÈveDaspe1,MathildeBaumann2,&NatachaGodbout21UniversitédeMontréal,2UniversitéduQuébecàMontréalAgrowingnumberofstudiessuggestthatcumulativechildhoodtrauma(CCT)tendtonegativelyaffectromanticrelationshipsinadulthood.Usingadyadicperspective,thepurposeofthisstudywasto(1)exploretheassociationsbetweeneachpartners’historyofCCTandcouplesatisfaction,andto(2)examinetheprotectiveeffectofattachmentsecurityontheseassociations.Basedon501couplesfromthegeneralpopulation,resultsshowednegativelinksfrombothownandpartnerCCTtocouplesatisfaction.AvoidanceofintimacymoderatedtheassociationbetweenownCCTandcouplesatisfaction,whichwasnegativeandsignificantathighlevelsofavoidancebutnonsignificantatlowlevelsofavoidance.Abandonmentanxietydidnotemergeasasignificantmoderator.ThefindingssupporttherelevanceofhelpingCCTsurvivorsdevelopamoresecureattachment,especiallybyreducingavoidanceofintimacy,toimprovethequalityoftheirromanticrelationships.Attachmentsecurityandperfectionism:Howdothesefactorsrelatetopositiveadaptationofbothparents/partnersfollowingthebirthofachild?IsabelleLessard,Anne-SophieGingras,FrédéricMallette,AudreyBernier-Jarry,AudreyBrassard,PatrickGosselin,&CatherinedePierrepontUniversitédeSherbrookeManychangesariseforcoupleswelcominganewchild(Doss&Rhoades,2017).Althoughattachmentsecurityisawell-knownprotectivefactorintherelationshipadjustmentofpartnersinthiscontext,lessisknownaboutthepotentialroleofperfectionism.Thisstudyexploresthesimultaneousroleofattachmentsecurity(lowanxietyandavoidance)andperfectionism(adaptive,maladaptive)onrelationshipsatisfactionandparentalallianceforbothparentsofanewborn.Asampleof85French-Canadianheterosexualcoupleswithanewchildcompletedonlinequestionnairesseparately.Resultsrevealedthatinbothpartners,maladaptiveperfectionismwasrelatedtotheirownlowerrelationshipsatisfaction;attachmentsecurityandadaptiveperfectionismwererelatedtotheirownhigherrelationshipsatisfaction;andattachmentsecuritywasrelatedtoeachpartner’shigherparentalallianceTheseresultscorroboratethekeyroleofattachmentsecurityintheperinatalcontextandrevealthepositivecontributionofadaptiveperfectionismtendenciesfornewparents.

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Under,over,oroptimalCommitment?SheddingadditionallightontheassociationbetweenattachmentandcommitmentinsatisfiedandrelationallydistressedcouplesKatherinePéloquin1,AudreyBrassard2,SabrynaBergeron1,&ThalieLabonté11UniversitédeMontréal,2UniversitédeSherbrookePartners’levelsofcommitmentandattachmentorientationsplayacrucialroleinthemaintenanceofromanticrelationships.Yet,paststudieshaveyieldedcontradictoryresultsregardingtheassociationbetweenromanticattachmentandcommitment.Twodyadicstudiesweredesignedtoclarifythecross-sectionalandlongitudinalassociationsbetweenthesevariablesusingcommunity(N=208couples)andclinical(N=154couples)samplesandbasedonamultidimensionalconceptualizationofcommitment.Resultsshowthatattachment-relatedanxietywasassociatedwithover-andunder-commitment,whereasattachment-relatedavoidancewasassociatedwithunder-commitmentandloweroptimalcommitment.Partnereffectswerealsofound.Longitudinalanalysesrevealedthatattachmentsecurity(lowanxietyandavoidance)wasassociatedwithanincreaseinhealthierformsofcommitmentovertime,whiletheseformsofcommitmentalsopredictedmoreattachmentsecurityovertime.Ourfindingsprovidenewempiricalevidenceaboutthebidirectionallinkagebetweenattachmentandcommitmentprocessesinhappyandrelationallydistressedcouples.SymposiumTitle:Togrowornottogrow?Whenandwhyself-expansionhelpsorhurtsrelationshipqualityYoufulfillme:Self-expansionandthesatisfactionofbasicpsychologicalneedsKevinP.McIntyre1,BrentA.Mattingly2,MagdalenCheatham1,&GaryW.Lewandowski,Jr.31TrinityUniversity,2UrsinusCollege,3MonmouthUniversitySelf-expansiondescribestheincreaseinpositivecontentoftheself-conceptthatoccursviatheformationandmaintenanceofromanticrelationships.Abundantresearchhasdescribedthebenefitsofself-expansionforcouples(e.g.,increasedrelationshipquality;increasedpassionateandcompanionatelove;decreasedbreakup)andindividuals(e.g.,increasedself-esteem;increasedself-efficacy).Yet,wesuggestthattheliteraturecurrentlylacksempiricalevidenceforwhyself-expansionhassuchwide-rangingbenefits.Thisresearchseekstoexamineself-expansion’sroleinsatisfyingbasicpsychologicalneedsofautonomy,competence,andrelatedness.Eachoftheseneedsisfundamentalforhumanflourishingandallthreearepotentialoutcomesofself-expansion.Thispresentationwilldevelopthetheoreticalrationaleforwhyself-expansionshouldleadtobasicneedfulfillmentandwillpresenttheresultsofthreecross-sectionalresearchstudiesthatsupportthemediationalroleofneedfulfillment.

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Growingdesireorgrowingapart?Consequencesofpersonalself-expansionforromanticpassionandsexualdesireKathleenL.Carswell1,AmyMuise2,EmilyA.Impett1,&CherylHarasymchuk31UniversityofToronto,2YorkUniversity,3CarletonUniversityElaboratingontheassumptionsofSelf-ExpansionTheory(Aron&Aron,1986),weexaminewhetherexperiencingpersonalself-expansion—positiveself-changeandpersonalgrowthwithoutthepresenceofaromanticpartner—influencesromanticpassionandsexualdesire.Previousresearchhasalmostexclusivelyexploredthebenefitsofself-expansionforrelationshipsbyexaminingsharednovelexperiencesinrelationalself-expansion(Mattingly&Lewandowski,2014),whereastheconsequencesofpersonalself-expansionremainlargelyunexamined.Giventhatthemajorityofself-growthmayoccurwithoutaromanticpartner(e.g.atwork),weinvestigatedtheconsequencesofsuchpersonalself-expansionintwo21-dayexperiencesamplingstudiesofcommunitycouples.Resultssuggestwithin-personincreasesindailypersonalself-expansionareassociatedwithgreaterpassionanddesire,potentiallyduetoatransferofpositiveaffect.Incontrast,between-personchronicallyhighlevelsofpersonalself-expansionwereassociatedwithlowerpassionanddesire,potentiallyduetocouplesdriftingapart.Effectsoccurredoverandaboveeffectsofrelationalself-expansionandtimespenttogether.Whattheselfwants:ExpansionversusConservationErinHughes1,EricaB.Slotter2,&GaryW.LewandowskiJr.31NorthwesternUniversity,2VillanovaUniversity,3MonmouthUniversitySelf-expansionisabeneficialprocessforbothindividualsandromanticrelationships.Despitethis,theredoesseemtobesomevariabilityinhowmuchpeoplewanttoself-expand.WecreatedanewmeasurecalledtheSelf-ExpansionPreferencescaletotestthispossibility.Thosewhoscoredhigherinthescalewereself-expanders,peoplewholooktoincreasetheirselfconceptandthosewhoscoredlowerinthescalewereself-conservers,peoplewholooktomaintaintheirself-concept.Aftervalidatingournewscale,weexaminedhowsimilarpreferencesforself-expansionbetweenromanticpartnersimpactedbothindividualandrelationalwell-being.Wefoundamaineffectofself-expansion,suchthatthosewhoscoredhigheronthescalehadgreaterindividualwell-being.Wealsofoundaninteractioneffectofself-expansion,suchthatcoupleswherebothpartnersscoredhighonthescalehadthegreatestrelationalwell-beingwhilecoupleswithdissimilarpreferenceshadthelowestrelationalwell-being.Don'tchange:Self-conceptclarityandpartnerself-expansionLydiaF.Emery1,WendiL.Gardner1,KathleenL.Carswell2,&EliJ.Finkel11NorthwesternUniversity,2UniversityofTorontoSelf-expansionenhanceswell-being,bothforindividualsandfortheirrelationships.Why,then,mightpeoplenotsupporttheirpartner’sself-expansion?Peoplewithlowself-conceptclaritytendtoresistself-expandingthemselves,sowehypothesizedthattheymayattemptto

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underminetheirpartner’spersonalself-expansion.Acrosstwolongitudinalstudies(4weeksand9months,respectively),peoplelowself-conceptclaritydidnotsupporttheirpartner’spersonalself-expansion(Studies1and2),butonlywhenapartnerwasself-expandingmore(Study2).Unsupportiveresponsestopersonalself-expansionpredictedbothmembersofthecouplefeelinglesssatisfiedwiththerelationship(Studies1and2).Wealsoexploredwhetherpeoplewithlowself-conceptclaritywereactuallysuccessfulatthwartingtheirpartner’spersonalself-expansion(Study2).Thisresearchunderscorestheroleofpartnersinself-expansion,suggestingthatalthoughself-expansiontendstobenefitpeople,thosewithlowself-conceptclaritydonotsupporttheirpartner’spersonalself-expansion.Symposiumtitle:Welcometothedarkside:ExploringtheinfluenceofthedarksideofpersonalityonrelationshipsMommydearest:Attachment,darktriadandadversechildhoodexperiencesElaineScharfe1,VirginiaBrown,ScottieCurran,GhinwaEl-Ariss,&JocelynEnright1TrentUniversityHowindividualscometohave“dark”personalitiesasadultshasbeenrelativelyunexplored.Inthisstudy,wetestedwhetheradversechildhoodexperiencesandattachmentrepresentationswithmothersandfatherspredictMachiavellianism,narcissism,andpsychopathy.Undergraduatepsychologystudentscompletedmeasuresofattachment(TrentRelationshipScalesQuestionnaire,T-RSQ;Scharfe,2016),theDarkTriad(theShortDarkTriadScale,SD3;Jones&Paulhus,2014),andseveralsurveystomeasureadversechildhoodexperiences(Arrindelletal.,1999,Parker,Tupling,&Brown,1979;Ports,Ford,&Merrick,2016).Ourpreliminaryanalysessuggestthatmemoriesofparentrejection,adversechildhoodexperiences,andtheviewthatparentswereuncaringandoverprotectiveindependentlypredictMachiavellianismandpsychopathybutnotnarcissism.Controllingforchildhoodexperiences,maternalbutnotpaternalattachmentcontributedadditionalvariancetothepredictions.OurfindingssuggestthattheantecedentsofMachiavellianismandpsychopathy,butnotnarcissism,mayberootedinourrelationshipwithourmother.MappingdarkpersonalitiesandinsecureattachmentontotheHEXACOpersonalityspaceBethA.Visser1,ElaineScharfe2&SusanBoon31LakeheadUniversity,2TrentUniversity,3UniversityofCalgaryWeinvestigatedthelinksbetweenattachmentstyletoromanticpartner,HEXACOpersonality,andtheDarkTriad(Machiavellianism,narcissism,psychopathy)personalitytraitsinasampleof447Canadianundergraduatestudents.WefoundthatpsychopathyandMachiavellianismbutnotNarcissismwereassociatedwithromanticrelationshipsthatwerecharacterizedbyinsecure,fearful,anddismissingattachment.WithregardtoHEXACOpersonality,individualswhoscoredlowonsecureattachmentwerecharacterizedbylowHonesty-Humility,Emotionality,Extraversion,Agreeableness,andConscientiousness.Strikingly,Book,Visser,and

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Volk(2015)foundthatthecoreofthedarktriadwascomprisedoflowHonesty-Humility,highExtraversion,lowAgreeableness,andlowConscientiousness.Thisoverlapsuggeststhatindividualswhoreportlowattachmentsecurityintheirromanticrelationshipsmayalsoshowdarkpersonalitytraits(albeitmoreintroverted).Thus,“dark”relationshipsmayreflectanintertwiningofmalevolentpersonalityandaninabilityorunwillingnesstoformtrusting,securebondswithpartners.Darkrelationshipbehaviour:InvestigatingpersonalitypredictorsofantisocialbehaviourbetweenintimatesSusanD.Boon1,ElaineScharfe2,&BethA.Visser31UniversityofCalgary,2TrentUniversity,3LakeheadUniversity

Becausethecostsassociatedwithdestructiverelationshipbehaviourscanbeveryhigh,itisimportanttostudythosefactorsthatpredisposeindividualstoengageinsuchbehaviour.Inthisstudy,weappliedattachmenttheoryandthedarktetradtothetaskofpredictingdarkrelationshipbehaviour.Undergraduatestudents(N=609)completedmeasuresofattachment,theDarkTriad,everydaysadism,andseveral“dark”relationshipbehaviours(vengefultendencies,attitudestowardinfidelity,coupleviolence).TheDarkTriadtraitsofMachiavellianismandpsychopathyaccountedforvariationindarkrelationshipbehaviourscontrollingforattachment.Everydaysadism,however,generallyaddedlittletothevarianceaccountedforoncetheDarkTriadtraitshadbeenenteredinourmodels.Also,thecombinationofattachmentandDarkTriadtraitsaccountedforareasonableproportionofvarianceinrevengeintentions,butfaredconsiderablylesswellinaccountingforvarianceininterpersonalviolenceandattitudestowardinfidelity.Implicationsforunderstandingantisocialrelationshipbehaviourinromanticrelationshipswillbediscussed.Darktriad,socialmedia,&revengeMélaniePaulin&SusanD.Boon

UniversityofCalgaryUsersofsocialmediaplatformshavetheabilitytousetheseplatformsasamediumtotakerevengefollowinginterpersonalprovocations.OnepotentialfactorthatmayinfluencewhetherornotindividualstakerevengeonsocialmediaorevaluatetheseactspositivelyistheDarkTriadofpersonality.IndividualshighontheDarkTriadtraitsarecharacterizedasmanipulative,exploitative,uncaring,andapathetic.Becausesocialmediaplatformshavedefiningfeaturesthatmaymakeactsofonlinerevengedifferentthantheirofflinecounterparts(i.e.,socialmediaplatformsareeasilyaccessible,reachwideaudiences,andfacilitateremaininganonymous),wesuspectthattheassociationsbetweentheDarkTriadandthisformofrevengemaybeespeciallystrong.Inthispresentation,IwillpresentfindingsontwostudiesthatexaminehowtheDarkTriadrelatestotheenactmentandevaluationofrevengebehaviorscarriedoutonsocialmediaplatformsfollowinginterpersonalprovocations.

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IndividualTalks:Abstracts(sortedalphabeticallybythelastnameofthepresenter)

InterpersonalunderstandingpromotesrelationshipidentificationandmeaninginlifeEmilieAuger1,SabrinaThai2,IanMcGregor1,&JohnLydon31UniversityofWaterloo,2BrockUniversity,3McGillUniversityWhydosomepeopleperceivetheirrelationshipasacentralpartoftheiridentity?Wetheorizethatrelationshipsinwhichindividualsfeelunderstoodmaybecomepersonallyrelevantbecausetheyprovideevidencethatindividuals’self-viewsandworldviewsreflectrealityandthusmakesense–whichisanimportantaspectofameaningfullife.Participantswereaskedtoimagineanexperiencethatwouldmakethemfeelunderstoodormisunderstoodinafriendship(Study1)oraromanticrelationship(Study2).InStudy1,thehighunderstandingvisualizationincreasedfeltunderstanding,whichinturnincreasedrelationshipidentification.InStudy2,thehigh-understanding,relativetolow-understanding,visualizationcausedparticipantstofeelmoreunderstoodbytheirromanticpartner.Increasedfeltunderstandingwasthenassociatedwithincreasedmeaningand,inturn,higherlevelsofrelationshipidentification.Thus,understandingmayhelppartnersfindmeaninginlifeandfosterrelationshipsthataremorecentraltoone’sidentity.Dailyrelationshipthreatsasanobstacletoself-expandingcoupleactivitiesChantalBacev-Giles1,CherylHarasymchuk1,AmyMuise2,&EmilyImpett31CarletonUniversity,2YorkUniversity,3UniversityofTorontoIna21-daydiarystudyofintimatecouples,weinvestigatedtheroleofrelationshipthreats(e.g.,rejection,disappointment,feelingmisunderstoodbyone’spartner)asachallengetoengaginginself-expanding(i.e.,exciting)coupleactivities.Wefoundthatwhenpeopleexperiencegreaterrelationshipthreats(relativetotheiraverage),theyarelesslikelytoengageinexcitingactivitieswiththeirpartneronthatsameday.Additionally,relationshipthreatsnegativelyimpactedpeople’sevaluationsduringanexcitingcoupleactivity.Ondayswherepeoplereportedgreaterrelationshipthreatsandengagedinanexcitingcoupleactivity,theywerelesssatisfiedwiththeirrelationship,feltlessclosetotheirpartner,andratedtheactivityaslesssuccessful.Theseresultssuggestthatdailyrelationshipthreatsmightbeoneobstacleinpeople’squestforrelationshipgrowth.ThedilemmaofunmetsexualidealsandbufferingeffectofsexualcommunalstrengthRhondaBalzarini1,AmyMuise1,KierstenDobson2,&TaylorKohut21YorkUniversity,2WesternUniversityResearchonsexualideals,suchaspeople’spreferencesforcertainsexualactivitiesorforhowoftentheywouldliketoengageinsex,suggeststhatdifferencesinsexualpreferencesbetweenromanticpartnersarecommonandcanbeassociatedwithlowerrelationshipandsexual

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satisfaction.Onefactorthathasbeenshowntohelpcouplesbetternavigatesexualdisagreementsissexualcommunalstrength(SCS)—ortheextenttowhichapersonismotivatedtomeettheirpartner'sneeds.Acrosstwostudies(N=332couples),consistentwithourpre-registeredpredictions,wefoundthatwhenapersonperceivestheirpartnertofallshortoftheirsexualideals,theyfeellesssatisfiedintheirromanticandsexualrelationship.However,peoplewithpartnerswhoarehighinSCS,maintainedsatisfactioninthefaceofunmetsexualideals,whereaspeoplewithpartnerswhowerelowinSCSreportedlowersatisfactionwhentheirsexualidealswereunmet.Adyadicdailydiarystudyofromanticpartners’responsivenessprocessesandexperiencesofsharedrealityYaelBar-Shachar&EranBar-KalifaBenGurionUniversityoftheNegevSharedreality(SR)istheexperienceofhavinganinnerstatebelievedtobesharedbyothers.OnecriticalprocessinSRconstructionisthedyadicprocessofresponsiveness.Thepresentstudytestedthisprocessamongromanticcouples.Wepredictedthatadisclosureofpersonaleventstoone’spartner[H1]aswellasthepartner’sconstructiveresponse[H2]wouldbeassociatedwithSR,andthattheseassociationswouldbemorepronouncedwhenonehaslowepistemiccertaintyregardingtheevent[H3].Totestthesepredictions,wecollecteddailydiariesfrom75couplesfor4weeks.Aspredicted,wefoundthatthedisclosureofpositiveandnegativeevents,aswellaspartners’constructiveresponsestosuchdisclosures,werepositivelyassociatedwithdailySR.Furthermore,wefoundasignificantinteractionbetweenpartners’responsestothedisclosureofnegative(thoughnotpositive)eventsandactor’sepistemiccertaintyregardingthedisclosedevent.Whenyouthtalktoparentsaboutsex:ImpactofpositivecommunicationonrelationshipsAnitaBarbee&MichaelCunninghamUniversityofLouisvilleStudiesonthelinkbetweenopencommunicationwithparentsaboutsexandprotectiveoutcomeshavefoundmixedresults.Thecurrentstudyexaminedtheroleattachment,andeaseintalkingwithparentsaboutsexhasonyouthexperiencesinromanticrelationships,theabilityofyouthtotalkwithpartnersaboutsexualhistory,andpregnancyoutcomes.1438youthages14-19;88%Black,10%White,4.3%Hispanic,2%Asian,62%girlsparticipated.Themoreyouthindicatedanopennessincommunicationwithparentsaboutsex,themoresecuretheirattachment,themoretheyhadeverbeeninaromanticrelationship,themorelikelytheyweretoreportlovingtheircurrentpartner,andthemoreeasetheyhadincommunicatingaboutimportantaspectsofsexwithpartners.Therewasnorelationshipofcommunicationwithpregnancyoutcomes.Onlyanxiouslyattachedyouthwerelesscommunicativewithbothadultsandpartnersandmorelikelytoexperienceapregnancy.

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Attachmentanxietyindailyexperiencesofromanticrelationships:AnexpansionofthemutualcyclicalgrowthmodelLindseyA.Beck1,EdwardP.Lemay,Jr.2,&CelesteS.Witting21EmersonCollege2UniversityofMarylandThisresearchprovidesaconceptualreplicationandtheoreticalextensionofthemutualcyclicalgrowthmodel.Thismodelproposesthatdependencepromotesrelationshipcommitment,whichpromotespro-relationshipbehavior,which—whendetectedbypartners—promotespartners’trust,whichpromotespartners’willingnesstodependontherelationship.Previousresearchsupportstheselinksonamonth-to-monthbasis,butromanticpartners’thoughts,feelings,andbehaviorsmaychangeonaday-to-daybasis.Thepresentresearchsoughttoreplicatethemodelonadailylevel,andtoextendthemodelbyconsideringanimportantpotentialmoderator:individuals’attachmentorientations.Resultsfromadyadicdaily-reportstudyof200romanticcouplesrevealedthatthelinkspredictedbythemutualcyclicalgrowthmodelreplicatedatthelevelofday-to-dayfluctuationsinpartners’relationshipexperiences.Furthermore,thepredictedlinkswereespeciallystrongforindividualshighinattachmentanxiety.Thisresearchprovidesinsightintomechanismsthroughwhichcloserelationshipsdevelopandstrengthen.Whatarethecharacteristicsofcoupleswhomaintainahighlevelofrelationshipsatisfactionfollowingthetransitiontoparenthood?KatherineBécotte1,AudreyBrassard1,Anne-SophieGingras1,AnneBrault-Labbé1,&KatherinePéloquin21UniversitédeSherbrooke,2UniversitédeMontréalSeveralstudieshaveshownthatmostparentalcouplesexperienceadecreaseintheirrelationshipsatisfactionduringthetransitiontoparenthood(TTP).Severalexplanatoryfactorshavebeenstudied,butmoststudieshavefocusedonwhatcanpredictorbufferadjustmentdifficultiesratherthanwhatcanpromoteoptimaldevelopment.ThegoalofthecurrentstudyistoexplorethesubjectiveexperienceofcoupleswhoperceivedthattheyhavemaintainedagoodrelationshipsatisfactionacrosstheTTPtobetterunderstandwhatcanpromotethepositiveadaptationofthecouple.Thesampleincludedsevencoupleswhosefirstbabywasagedbetween12and24months.Semi-structuredindividualinterviewswereconductedwithbothpartnersandthenweretranscribedandanalyzedqualitatively.Severalthemeshavebeenidentified:Showinggratitude,Communicatingtheirexpectationsexplicitly,andBalancingtimeforthemselves,thecouple,andthefamily.ThefindingshighlightinterventiontargetstopromoterelationshipsatisfactionduringtheTTP.

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Howintimatepartnersdividespeakingtimeduringstressconversations:ChangesacrossthetransitiontoparenthoodandinterventioneffectsLisanneJ.Bulling&GuyBodenmannUniversityofZurichInconversationsbetweenromanticpartners,doesitmatterhowmucheachpartnerspeaks?Thequantityofeachpartner’scontributiontoaconversation,intermsofhowmanysecondsofthetotaltimeeachpartnerholdstheconversationalfloor,couldbeanimportantaspectoftheinteraction.Thisstudyexploreshowfirst-timeexpectantcouplesdividespeakingtimeinconversationsaboutastressfuleventorsituationthataffectsoneofthepartners.Theresultsshowthatmenspeakaboutthreequartersofthetimeinconversationsaboutastressorthataffectsthemandabouthalfofthetimeinconversationsaboutastressorthataffectstheirpartner.Associationsofspeakingtimewithrelationshipsatisfactionandthedegreeoffeelingunderstoodduringtheconversationindicatethatanincreaseinspeakingtimeforthepartnerwhoisaffectedbythestressormightbebeneficial.However,speakingtimeofthepartneraffectedbythestressordecreasesatthetransitiontoparenthood.Thisdecreasemaybehaltedbyarelationshipintervention.DiscriminationisnotjustBlackandWhiteinromanticrelationships:Aconsiderationofperspectivetakingandself-expansionAbigailCaselli&LauraVanderDriftSyracuseUniversityLikeallrelationships,interracialrelationshipscansatisfyourhumanneedforinterpersonalbonds,butofferadditionalchallengesthatsame-racerelationshipsdonotface(e.g.,discrimination).Interracialcouplesaremorelikelytobreak-upcomparedtosame-racecouples(Zhang&VanHook,2009).However,manyinterracialcouplesprevailinthefaceofadversity.Tounderstandwhysomeinterracialrelationshipsprevaildespitetheirchallenges,wewillexamineprocessesthatmightbufferagainstdiscriminationtoleadtobetterrelationshipquality(e.g.,self-expansion).WepredictWhitepartnersinaninterracialrelationshipwhoengageinperspectivetakingafterexperiencingdiscriminationwillbemorelikelytoself-expand.However,Whitepartnerswhodonotengageinperspectivetakingafterexperiencingdiscriminationwillbemorelikelytoself-adulterate.Finally,Whitepartnerswhoengageinself-expansionwillreportbetterrelationshipoutcomes(e.g.,closeness,commitmentandsatisfaction),whereasWhitepartnerswhoengageinself-adulterationwillreportworserelationshipoutcomes.Associationsbetweenperceivedpartnerresponsivenessandwell-beingforcouplescopingwithlowsexualdesireSerenaCorsini-Munt1,JustinDubé1,AmyMuise2,&NatalieO.Rosen11DalhousieUniversity,2YorkUniversityWomenwithclinicallylowsexualdesirereportlowerqualityoflife,andlowersexualandcouplesatisfaction.Higherperceivedpartnerresponsiveness(PPR)isassociatedwithhigher

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sexualdesireandcouplesatisfactioninromanticrelationships.ThisstudyexaminedhowPPRwasassociatedwithrelational,sexualandpsychologicalwell-beingforcouplescopingwithlowsexualdesire.Usinganonlinecross-sectionalsurvey,97couplesinwhichwomenwerecopingwithclinicallylowsexualdesirecompletedself-report,standardizedmeasures.WhenwomenwithlowdesirereportedhigherPPR,theyandtheirpartnersreportedhighercouplesatisfactionandloweranxiety.Similarly,whenpartnersreportedhigherPPR,theyreportedhighercouplesatisfactionandlessanxiety.WhenwomenwithlowdesireandtheirpartnersreportedhigherPPRtheywereeachmoresexuallysatisfied.Amongcouplescopingwithlowsexualdesire,PPRmayserveasanimportantprotectivefactoragainstthedeleteriousimpactoflowsexualdesire.People’smotivationsforandoutcomesofengagingintechnology-mediatedsexualinteractionsinromanticrelationships:AqualitativeinterviewstudyErinLeighCourtice&KrystelleShaughnessyUniversityofOttawaTechnology-mediatedsexualinteraction(TMSI)istheinterpersonalexchangeofself-created,sexualmaterialviadigitaltechnology(e.g.,sexting,cybersex).ResearchershavefoundthatTMSIuseismostcommoninaromanticrelationshipcontext,yetfewhaveexaminedpeople’smotivesforandoutcomesofusingTMSIwithinromanticrelationships.Further,noresearchershaveappliedmotivationaltheoryintheirexaminationsofpeople’sTMSIuse.Usingsemi-structuredqualitativeinterviews,weexaminedpeople’sTMSIexperienceswiththeircurrentromanticpartner(s).Interviewsfocusedonpeople’smotivesforandperceivedpositive/negativeoutcomesofusingTMSIwiththeircurrentpartner(s).Weusedamulti-groundedtheoryapproachtoincorporatetheapproach-avoidancetheoreticalframeworkintoourqualitativeanalyses.WewilldiscussimplicationsforfutureresearchonTMSIusewithinromanticrelationships,andhowpositiveoutcomesofTMSImaybeenhancedthroughmotivationalintervention.Inthemoodforsex:Associationsbetweenpositiveandnegativemoodandcouples’sexualwellbeingSamanthaDawson1,SophieBergeron2,&NatalieRosen11DalhousieUniversity,2UniversitédeMontréalSexualwellbeing(i.e.,highsexualsatisfaction,desire,frequency,andlowdistress)iscriticaltorelationshipsatisfaction.Negativemoodhasconsistentlybeenfoundtobeassociatedwithpoorersexualwellbeinginindividuals;however,muchlessisunderstoodaboutthepotentialforpositivemoodtoenhancesexualwellbeing.Inthecurrentstudy,mixed-sexcouplesindependentlycompletedmeasuresassessingpositiveandnegativemoodandsexualwellbeing.Positivemoodwaspositivelyrelatedtoone’sownsexualdesireandbehaviours,whereasnegativemoodwasmorestronglyassociatedwithone’sownandone’spartner’ssubjectiveexperienceoftheirsexualrelationship(sexualsatisfactionanddistress).Thisstudyisamongthefirsttoexamineassociationsbetweenbothpositiveandnegativemoodandsexualwellbeingincouples.Thesefindingssuggestthattargetingpositive,aswellasreducingnegative

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moodmaybebeneficialforsustainingorimprovingsexualwellbeingovertimeinbothpartners.Alone,together?Aregisteredreportexaminingthegroup-ynatureofsinglepeopleAlexandraFisher&JohnSakalukUniversityofVictoriaLittleisknownaboutsinglesexceptthattheyarestigmatizedandexperiencepoorerwell-beingrelativetopeopleinromanticrelationships.Giventhepotentialbenefitsofgroupmembershipforidentityandwell-being,weexaminetheextenttowhichsingles(1)identifyasmembersofagroupand(2)areperceivedasagroupbyothers.InStudy1,participantswillbeassignedanovelminimalgroupidentityandthencompletemeasuresofgroupidentificationforfourpersonalgroupmemberships(e.g.,relationalvs.minimalvs.otherestablishedidentities).InStudy2,participantswillratetheperceivedgroup-y-nessofsimilaridentitiesasinStudy1.Weexpectmostsinglestohavelowergroupidentificationandgroup-y-nessrelativetoothergroups,withaminorityofsinglesembracingandenjoyingthesingleidentity.Wediscussthevalueofgroup-basedtheoreticalperspectivesforunderstandingandimprovingrelationalidentityandthecurrentandfuturewell-beingofsingles.“Canyoupickuptoiletpaper?”HowdigitalcommunicationchangesoverromanticcourtshipJamieFosterCampbellUniversityofIllinoisatChicagoThisstudyusessemi-structuredinterviewstoexaminehowdigitalcommunicationisreshapingromanticpartners’interactionsandthedevelopmentofexpectationsfortechnologyuseoveracouple’srelationalhistory.Participants’(N=36)narrativeswereanalyzedthroughfourcodingcyclesandresultedinsixmainthemes.Forthemajorityofcouples,theirdigitalbehaviorshavechangedfromearlycourtshipgamestobuildingintimacyandtrustthatenhancestheirmediatedinteractions.Additionally,relationalmilestoneswerealeadingfactorinhowtheirdigitalcommunicationnaturallyevolved.Forinstance,manycouplesacknowledgedthattheirtechnologyuseandcommunicationpracticesaredifferentaftertheymove-intogetherorenlargetheirfamily.Finally,thecontentofdigitalmessageschanged,however,thefrequencyofthesemessagesappearstoremainthesame.Resultsrevealthatasdyadsbecomecloserandmorecommitted,technologybecomesasymbolicforceofeverydaytalkthathelpssustainandnavigatetheirintimatepartnership.Covariancebetweenrelationaltrustandaccommodation:Predictabilityasreflectedinexit,voice,loyalty,andneglectStanleyGainesBrunelUniversityLondonInthepresentstudy(n=224),weexaminedcovariancebetweenrelationaltrustandaccommodationinheterosexualrelationships.Resultsofmultivariatemultipleregressionanalysesindicatedthat(consistentwithhypotheses)indicatethatrelationaltrustand

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accommodationcovarysignificantly(p’s<.01).Also,resultsofunivariatemultipleregressionanalysesrevealedthat(asexpected)allfouraccommodation-relatedbehaviors(i.e.,exit,voice,loyalty,andneglect)werepredictedsignificantly(p’s<.01).Surprisingly,themostconsistentpredictorofaccommodationprovednottobefaith(althoughitwasasignificantnegativepredictorofexit,p<.01).Rather,predictabilityemergedasasignificantpositivepredictorofvoiceandloyalty(p’s<.01)andasasignificantnegativepredictorofexitandneglect(p’s<.05).Unexpectedly,dependabilitywasunrelatedtoanyoftheaccommodation-relatedbehaviors.Weconcludedthataccommodationconstitutespositiveaction.Whymightnegativeexpressivitybegoodforrelationships?TheroleofinvitinginstrumentalityandresponsivenessKoriKrueger&AmandaForestUniversityofPittsburghTheinterpersonalcostsofexpressingnegativityarewell-documented,yetexpressingnegativitycanalsoofferinterpersonalbenefits(e.g.,Bakeretal.,2014).Wesuggestthatexpressingnegativitymaybebeneficialinpartbecauseitinvitesinstrumentalityandresponsiveness.InStudy1(N=272),participantswhoimaginedreceivingaparticularnegative(vs.positiveorneutral)disclosurefromtheirromanticpartnerperceivedmoreopportunityandinvitationtobeinstrumentalandreportedgreatermotivationtohelptheirpartner.InStudy2(N=103romanticcouples),abehavioralobservationstudy,themorethatdisclosurerecipientsperceivedthattheirdisclosingpartnersexpressedtheirthoughtsandfeelingsabouttheirgreatestfeartothem,thegreaterpost-interactionrelationshipsatisfaction(controllingpre-interactionrelationshipsatisfaction)andelevatedmoodrecipientsreported.Theexpressivityeffectonrecipientrelationshipsatisfactionwasmediatedbyrecipients’self-reportedresponsiveness;theexpressivityeffectonmoodwasmediatedbyrecipients’self-reportedinstrumentalityandresponsivenesssimultaneously.Agreeablenessandexpressingaffectioninromanticrelationships.ShermanShiuManKwok,JoanneV.Wood,&JohnG.HolmesUniversityofWaterlooHowdoagreeablepeopleattainrelationalharmonythroughtheircommunalmotivations?Weexpectedthatexpressingaffectionmayhelpexplaintheinfluenceofagreeablenessonrelationships.First,peoplewhoarehighintraitagreeablenessmayshowaffectionasawayofsatisfyingtheirmotivetobuildsocialbondsandsecond,affectionmaycontributetotheirrelativelyhighrelationshipsatisfaction.Threestudiessupportedtheseideas:Higheragreeablenesswasassociatedwithexpressingmoreaffectionandwithexpressingaffectioninespeciallyresponsiveways,andfrequencyofexpressingaffectionmediatedtherelationbetweenagreeablenessandrelationshipsatisfaction.Analysesalsoexaminedtherolesofloveandself-esteem.Thesefindingsfurtherourunderstandingofagreeableness,affection,andtheirassociationswithrelationshipquality.

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I'mhappytohelp:Theroleofperceivedself-controlinguidinghelpingintentionsincloserelationshipsVeronicaLamarcheUniversityofEssexOurcloseothersareanimportantsourceofhelpandsupportintimesofneed.However,evenincloserelationships,peoplemayhesitatetoofferhelpwhentheyfeeltherecipientisuntrustworthy,self-motivatedandunlikelytoreciprocate.Fivestudiesexaminedwhetheracloseother’sperceivedself-control,anindicatoroftrustworthiness,influencedhelpingintentions.Studies1-4(Ntotal=1,043),foundthatpeopleofferedmorehelptoacloseotherwithhighperceivedself-control(HPSC;Study1&Study4),believedpeoplewithHPSCendorselessselfishreasonsforacceptingandreciprocatinghelp(Study2),andfeltmoresatisfiedandlesscautiousofferinghelptocloseotherswithHPSC(Study3).Finally,Study5(N=323)foundnodifferencesbetweentheamountofhelppeoplebelievedcloseothershighversuslowinself-controlneed,suggestingdifferencesinthewillingnesstohelpwasmorelikelylinkedtothelikelihoodofreciprocity.Implicationsarediscussed.Positiveconflictresolutioninadolescentcouples:Dailyvariationsofattachment,conflicts,anduseofnegativestrategiesAndreanneLapierre,AlisonParadis,&EmilyHelenTodorovUniversitéduQuébecàMontréalConflictresolutionisoneofthemajorchallengesofdatinginadolescence.Bylearningaboutintimacyandaboutmaintainingharmonyforthefirsttime,adolescentsdevelopandusenegative(NS),andpositivestrategies(PS).AttachmentisassociatedwithNS,butitremainsunclearwhyinsecurelyattachedadolescentsarealsoabletousePStoresolveconflicts.Theaimofthisstudyistoexploredailyvariationsofanxietyandavoidanceinadolescents’attachmentandtheirassociationswiththeoccurrenceofconflictsandNS.Apreliminarysampleof105adolescentscompleteda14-daydailydiary,whichmeasuredvariationsinanxietyandavoidance,conflictoccurrence,andNS.Multilevelmodelsshowthatonlyavoidancewasassociatedwithconflictsinter-individually,whilebothanxietyandavoidancewereassociatedwithconflictandNSintra-individually.TheseresultssuggestthatdailypersonalvariationsinattachmentinfluencedailyconflictandNSbeyondmeanlevelsofanxietyandavoidance.TheeffectsofcloserelationshipsonthelinkbetweendiscriminationandhealthamongsexualminoritiesKatelinLeahy&WilliamChopikMichiganStateUniversityIndividualsintheLGBT+communityfaceanumberofchallengesthatputthematriskforworsehealth.However,therearelikelyfactorsthatmakeindividualsresilienttotheseriskfactors.ThecurrentstudyexaminedhowsocialnetworksizemightattenuatesomenegativehealthdisparitiesfacedbyLGBT+olderadults.Canthesizeofanindividual’ssocialnetworkcanlessen

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theeffectofdiscriminationonhealth?Wefoundthatstressmediatedthenegativerelationshipbetweendiscriminationandhealthandwell-beingindices.Wealsofoundthatsocialnetworksizemoderatedtherelationshipbetweendiscrimination.Implicationsforthesefindingswillbediscussed.Mayyoubemindfulandfeelsexualsatisfactionanddesire:AbiopsychosocialmodelapproachtotheassociationsofsexualsatisfactionanddesireChelomLeavitt,DavidAllsop,&RebeccaClarkeBrighamYoungUniversityThisstudyusedthebiopsychosocialmodeltoexaminetheassociationofsexualmindfulnessandsexualsatisfactionanddesire.Participantsincluded191USmidlifemenandwomenrangingfrom35to60yearsold(M=45.3,SD=6.01).Ahierarchalregressionusingmeasuresrepresentingbiological(age,health),psychological(presenceofchildren,lifesatisfaction)andsocial(relationshipsatisfaction,length)factorsindicatedanimportantfactorforwomen'ssexualdesirewassexualmindfulness(β=.19,p<.01)andhealth(β=.15,p<.02)andthepresenceofyoung(0-5yearsold)children(β=.17,p<.01)weretheimportantfactorsformen.Eachofthebiopsychosocialcategoriesshowedsignificantassociationsformen'sandwomen'ssexualsatisfaction.Additionally,sexualmindfulnesswasassociatedwithsexualsatisfactionaboveandbeyondthebiopsychosocialfactorsindicatingthatbeingawareandnon-judgmentalareusefulpracticesinsexualexperiences.Virtualrelationalcuration:HowconcernsaboutformerorfuturepartnersaffectvirtualartifactmanagementLeahLeFebvre1,NicholasBrody2,&KateBlackburn31UniversityofAlabama,2UniversityofPugetSound,3UniversityofTexasatAustinThestudyinvestigatedtherelationalcurationprocessbyexamininghowkeepinganddeletingstrategiesmightbepredictedbasedonconcernsaboutformerorfuturepartners.Asrelationalpartnerscarryoutanddocumenttheirromanticrelationshipsinmediatedcontexts,theymustalsomanagethesevirtualrelationalpossessions.Participants(N=234)whohadexperiencedabreakupintheprevioussixmonthswererecruitedtocompleteanonlinesurvey.Whenindividualsbasedtheirartifactdecisionsontheirrelationshipwiththeirformerpartner,theyweremorelikelytokeepitems.Whenindividualsbasedtheirartifactdecisionsontheirrelationshipwithapotentialfuturepartner,theyweremorelikelytodeleteitems.ResultsareextendedtoproposeanaddendumtoRollieandDuck’s(2006)RelationalDissolutionModelprocess.Therelationalcurationprocessbuildsonthegrave-dressingandresurrectionprocessestoexplorevirtualarchivalpractices.

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Sanctificationorinhibition?ReligiousdualitiesandsexualsatisfactionNathanLeonhardt1,DeanBusby2,VeronicaHanna-Walker2,&ChelomLeavitt21UniversityofToronto,2BrighamYoungUniversityWithanAmazonMechanicalTurksampleof1,683individuals,weusedstructuralequationmodelingtobetterunderstandhowglobalreligiosityisindirectlyassociatedwithsexualsatisfactionthroughsexualsanctificationandinhibitedsexualpassion.Ourstudyshowedthatreligiosityhadnototaleffectonsexualsatisfaction,butithadanindirectpositiveeffectthroughsexualsanctification,asmallnegativeindirecteffectthroughinhibitedsexualpassion(butonlyformen)andanegativedirecteffectwheneverythingwasaccountedforsimultaneously.Overall,thestudyhighlightsthedualisticnatureofreligiosityonsexualsatisfaction,byshapingpositiveandnegativeattitudesaboutsexualityinrelationships.ThepresentationwillalsoincludeAPIMresults,exploringtheseassociationsinasampleof500couplesrecruitedthroughthecompanyBovitz.Speed-datingatcomicconConnorLeshner1,JessicaMaxwell2,EmilyImpett3,&JohnSakaluk11UniversityofVictoria,2FloridaStateUniversity,3UniversityofTorontoSpeed-datingofferstheabilityforresearcherstomeasureinitialattractiontowarddatingpartners.Weexaminedtheeffectofcostume,physicalattractiveness,romanticandsexualinterestinspeed-datingpartners.Analyseswerecompletedwithinamultilevelmodelingframework,nestingindividualdatesinthetotaldatesoftherespondent.Romanticandsexualinterest,aswellasphysicalattractiveness,weresignificantpositivepredictorsofwhethertherespondentexpressedinterestintheirdate,whilecostumewasanegativepredictor.Theseeffectsweremoderatedbytherespondent’sgenderandsociosexualorientation,wheremenratedwomenhigheronphysicalattractivenessandsexualinterest,andrespondentswithahighSOIratedpartnershigheronsexualinterest.Thisresearchfindsevidenceforpredictinghowspeed-datingparticipantsmayviewtheirdatepartnersbasedoninitialreactionstowardattractivenessandinterestinfuturedatesorsexualactivity.“Don’tgetaboveyourself”:Heterosexualcross-(vs.same-)socialclasscouplesareviewedlessfavorably,especiallywhenthewomanisinthehigherstatuspositionCaraMacInnis&ElenaBuligaUniversityofCalgaryTherearesubtlyincreasingnumbersofheterosexualcoupleswherepartnersdifferintermsofsocioeconomicclass.Howarethesecouplesperceived?Wehypothesizedthata)cross-(vs.same-)classcoupleswouldbeperceivedmorenegatively,b)cross-classcoupleswiththewoman(vs.theman)inthehigherclasspositionwouldbeevaluatedmorenegatively,andc)same-classlow-low(vs.high-high)coupleswouldbeevaluatedmorenegatively.In4studies,participantsreaddescriptionsofcouplesthatwereeithersame-(e.g.,highF-highM,lowF-lowM)orcross-socialclass(e.g.,highF-lowM,lowF-highM)definedbasedonincome,educationoroccupationalstatusdifferences.Wefoundsupportforourpredictions,withsome

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exceptions.Ingeneral,high-highcoupleswereperceivedmostpositively.In3/4studies,coupleswhereahigherclasswomanwaspairedwithalowerclassmanwereevaluatedmostnegativelyofallcouples.Isbadsexadeal-breaker?Longitudinalassociationsbetweensexualsatisfaction,maritalsatisfaction,andmaritalinstabilityMeghnaMahambreyTheOhioStateUniversitySexualsatisfactionpredictsmaritalsatisfaction,andmaritalsatisfactionpredictsmaritalinstability.Lessisknownaboutdirectandindirectassociationsbetweensexualsatisfactionandmaritalinstability.Maritalinstabilityhasbeenconceptualizedintwoways;doubtswithinanintactmarriage(i.e.,likelihoodofseparation)ordisruptionofapriormarriage(i.e.,separationordivorce).ThecurrentstudyinvestigatestheinfluenceofsexualsatisfactiononbothdoubtsanddisruptionintwosamplesdrawnfromtheNationalSurveyofMidlifeDevelopmentintheUnitedStates,alongitudinalstudyofthehealthandwell-beingofadultsages25-74.Structuralequationmodelingwasusedtotesthypothesesonassociationsbetweensexualsatisfaction,maritalsatisfaction,andbothconceptualizationsofmaritalinstabilityacrossthreewaves.Preliminaryresultsandnextstepswillbediscussed.Howself-esteeminfluencesbothperceptionsandactualofferingsofsocialsupportDeniseMarigold1,JustinCavallo2,&AlexandraHirniak21RenisonUniversityCollege,2WilfridLaurierUniversityDeliveringresponsivesocialsupportcanbequitechallenging,especiallywhensupportrecipientsareoverlypessimisticabouttheirsituationandresistanttoothers’attemptstoregulatetheirmood,asisthetendencyforpeoplewithlowerself-esteem(LSEs).Thecurrentstudiestestthehypothesisthatlow(vshigh)self-esteempeoplereceivelessresponsivesupport,byexaminingbothrecipientandproviderperspectives.Indeed,LSEsbelievethesupporttheyreceiveonadailybasis(Study1)andforamajorpastevent(Study2)isrelativelylessresponsive(comparedtothebeliefsofpeoplewithhigherself-esteem,orHSEs).ProvidersconfirmthattheytendtogivelessresponsivesupporttoLSEsevenwhentheyperceivethemtobeequallydistressedasHSEs(Study3),andindicatethattheyfinditmoredifficultandupsettingtosupportahypotheticalLSEpersonthanaHSEpersoninthesamecircumstances(Study4).Well,thisisawkward:Attachmentanxiety,socialanxiety,andself/otherfocusatspeed-datingM.JoyMcClure1,FedericaPinelli2,MayaRossignac-Milon2,&KatherineZee21AdelphiUniversity,2ColumbiaUniversityPreviousworkhasshownthatattachmentanxietycompromisesrelationshipinitiation.Mightthisbeduetochallengesinbalancingself-otherfocusininitialinteractionswithromanticprospects?Statesofanxiety,especiallysocialanxiety,canheightenself-focus;thiscould

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decreasethelikelihoodofhavingasuccessfulinitialinteraction(e.g.interferingwithcoordination,withcommunicatinglikingtopartner).166heterosexualparticipantsattended1of12speeddatingevents(Ndyads=518).Beforetheevents,participantscompletedawebsurvey,includingmeasuresofattachmentandsocialanxiety.Attheevent,aftereachspeed-date,participantsandtheirpartnersratedeachother,includingmeasuresofself-andother-focus,stateanxietyandawkwardness,attractionandinterestinpursuingfuturedatingcontact.Datawillbeanalyzedusingmultilevelmediationmodels.Wepredictthatattachmentanxietyandsocialanxietywillcompromiserelationshipinitiationopportunitiesduetoself-focusincreasingawkwardnessandinterferingwithcommunicationoflikingforthepartner.Goodnews?Canwepreservefaircopingofnewparentswithcouple-basedinterventionsduringpregnancy?FMMeier1,AnneMilek2,ValentinaAnderegg3,HolgerSchmid4,ChristelleBenz-Fragnière4,W.KimHalford5,&GuyBodenmann11UniversityofZurich,2UniversityofMünster,3HarvardMedicalSchool,4UniversityofAppliedScienceNorthwesternSwitzerland,5UniversityofQueenslandBecomingparentsisaccompaniedbyjoyinmostcouples.However,mostcouplesalsoexperienceadecreaseofperceivedfairnessacrossthetransitiontoparenthoodalongsideadecreasedrelationshipsatisfaction.Ratherthandomesticfairness,weexaminefairnessofamorerelationship-specificskilllikemutualsupport(i.e.,dyadiccoping).Moreimportantly,wewanttoknowwhetherfairnessindyadiccopingcanbepreserved.Twocouple-basedinterventionswereadministeredto307heterosexualcouples(N=614individuals)whowerebecomingparents.Self-reportdatawascollectedatfivetime-pointsfromthe27thweekofpregnancyto40weekspostpartum.Asexpected,fairnessofdyadiccopingdecreasedacrossthetransitiontoparenthoodsimilarlytorelationshipsatisfaction.However,fairnessofdyadiccopingdifferedforcouplesintheinterventiongroupscomparedtocouplesinthecontrolgroup.Butdirectionsweredifferentformenthanforwomen.Wediscussaspectsofroledivisionaswellasclinicalimplications.TheeffectsofactorandpartneroptimismoncognitiveabilityamongoldercouplesJeewonOh&WilliamChopikMichiganStateUniversityOptimism,thetendencytoholdpositiveexpectationsaboutthefuture,affectsnotonlyperceptionsofpeopleandeventsbutalsoanindividual’sphysical,relational,andmentalhealth(Chang&Sanna,2001).Giventhatspousesplayanimportantroleonpeople’shealth(Kim,Chopik,&Smith,2014),weexaminedhowactorandpartneroptimismincouplesaffecttheircognitiveability(N=4,457couples).Resultsshowedpositiveassociationsbetweenactoroptimismandcognitiveability(.03≤rs≤.17)andpartneroptimismandcognitiveability(.03≤rs≤.04),overaperiodof8years.Beingmarriedtoanoptimistwasparticularlybeneficialforpeoplelowerinoptimism(r=.05,p<.001).Peoplehadthelowestcognitiveabilitywhenboththeyandtheirpartnerwerelowinoptimism.

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Psychologicalviolenceandrelationshipsatisfactionamongdatingadolescent:AdyadicanalysisAlisonParadis&Emily-HelenTodorovUniversitéduQuébecàMontréalThequalityofromanticrelationshipsinadolescencehasnotableimplicationsforyouth,aswellasfortheirfuturerelationships.Todate,fewstudieshaveexaminedthelinkbetweenpsychologicaldatingviolence(DV)andrelationshipsatisfaction,andnonehaveincludeddatafrombothpartners.TheaimofthecurrentstudywastousedyadicdataanalysistoexaminetheassociationsbetweenperpetrationofpsychologicalDVandrelationshipsatisfaction.Asampleof126adolescentcoupleswhowereinadatingnon-cohabitatingrelationshipcompletedasetofonlinequestionnaires.Resultsrevealedthatforbothgirlsandboys,one’sownperpetrationofpsychologicalDVwasrelatednegativelytoself-reportedrelationshipsatisfaction.AsignificantpartnereffectwasalsofoundbetweenpsychologicalDVperpetratedbythegirlfriendsandtheirpartner’ssatisfactionsuggestingthatforyoungmen,romanticrelationshipsatisfactioniscompromisedbothbytheirownpsychologicalDVaswellasbytheirpartner’s.Thelinkbetweensacrificeandrelationalandpersonalwell-being:Ameta-analysisFrancescaRighetti1,JohnSakaluk2,RuddyFaure1,&EmilyImpett31VrijeUniversiteitAmsterdam,2UniversityofVictoria,3UniversityofTorontoDifferenttheoreticalaccountswouldpredictthatsacrificeiseitherpositivelyornegativelyassociatedwithpersonalandrelationalwell-being.Empiricalworkinthisregardisinconclusive.Weconductedameta-analyticalinvestigationof65datasetsand1,249effectsizes(N=26,395)totestthelinkbetweensacrificeandrelationshipsatisfactionandpersonalwell-beingforboththeindividualwhoperformsthesacrificeandtheirpartner.Althoughwefoundsmallpositiveassociationsbetweengeneralsacrificeandrelationshipsatisfaction,resultsrevealedanimportantdistinctionbetweenwillingnesstosacrifice(i.e.,themotivationtosacrifice)andactualbehavioralsacrifice.Willingnesstosacrificewaspositivelyrelatedtowell-being,whilethisassociationwasnotpresentforbehavioralsacrifice.Theinfluenceofaccuratelydetectingwomen’spainself-efficacyforpostpartumpainduringintercourseoncouples’sexualwell-being:AdyadiclongitudinalinvestigationMeghanRossi1,JessicaMaxwell2,&NatalieRosen11DalhousieUniversity,2FloridaStateUniversityPostpartumpainduringintercourseisaprevalentproblemthatjeopardizescouples’relationalandsexualwell-being.Womenwithpainduringintercourseandtheirpartners(N=89)completedonlinesurveysatthreeandsixmonthspostpartumassessingwomen’sandpartnerperceptionsofpainself-efficacy(i.e.confidenceinmanagingthepain),sexualfunctioning,andwomen’sreportofpainintensity.UsingtheTruthandBiasModelofJudgementandResponseSurfaceAnalysis,partnerswerebothaccurateandbiasedintheirestimationssuchthattheytendedtounderestimatewomen’spainself-efficacyatthreemonths.Thisunderestimationwas

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notassociatedwithwomen’spainorcouples’sexualfunctioning.However,whencouplesshowedagreementforlower,comparedtohigher,levelsofpainself-efficacy,womenreportedgreaterpainduringintercourseandbothmembersofthecoupleexperiencedpoorersexualfunctioningateachtime-point.Enhancingcouples’painself-efficacymayimprovepartnerprovisionofsupportandcouples’sexualwell-being.AwepromotesrelationshipqualityandwillingnesstosacrificethroughgratitudeKristinaSchrage1,MingMa1,JenniferStellar1,EmilyImpett1,DacherKeltner2,&GeoffMacDonald11UniversityofToronto,2UniversityofCalifornia,BerkeleyAwemakesusmoresatisfiedwithourlives,butcanitenhanceourcloserelationships?Weinvestigateifawecanincreaserelationshipqualityandwillingnesstosacrificeforaromanticpartner.InStudy1,correlationsindicatedthatdispositionalawewaspositivelylinkedtorelationshipqualityandlikelihoodofmakingsacrificesforapartner.InStudy2,anexperimentaldesign,thosewhowatchedanawe-inspiringvideoclipreportedsignificantlyhigherwillingnesstosacrificeandcommitmentrelativetothosewhowatchedaneutralvideoclip.InStudy3,a14-daydyadicdailydiarystudy,dailyawewasassociatedwithhigherrelationshipqualityandprosocialmotivesforsacrifice.Studies2and3providedsupportforgratitudeasamediatoroftheeffectsofaweonbothwillingnesstosacrificeandrelationshipquality.Takentogether,thepresentresearchdemonstratesthatawemayserveavitalfunctioninthedevelopmentandmaintenanceofcloserelationships.RelationshipmotivationinthecontextofsexualencounterswithnewpartnersShaynaSkakoon-SparlingRyersonUniversityRelationshipMotivation(RM)isthedegreetowhichanindividualismotivatedtoestablishand/ormaintainalong-termromanticrelationship.RMmayinterferewithsafersexpracticesamongthosewhoareanxioustoestablishanewlong-termrelationship.WeinvestigatedtheassociationbetweenRMandthenegotiationofcondomuseacrosstwostudies.Study1showedthatparticipantshigherinRMweremorelikelytoconsidertheirperceivedpartner’sinterestincondomuse,aswellastheirown,whendecidingwhethertosuggestcondoms.Incontrast,amongthoselowinRMonlypersonalinterestincondomusewasasignificantpredictor.InStudy2,sexuallyarousedwomenwhowerehighinrelationshipmotivationshowedincreasedrisktakingintentions(comparedtothoselowinrelationshipmotivation).ThesefindingssuggestthatRMisanimportantfactortoconsider,sinceitcanhaveanimpactatmultiplestagesofthecondomnegotiationprocess.

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Sharedactivitiesinretirement:Effectsonindividualandrelationshipwell-beingJenniferM.Tomlinson,EmmaMeyer,FanyiZhang,&CarolineHashagenColgateUniversityEngaginginsharedself-expandingactivitiespredictsindividualandrelationshipwell-being.Becausepreviousstudieshavefocusedonyoungercouples,wewantedtounderstandtheeffectsofsharedactivitiesinretirement.Wepredictedthatparticipationinexcitingactivitieswouldleadtogreaterindividualandrelationshipwell-beingintwostudies.InStudy1,188retired,marriedMturkworkerscompletedmeasuresoffrequencyofparticipationinexcitingandpleasantactivities,andindividualandrelationshipwell-being.Participationinbothexcitingandpleasantactivitieswaspositivelycorrelatedwithrelationalself-expansion,closeness,positiveaffect,andcuriosity.InStudy2,60retiredcoupleswererandomlyassignedtoparticipateinexciting,pleasant,ornoactivityandreportedonindividualandrelationshipwell-being.Participationinexcitingactivities(comparedtopleasantornoactivity)predictedincreasedself-efficacy.Inaddition,attachmentanxietymoderatedtheeffectsonmaritalsatisfactionsuchthatsecureindividualsbenefitedmorefromexcitingactivitiescomparedtoanxiousindividuals.Timeisintheeyeofthebeholder:HowfearofbeingsinglepredictssubjectivedurationSarahE.Wall,VivianNelson,&AnneE.WilsonWilfridLaurierUniversityInthepresentresearch,weexaminedtherelationshipbetweenfearofbeingsingle,subjectiveduration(i.e.,howslowlyorquicklytimefeelslikeitispassing),andemotionalexperiencesofbeingsingleusingcorrelationalandexperimentalresearchdesigns.Ourresearchthusfarhastestedandsupportedourhypothesessuchthat,forthesameperiodofobjectivetimeinthefuture(i.e.,thenextoneyear),(1)participantswhoweremorefearfulofbeingsingleperceivedthattimespentbeingsinglefortheupcomingoneyearwillpassbymoreslowlyand(2)reportedgreaterexpectationsofnegativeemotionalexperiencestowardsbeingsingleforoneyear,comparedtoparticipantswhowerelessfearful.Additionalresultsdemonstratingtheeffectsofmanipulatingsubjectivedurationonhowmorefearfulindividuals’perceivetheirtimespentbeingsinglewillbediscussed.Thankyou,mylove,willyousupportme?Onthevalueofexpressingpartner-directedpositivityinsupport-seekingcontextsRebeccaWalsh&AmandaForestUniversityofPittsburghDrawingonthebroadenandbuildmodel(e.g.,Fredrickson,2001)andtheoriesofmotivation,wetestedthehypothesisthatsupportseekerswhoexpressedmore(vs.less)positivityabouttheirsupportprovider(e.g.,expressingaffectiontowardandgratitudefortheprovider)whenseekingsupportfornegativeeventswouldreceivemoreresponsivesupport.Acrosstwobehavioralobservationstudies(N=240romanticcouples),supportseekerswhoexpressedmore(vs.less)partner-directedpositivitywhendisclosingaboutanupsettingevent(Study1)or

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theirgreatestfear(Study2)receivedmoreresponsivesupportfromtheirpartners.Theseeffectsheldwhencontrollingfortheseeker’sexpressednegativityandkeypersonalityandrelationshipvariables(e.g.,seeker’sself-esteem;partner’srelationshipquality).Mediationanalyses(Study2)suggestedthatexpressingpartner-directedpositivitymayelicitresponsivesupportbyincreasing(a)thepartner’sdesiretoconnectwiththeseekerand(b)thepartner’sconfidenceintheeffectivenessofhis/hersupportattempts.ThedevelopmentofanimplicitassociationtestforthesexualdoublestandardCorinneZimmerman&AlexisL.PandeliosIllinoisStateUniversityAspartofalargerprojectonhookups,wehypothesizedthatsexualdoublestandardattitudes(wherebymenandwomenarejudgeddifferentlyforengaginginthesamesexualbehaviors)mightpredicthookupoutcomesandhookupreactions.Inparticular,wewereinterestedinexaminingexplicitandimplicitSexualDoubleStandard(SDS)attitudes.AlthoughanImplicitAssociationTest(IAT)hasbeendevelopedtoexamineimplicitSDSattitudes,thestimulusmaterialsusedbySakalukandMilhausen(2012)torepresenttheattributedimensionsof“sexuallypositive”(e.g.,clean,healthy)and“sexuallynegative”(e.g.,sleazy,unacceptable)maynothavestrongsexualconnotations.Wereporttheresultsofapilottest(n=147)tocreatematerialsforanIATinwhichparticipantsassociatethetargetconcept(male/female)withtheattributedimensions“sexual”or“romantic.”WereportpreliminaryfindingsfromparticipantswhocompletedtheIAT,explicitSDSattitudes,andhookupreactionsandoutcomes.

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DataBlitz:Abstracts(sortedalphabeticallybythelastnameofthepresenter)

Sexpectations:Expectationsofemotionalcloseness,orgasm,andpleasure(ownandpartner's)fromsexwitharomanticpartnerShariBlumenstockUniversityofWisconsin-MadisonWhatweexpectfromanexperienceinfluencesourdesireforit,andthisincludessexualexperienceswithinromanticrelationships.Foryoungadults,emotionalclosenessandpleasurearetopreasonstheyhavesexwitharomanticpartner.However,itisunclearwhetheryoungadultsactuallyexpecttoexperiencetheseoutcomes.Thisstudywilldrawfromanonlinesurveyof~290youngadults(50%women).Preliminaryresults(n=214)indicatedmostexpectedtoexperienceemotionalclosenessandpleasureduringsexwitharomanticpartner.Menreportedhigherexpectationsfororgasmandsexualpleasure,whereaswomenreportedhigherexpectationsfordifficultywithorgasm.Nosignificantgenderdifferenceswerefoundforemotionalcloseness.Menreportedlowerexpectationsfortheirpartnertoexperienceorgasmandsexualpleasure,andhigherexpectationstheirpartnerwouldexperiencedifficultywithorgasm.Therolesofsexualhistoryandfunctioninginexpectations,andassociationsbetweenexpectationsanddesirewillalsobeexplored/discussed.Scaredtosocializeoreagertoengage?IntroducinganewmeasureofindividualdifferencesindispositionalsocialexpectanciesBonniCrawford1,MarcelMeyer2,NilsMuhlert3,MartaGarcíaLópez4,GeoffMacDonald5,&AndrewD.Lawrence11CardiffUniversity,2UniversitätMannheim,3UniversityofManchester,4Ruhr-UniversitätBochum,5UniversityofTorontoOurresearchexaminesindividualdifferencesindispositionalsocialexpectancies-tendenciestoexpectsocialsituationstobepleasurableordistressing.Wehavedevelopedascenario-basedself-reportscale,theLevelsofDispositionalExpectanciesforSocialThreatandRewardScale(LODESTARS).TheLODESTARSexhibitsacleartwo-factorstructureandexcellentpsychometricproperties(n>1000).Correlationswithotherwell-establishedconstructs(e.g.attachmentstyle)demonstratethattheLODESTARShasgoodconcurrentandpredictivevalidity.Inthebrain(n=100),wefoundthatindividualdifferencesinLODESTARSscoresarereflectedinthestructureofhubregionsthatimplementaffectiveappraisal.Followingthisup,weexaminedlinksbetweenLODESTARSandaffectiveappraisal,focussingonemotionregulation(ER;n>600).PreliminaryresultsindicatethathighersocialthreatexpectanciesareassociatedwithlessadaptiveERstrategies,whilehighersocialrewardexpectanciesareassociatedwithmoreadaptiveER.Ourfindingshaveimplicationsforunderstandingneurocognitiveriskfactorsforpoorsocialwellbeing.

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Tripartitecommitmentandrelationshipquality:Aperson-centeredapproachMelissaCurran1,MiKyoungJin2,ShannonCorkery3,&XiaominLi1 1UniversityofArizona,2SookmyungWomen'sUniversity,3PennStateUniversityWeexaminedassociationsbetweentripartitecommitment--personal(wanttostayinrelationship),moral(oughttostay)andstructural(havetostay)--andrelationshipquality(conflict,ambivalence,maintenance,satisfaction;N=717individuals).Weusedlatentprofileanalysisspecifictotripartitecommitmenttounderstandhoweachprofileisassociatedwithrelationshipquality.Resultsshowedfourdistinctsubgroupsfortripartitecommitment:LowerTripartiteCommitment,HigherTripartiteCommitment,HigherMoralandStructuralCommitment,andPersonalCommitmentDriven.IndividualsintheprofileofLowerTripartiteCommitmentexperiencedmoreambivalenceandlessmaintenanceandsatisfactionversusindividualsintheotherthreeprofiles.Incomparison,individualsintheprofilesofHigherTripartiteCommitmentandPersonalCommitmentDrivenexperiencedhighermaintenanceandsatisfactionandlowerconflictandambivalencethanindividualsinthetwootherprofiles.Wediscussthevalueaddedbytheadditionalconsiderationofmoralandstructuralcommitmentintheunderstandingofrelationshipquality.Non-consensualcondomremovalacrossdifferentrelationshipcontextsKonradCzechowski,ErinCourtice,&KrystelleShaughnessyUniversityofOttawaNon-consensualcondomremoval(NCCR;“stealthing”)referstotheremovalofacondombeforeorduringsexualintercoursewithoutone’spartner'sconsent.Despiteaplethoraofnewsarticlesdescribingthetrend,thereisnoempiricalresearchtodateonNCCR.Thepurposeofthisstudywastwofold:to(1)examinetheprevalenceofNCCRinthreepartnercontexts:committedpartner,knownbutnotcommittedpartner,andstranger;and(2)whetherparticipantsfindthepracticemorebothersomeinoneofthethreecontexts.Wecollectedscreeningdataon3031undergraduatestudentsandfoundthat11%hadNCCRperpetratedagainstthem.Asub-sample(n=651)completedanin-depthquestionnaireabouttheirexperiences.ThisstudyisthefirsttoincludetherelationshipcontextinNCCRexperiencesandfoundthatmoreparticipantsreportedtheexperiencewiththeircommittedpartners.Implicationsforcondomusenegotiationacrossrelationshipcontextswillbediscussed.Managingnegativeemotionsaboutsex:Associationsbetweenemotionregulationstrategiesandsexualwell-beingJustinDubé&NatalieRosenDalhousieUniversityPeopleoftenexperiencenegativeemotionsrelatedtosex.Yet,littleisknownaboutthestrategiesthatpeopleusetoregulatenegativeemotionsintheirsexuallives.Viaanonlinesurvey,weexaminedassociationsbetweenfiveemotionregulationstrategies—avoidance,problemsolving,distraction,reappraisal,andsuppression—andthesexualwell-beingof

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individuals(N=223)involvedincommittedrelationships.Greateruseofavoidancetoregulatenegativeemotionsaboutsexwaslinkedtolowersexualsatisfactionanddesire,andgreatersexualdistress.Incontrast,greateruseofproblem-solvingandreappraisalwereeachassociatedwithgreatersexualsatisfaction,andgreateruseofdistractionwaslinkedtogreaterdesire.Therewerenoassociationsbetweensuppressionandoutcomes.Findingsprovidethefirstempiricalevidencethatstrategiestomanagenegativeemotionsaboutsexaredifferentiallyassociatedwithfacetsofsexualwell-being,suggestingthatsomestrategiesmaybemoreadaptivethanothers.Iwillfollowyou,butitwillcostme:Trailingpartners’exchangemotivespredictlowerrelationshipqualitythroughcostlyperceptionsofrelocationRebeccaM.Horne,MarikoL.Visserman,&EmilyImpettUniversityofTorontoWeconductedanonlinestudyof175romanticpartnerswhorecentlyrelocatedfortheirpartner’sjob,providingthefirstlookattrailingpartners’experiencesafterundertakingalife-changingsacrifice.Weexploredhowtrailers’exchangeorientation(desireforequalexchangesofbenefitsinrelationships)shapestheirperceptionsoftherelocation(howbigofasacrificeitwasandhowcostlyitwas),andinturntheirsatisfactionwiththemoveandtheirrelationship.Theresultsrevealedthatthemoreexchangeorientedtrailerswere,themoretheyviewedtherelocationasalargesacrificeandpersonallycostly.Inturn,theseperceptionsofthesacrificewereassociatedwithlowersatisfactionwiththemoveandtheirrelationship.Thus,theexperienceofrelocationmaybeparticularlychallengingfortrailingpartnerswhoareexchangeoriented,astheyorientthemselvestowardsthecostlinessofthemovewhichdetractsfromtheirrelationshipqualityandhappinesswiththemove.FrequenciesandPerceptualAccuracyofSexualRejectioninRomanticRelationshipsJamesKim1,AmyMuise2,&EmilyImpett11UniversityofToronto,2YorkUniversity Experiencingsexualrejectionbyaromanticpartnercanbehighlyimpactfulforrelationships.Buthowfrequentlydoessexualrejectionoccurinestablishedrelationships,andhowaccuratearepartnersindetectingsexualrejection?Inthepresentresearch,weexamineandcomparethefrequencyofsexualrejectioninacross-sectionalstudyofindividualsinrelationshipsand28-daydyadicdailyexperiencestudy.Wealsoinvestigatehowoftenpartnersagreeontheoccurrenceofsexualrejection,andthedegreeofperceptualaccuracyandbiasexhibitedtowardsreassuring,hostile,assertive,anddeflectingsexualrejectionbehaviors.Resultsshowedthatromanticpartnersdisagreedonwhethersexualdisinterestwascommunicatedathirdofthetime.Duringtheseinstances,hostileanddeflectingrejectionbehaviourswereoverperceived.Further,whileallfourrejectionbehaviorsareaccuratelydetectedwhenexhibited,theeffectsizefordetectingreassuringbehaviorswasrelativelysmall,aligningwithliteraturehighlightingthedifficultnatureofsexualcommunicationforcouples.

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Whatyougiveisnotalwayswhattheyget:Autonomysupportfromfamilyandfriendsbenefitsgoalpursuitandwell-beingwhenperceivedassoShelbyLevine,AnneHolding,&RichardKoestnerMcGillUniversityManyyoungadultsseekoutsupportfromfamilyandfriendswhilepursuingtheirgoals.Thecurrentresearchexploredautonomyanddirectivesupportacrossdifferentsourcesofsupporttodeterminewhetherindividualsaccuratelyperceivesupportfromdifferentsources,andhowsupportpredictswell-being,andgoalprogress.387studentscompletedastudyabouttheirgoals,supportsystemsandwell-being,aswell252familymembers,and225peerscompletedreportsonsupport.Familialdirectivesupportwasperceivedtobedirective,butfamilialautonomysupportwasalsoperceivedasdirective.Conversely,peersupportwasaccuratelyperceivedasautonomousanddirective.Perceivedautonomysupportfromfamilyandfriendspredictedincreasedsubjectivewell-beingandgoalprogress.Directivesupportfromfamilyandfriendsdidnotpredictwell-beingorgoalprogress.Overall,theseresultsprovideevidencethatautonomysupportfromfamilyandfriendsisinstrumentalforhelpingyoungadultstonotonlysucceed,butthrive.Tellmewhatyouwant,whatyoureallyreallywant:Gender,sexualassertiveness,andpleasureinhookupexperiencesAllisonMcKinnonBinghamtonUniversitySexualassertiveness,ortheabilitytoinitiate,negotiate,and/orrejectspecificsexualbehaviors,isvitalforindividualstomaximizetheirsafetyandenjoymentinsexualrelationships,buttendstobealessdevelopedabilityinwomencomparedtomen.Toexploretheinfluencesofgender,sexuality,andattitudes,1181collegestudentsreportedonaspectsoftheirmostrecenthookupexperience.Individuals’ownsexualassertivenessenhancedtheirreportedpleasurefromthehookup,whilepartnerassertivenesswaslinkedtopleasureonlyforwomen.Moderationanalysessuggestedthatthedegreetowhichindividualsendorsetraditionalgenderrolenormsaffectedtheirownandpartner’sassertivenessenhancementoftheirpleasure.Thesefindingscharacterizethenuancesofsexualexperiencesthatyoungadultsmustnavigate,aswellashighlightinginterventionpointsforimprovingtheirownrepertoireofassertivebehaviorsandresponsivenesstothoseoftheirpartners.Totalkornottotalk?DiscussingrelationshipboundariesinnewlywedMarriageLaurenD.McRae&RebeccaJ.CobbSimonFraserUniversityDiscussingrelationshipboundaries(i.e.,theextenttowhichemotionalandsexualinvolvementsoutsideoftherelationshipareacceptable)isrelatedtosexualandrelationalbenefits,atleastinmalesame-sexpartnerships(Hoff&Beougher,2010;Mitchelletal.,2012).Therelationshipliteratureisrepletewithevidenceofthebenefitsofopencommunicationbetweenpartners(e.g.,Montesietal.,2010;Timm&Keiley,2011),andsexualself-disclosureispositivefor

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couples(Laurenceauetal.,2005;MacNeil&Byers,2005);however,littleisknownabouttheroleofrelationshipboundarydiscussionsinthecontextofmixed-sexrelationships.Mixed-sexnewlywedcouples(N=149)recruitedfromthecommunitycompletedmeasuresofmaritalsatisfaction(QMI;Norton,1983),relationshipboundarydiscussion(e.g.,"Sinceyouandyourspousebeganyourrelationship,haveyoutwoeverdiscussedwhetherromanticand/orsexualinvolvementswithotherpeoplewereacceptable?"),andacceptabilityofextra-dyadicinvolvement(EDI;e.g.,"Howacceptableisitforyourpartnertohaveasexualinvolvementwithanotherperson?").Regressionanalysisindicatedthatdiscussingrelationshipboundariespredictedincreasesinwives'relationshipsatisfactionoveroneyearwhenhusbandsratedextra-dyadicinvolvementsasrelativelyacceptable.However,discussingrelationshipboundariespredicteddeclinesinhusbands’andwives'relationshipsatisfactionwhenhusbandsratedextra-dyadicinvolvementsasrelativelyunacceptable.Resultssuggestthatinterpersonalcontextscanchangetheroleofboundarydiscussionsinromanticrelationships.WhenpartnersarestronglyadherenttomonogamynormsandarelessacceptingofEDI,discussingboundariesmightbeinherentlyuncomfortable,mightinstillasenseofinsecurityorjealousy,andcouldbedetrimentaltopartner'ssatisfactionwiththerelationshipovertimecomparedtowhenpartnerslessstronglyadheretomonogamynorms.Thissuggeststhatrelationshipboundarydiscussionsmaybenefitsomerelationshipsbutshouldbeapproachedwithcautionbecauseoftheirinherentlysensitivenatureandpotentialfordisruptingpositiveevaluationsoftherelationship.PatternsofphysicalproximityasindicatorsofrelationshiphealthinolderadultcouplesBrianOgolsky,ShannonMejia,AlexandraChronopoulou,KielGilleade,ChristopherManiotes,TeKishaRice,&JaclynTheisenUniversityofIllinoisatUrbana-ChampaignMaritalrelationshipsarecrucialtohealthandwell-beingacrossthelife-span,andespeciallyinolderadulthood.Themarriagebenefit,however,isconditionedbyrelationshiphealth,whichischaracterizedbyrelationshipsatisfactionandthepresenceofbehavioralmarkersofrelationshipmaintenance.Thisinterdisciplinaryresearchprojectdemonstratesamethodtomeasurerelationshiphealthinawaythatisunobtrusive,objective,andresponsivetomomenttomomentvariationsincouples’livedcontextsbymeansofwearableproximitysensors.Wewilldiscussthestrengthsandopportunitiesofaninterpersonalproximitysensorssystem(IPROX)forunderstandingphysicalproximity.Thesystemmeasuresrecordedsignalstrengthtoestimatethedistancebetweeneachpartner’ssensorandthepositionofeachsensorwithinthehomebymeansoftelemetry.Thesemeasurementswerepairedwithphysiologicalheartratedataandself-reportedpsychologicalvariablestogenerateuniquebehavioralsignalsamongolderadultcouples.ConflictandMaritalWell-BeingOver16YearsofMarriageforBlackCouplesandWhiteCouplesRosieShrout1,TerriOrbuch2,RandalBrown3,&DanielWeigel11UniversityofNevadaReno,2OaklandUniversity,3WidenerUniversity

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Marriedcouplesexperienceconflictinmultipleways.Spousescandisagreeoftenandacrossseveralimportantissues.Disagreementscanalsopile-upovertime,creatinganaccumulationofdisagreements.Thisresearchtookamultidimensionalapproachtoconflictandexaminedhowfrequency,breadth,andtheaccumulationofdisagreementsrelatedtomaritalwell-beinginthecontextsofgenderandrace.Longitudinaldataof373marriedcouplesspanning16yearswereanalyzed.Multilevelmodelsindicatedthatfrequentconflicthadstrongernegativeimplicationsforwives’andWhitespouses’maritalwell-being,whereasanaccumulationofdisagreementsovertimewasmoreimpactfulforBlackspouses’maritalwell-being.Theresultswillbediscussedinthecontextsofraceandgender.PerceivinggratitudefromaromanticpartnerpredictsdecreasesinattachmentanxietyYoobinPark1,MatthewJohnson2,GeoffMacDonald1,&EmilyImpett11UniversityofToronto,2UniversityofAlbertaIndividualshighinattachmentanxietytendtostruggleinromanticrelationships,whichcarriesseriousimplicationsfortheirbroaderphysicalandpsychologicalwell-being.Inthisresearch,weused7-yearlongitudinaldata(n=2,057)toexaminewhetherperceivinggratitudefromaromanticpartnerpredictsdecreasesinanindividual’sattachmentanxietytowardthepartner.Randominterceptcross-laggedpanelanalysessupportedourpredictionthatperceivingmorethantypicallevelsofgratitudefromapartnerinagivenyearwaslinkedwithreducedattachmentanxietyatthattimeand,importantly,oneyearlater.Thesedataprovideevidencethatinterpersonalenvironmentscanindeedshapeattachmentanxietyanddemonstrateonepowerfulwaythatgratitudecancontributetorelationshipandpersonalwell-being.Motivationaldynamicsbetweenromanticpartners’goalpursuitKaitlynWerner1,MarinaMilyavskaya1,&RichardKoestner21CarletonUniversity,2McGillUniversityInthepresentresearch,weexaminedthemotivationaldynamicsbetweenromanticpartnersastheypursuetheirgoalsoverthecourseofayear.Werecruited130individuals(65couples)andaskedthemtosetfourgoalsthattheyplannedtopursueoverthenextyear,aswellashadthemratetheirautonomousandcontrolledmotivationforpursuingeachgoal,theirpartner’smotivationforthepartner’sgoal,andgoalprogressatfourdifferenttimepoints(betweenSeptemberandApril).Usingmulti-levelanalyses,weexamined(1)theextenttowhichpartners’motivationalcompatibilityatT1predictedgoalprogressoverthecourseoftheyear,and(2)theextenttowhichpartners’motivationconvergesovertime.Discussionwillfocusontheroleofshiftingmotivationinself-regulatorysuccess(e.g.,Inzlicht,Schmeichel,&Macrae,2014)andhowinterpersonalrelationshipscanfacilitatethisprocess(e.g.,Shea,Davisson,&Fitzsimmons,2013).

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Posters:Abstracts(sortedalphabeticallybythelastnameofthepresenter)

Solidarityincouplerelationships AyhanAdams,KatrinGolsch&Kai-OlafMaiwaldOsnabrueckUniversityInfamilyresearch,tothebestofourknowledge,solidarityincouplerelationshipshasnotbeenanalysedtheoreticallyandempirically–agapthisstudyaddresses.Thepurposeofthispaperistodevelopatheoreticalframeworktounderstandsolidarityasanoverarchingstructuralelementofcooperationincouplerelationshipsandpositiveoutcomesforbothpartners.Wethenpropose,inthebestpossibleway,ameasurementofsolidaritytobeusedinquantitativeanalysis.WithdataoftheGermanFamilyPanel(waves2008-2017),weofferanempiricaltestofourmeasurementbyemployingdyadicautoregressivecross-laggedanalyses(n=2,588couples)andestablishthecause-and-effectrelationshipbetweensolidarityandtwodimensionsofrelationshipquality:relationshipsatisfactionandperceivedfairnessinthedivisionofwork.Theresultsofthisanalysislendgeneralsupporttoourassumptionthatcouplescooperateonabasicruleofsolidarity,havingaunidirectionalinfluenceonrelationshipsatisfaction.SpanishTranslationofFiveRelationship-OrientedQuestionnaires:PsychometricEquivalenceWithinandAcrossEthnicitiesErinF.Alexander1,KarenAizaga,RebeccaE.Osterhout,AntonioJ.Polo,MatthewD.Johnson11BinghamtonUniversitySpanishtranslationsofbriefquestionnairesassessingrelationship-relatedconstructswillimproveandexpandcouplesinterventionsamongLatinos.Fiverelationship-orientedscalesweretranslatedfromEnglishtoSpanishbyateamofbilingualnativeSpanishspeakersusingarigoroustranslationmethod.Asampleof570participantswasdividedintothefollowingtwogroups:LatinosansweringinEnglishandLatinosansweringinSpanish,basedonwhethertheyelectedtoanswerinEnglishorSpanish.Participantswererecruitedthroughtheinternetandansweredallquestionnairesonline.Thepsychometricpropertiesofthemeasureswerecomparedacrossthetwogroups.Thetranslatedmeasuresweredeemedvalidandreliable,withfewstatisticallysignificantcoefficientdifferencesacrossthetwogroups.Thisincludestestsofinternalconsistency,temporalreliability,concurrentvalidity,andfactorialinvariance.Thetranslatedmeasuresareappendedanddiscussed.Finally,weoffersuggestionsfortheuseofthesemeasuresinaclinicalsetting.Sexandmaritalcompetencies:AmoreholisticviewofsexualsatisfactionDavidAllsop,ChelomLeavitt,JoshuaTimmons,&JasonCarrollBrighamYoungUniversityResearchinvestigatingsatisfactionwithsexhaslargelyfocusedontheassociationbetweenacouplesexualcommunicationandsexualsatisfaction.However,therearelikelymorevariables

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thatneedconsideration.Maritalcompetenciesprovidesaframeworkwhichutilizesthreemaritaldomainsofmaritalability–communication,virtues(qualitiessuchasforgiveness),andidentities(characteristicssuchasattachment)(Carroll,Badger,&Yang,2006;Burleson&Denton,1997).Utilizingdatafrom2117couplesfromtheCREATEstudyandstructuralequationmodeling,weexploresexualsatisfactionwithinmarriagethroughthisframeworktoprovideamoreholisticapproachtounderstandingcouplesexualsatisfaction.Alatentvariablerepresentingthethreedomainsofmaritalcompetencysignificantlypredictedcouplesexualsatisfactionaftercontrollingfordemographicandfamilycharacteristics(Beta=.736,p<.001,R-square=.552).Implicationsofthisstudyincludethenotionthattherapists,researchers,andcouplescanusethismorecomprehensiveframeworktobetterunderstandsexualsatisfaction.Examiningtheroleofmindfulnessinlong-distancerelationshipsLeenaAnand1,BassamKhoury1,KellyManser2,SeemaSaigal3,&SteveN.DuBois2McGillUniversity1,2IllinoisInstituteofTechnology,3AdlerUniversityTheaimofthisexploratorystudywastoassessthepredictiveroleofmindfulnessonrelationshipandhealthoutcomeswithinlong-distancerelationships(LDRs).LinearregressionsyieldedmixedfindingsforLDRparticipants(n=224).Consistentwithpriorresearchaddressingproximalcouples,mindfulnesswasasignificantpositivepredictorforrelationshipsatisfaction(F(1,222)=31.16,p<.001),β=.351)andofglobalhealth(F(1,222)=124.73,p<.001,β=.600)forLDRs.Deviatingpastfindings,mindfulnesswasasignificantnegativepredictorforrelationshipmaintenance,F(1,222)=13.781,p<.001,β=-.243;and,asignificantpositivepredictorforrelationshipstress(F(1,222)=19.052,p<.001,β=.281)andoverallstress(F(1,222)=67.82,p<.001,β=.484)inLDRs.Takentogether,theresultsyieldedfromourexploratorystudyilluminateuniquefindingspertainingtotheroleofmindfulnessinLDRs.LDR-specificstressorsmaycontributetotheseinconsistentfindingsandwillbefurtherdiscussed.AnalyzingemotionalregulationanditsrelationshipwithdomesticviolenceinMexicoCarolinaArmenta-HurtarteUniversidadIberoamericanaThisstudyaimstoanalyzetherelationshipthatmayexistbetweenviolenceandemotionalregulationamongyoungpeoplefromMexico.Inordertoachievethisobjective,asamplewasconformedwith1,686youngpeoplebetween18to29yearsoldthatansweredindividually:1)InventoryofStrategiesofEmotionalRegulation(Sánchez-Aragón,Díaz-Loving&Armenta-Hurtarte,2015),and2)InventoryofViolenceexercisedandReceived(Cienfuegos-Martinez,2010).Theresultsshownthatthereisarelationshipbetweenviolencereceivedandthestrategiesofevasionintheemotionsofsadness,fearandanger.Likewise,itwasfoundthatthestrategyofreflectionofangerisassociatedwiththeviolenceexercised,particularlywithphysicalviolence.Theseresultsallowustoidentifyanareathatneedmorestudiesinordertoprovideanewvisiononthepreventionofviolenceinrelationshipsbetweentheperpetratorofviolenceanditsvictim.

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Goodpartner,goodparent?Linksbetweenromanticattachment,caregivingandapositivecoparentingquality StéphanieAzzi,Marie-FranceLafontaine,&Jean-FrançoisBureauUniversityofOttawaPositivesupportbetweenromanticpartnersiscrucialtothewellbeingofallromanticrelationships.Priortohavingachild,supportprovidedbetweenromanticpartnersfocusesonmaintainingandnourishingtherelationship.However,onceachildisborn,thepartnersarerequiredtoprovideeachotherwithanadditionalformofsupport:coparenting.Researchonthefactorscontributingtoapositivecoparentingqualityinintactfamiliesissparse.Attachmenttheoryprovidesanimportantframeworkfromwhichtounderstandcoparentinginthecontextofintactfamilies.Thegoalofthisstudyistoexaminehowparents’romanticattachmentandcaregivingareassociatedwiththeirperceptionofcoparentingquality.Eighty-twocouplescompletedtheExperiencesinCloseRelationships-Shortform,theCaregivingQuestionnaireandtheCoparentinginRelationshipScale.Resultshighlighttheimportanceofunderstandingcoparentinginthecontextofromanticrelationshipsandshedlightonfactorscontributingtoapositivecoparentingrelationship.Anopen-trialstudytestinganewcapitalizationintervention. EranBar-Kalifa,BarRehani,&SagiLopataBen-GurionUniversityoftheNegevAgrowingnumberofstudieshasindicatedthatakeyrelationalprocesscontributingtorelationalandpersonalwellbeingiscapitalization.However,todate,littleisknownaboutwhethercouplescanbetrainedtoimprovetheircapitalizationskills.Thecentralaimofthisstudyistostartfillingthisgapbypilottestinganovelshort-termcapitalizationinterventionstructuredtoreflectevidence-basedpracticesinoptimizinglearningandchangeprocesses,byintegratingexperientiallearningcyclepractices,implementationintentiontechniques,aswellasdailyautomatedmonitoringandfeedbackprocedures.Toprovideafirstexaminationoftheintervention’sefficacy,twentycoupleswillberecruited,andamulti-methoddesignwillbeemployed(includingself-reports,implicitevaluationtasks,observations,anddiaries).Althoughpreliminary,theresultsobtainedfromthefirstfourcoupleswhohavealreadyreceivedtheinterventionappearpromising.Forexample,non-parametricpermutationtestsindicatedthatpartnersdisplayedgreaterresponsivenessbehaviorspost-intervention.SexualcommunalmotivationincouplescopingwithlowsexualdesireAmandaBockaj1,JacquelineHogue1,NatalieRosen2,&AmyMuise11YorkUniversity,2DalhousieUniversitySexualityisakeyfactorthatshapeswell-being,yetlowsexualdesireisacommonissue,especiallyamongwomen.Sexualcommunalstrength(i.e.,beingmotivatedtomeetapartner’ssexualneeds;SCS)isassociatedwithhighersexualdesireandsatisfaction,whileunmitigatedsexualcommunion(i.e.,beingfocusedonapartner’ssexualneedstotheexclusionofone’sownneeds;USC)isassociatedwithlowerdesireandsatisfaction.Inasampleof97couples

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copingwithlowsexualdesire,womenhigherinSCSreportedhigherdesireandrelationshipsatisfactionandbothpartnersreportedhighersexualsatisfaction,butwomenhigherinUSCdidnotreapthesebenefits.PartnershigherinSCSreportedhigherdesire,relationshipsatisfaction,andlowersexualdistress,butpartnershigherinUSCreportedhighersexualdistress.Therearebenefitstobeingmotivatedtomeetapartner’ssexualneeds,butonlywhenapersondoesnotexcludetheirownneeds.Primarystoriestoldinmarriages ReneeBourdeaux,SarahDrivdahl,&CalebNetterfieldNorthwestUniversityAmajorgoalinthestudyofrelationshipsislearninghowindividualscraftandmaintainstrong,positiverelationships.However,relationshipsaremoredynamictomanageandstudybecauserelationalpairsareimpactedbyindividualcommunicativeactions.Eachindividualinamarriedpartnershipisuniqueandbringshis/herowncommunicationstyletotherelationship.Onecommunicativeactionthatimpactsrelationshipsisthatoftellingstories.Thisresearchparsesouthowstoriesthataretoldinsocialsituationsmayimpactrelationships.Weinterviewed50happilymarriedpeopletoidentifydominantstoriestold,individualinterpretationofsuchstories,andthemeaningssituatedinnarrativesthatmayimpactrelationships.IsalcoholorsubstanceuseassociatedwithIntimatePartnerViolencerecidivisminaruralcommunity? LauraBracken,RodinaScott,&DanneyRascoWestTexasA&MUniversityCliniciansandresearchershaverecognizedthehighco-occurrenceofsubstanceabuseandintimatepartnerviolence(IPV),andillicitdruguseandproblematicalcoholconsumptionarebothlinkedtoIPVandrecidivism(i.e.,repeatedcriminalbehavior).Despitethisdocumentedconnection,criminaljusticepoliciesoftenfailtoacknowledgeandaddressthiscomorbidityofsubstanceabuseandIPV.IndividualsconvictedofIPVfrequentlyarebarredfrommandated,state-subsidizedsubstanceabusetreatment.Weintendtoevaluatetheimpactofoffenders’andvictims’recordedalcoholandsubstanceabuseduringaninitialIPVarrestonrecidivismforapproximately3,500IPVarrests.Thiswillbemeasuredata12-monthfollow-up.Recommendationsforpolicychangeswillbeprovided.Doeshavingacross-politicalrelationshipinfluenceinterpersonalorintergroupattitudes?ItdependsonrelationshipqualityElenaBuliga1,CaraMacInnis1,&GordonHodson21UniversityofCalgary,2BrockUniversityIngeneral,havingclose,intimatecross-grouprelationshipscanreduceprejudice.Doesthisapplytothepoliticaldomain,whereprejudicecanbequiteintenseyetrelativelysociallyacceptable?Weexaminedwhethercross-politicalfriendships(Study1)orromanticrelationships(Study2)predictmorepositiveinterpersonalorintergroupattitudes.InStudy1(N

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=301),cross-(vs.same-)politicalgroupfriendshipswerenotassociatedwithmorepositiveintergroupattitudes.Withregardtointerpersonalattitudes,however,afriendshipbeingcross-(vs.same-)politicalwasassociatedwithlesspositiveattitudestowardthefriendwhenperceivedfriendshipqualitywaslow.InStudy2(N=383),havingacross-(vs.same-)politicalromanticrelationshipwasassociatedwithmorenegativeattitudestowardthepoliticaloutgroupvialowerempathywhenrelationshipsatisfactionwaslow.Findingsareinconsistentwiththecontacthypothesisbutconsistentwithresearchdemonstratingthatnegativecontacthasastrongnegativeinfluenceonattitudes.TemporalpatternsofdyadiccopinginromanticpartnerstalkingaboutstressLisanneJ.Bulling&GuyBodenmannUniversityofZurichInpeoplewhointeractoften,likeintimatepartners,communicationpatternsmightformasafunctionofsociallearningmechanismssuchaspositiveandnegativereinforcement.Thecontentandstructureofthesecommunicationpatternscouldbelinkedtothepredictabilityofthepartnersbehaviorwhichhasbeenshowntoincreasetrust,closeness,andself-disclosureincouples.Thisstudyaimstodetectcommunicationpatternsinromanticpartnerswhotalkaboutstressfuleventsusinganovelanalyticalapproach:T-patternanalysis.AnadvantageoverotherpatternrecognitionalgorithmsistheabilityoftheT-patternalgorithmtodetectconnectionsbetweeneventswhiledisregardinginterveningevents.AconceptualmodelwillbeintroducedtointegratetheoriesandserveasaframeworkforhypothesesaboutthecontentandmeaningofofT-patternsinintimatepartnersinteractions.Relationshipbetweennuclearfamilyemotionalsystemandadulthealth:Mediatingroleofgeneralself-efficacy ViktorijaCepukieneVytautasMagnusUniversityThisstudyaimedtoevaluatethemediatingroleofgeneralself-efficacybetweenthenuclearfamilyemotionalsystem(NFES)andadults’physicalhealth.Asampleconsistedof282marriedorcohabitingparticipants(95%female;age36.27±5.78years)havingchildrenfrom3to18yearsold.SEMwasusedtoevaluatethehypothesizedrelationshipsamongvariables.ResultsrevealedpartialmediationbetweentotalscoreoftheNFESandsubjectiveindicatorsofhealthaswellasfullmediationbetweenthreecomponentsofNFESandsubjectiveindicatorsofhealth.MoreconstructiveNFESpredictshigherself-efficacy,whichinturnpredictsbettersubjectiveevaluationofhealth.Themediationmodelforobjectiveindicatorsofhealthcouldnotbecalculated.FindingsarepartlyconsistentwithBowentheoryandsuggestthatfamilyemotionalsystem,directlyandindirectly,affectspersonalhealth,howeveronlysubjectiveindicatorsofhealth.

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Couplerelationshipsatisfaction:dodifferentiationofself,attachmenttoparentsandparents’relationshipqualitymatter? ViktorijaCepukieneVytautasMagnusUniversityTheaimofthestudywastocomputethemediationmodeloftherelationshipsamongperson’sdifferentiationofself,attachmenttoparents,parents’relationshipqualityandcouplerelationshipsatisfaction.Itwashypothesizedthatattachmenttoparentsmediatesbetweenparents’relationshipqualityandpersons’differentiationofself,whilethelatteractsasamediatorbetweenparents’relationshipqualityandperson’ssatisfactionwithcouplerelationship.Thestudysampleconsistedof983participantshavingapartner/spouse,ofwhom91%(n=898)werewomenand9%(n=85)men,themeanagewas40.12(SD=10.71)years.Resultsrevealedthatparents'relationshipqualityhasanindirecteffectonaperson'ssatisfactionwithcouplerelationshipthroughmediators–differentiationofselfandsecureattachmenttoparents.Betterparents'relationshipqualitypredictsmoresecureattachmenttoparentsandhigherdifferentiationofselfwhiletwolattervariablespredicthighersatisfactionwithcouplerelationship.Challengingassumptions:Arefindingsfromwhite,non-hispaniccouplesapplicabletolatinx/hispaniccouples? AlexaChandler1,AtinaManvelian1,&ErikaLawrence21UniversityofArizona,2TheFamilyInstituteatNorthwesternUniversityMostrelationshipresearchhasfocusedonmaritalsatisfactionamongWhite,non-Hispanic,heterosexual,middle-class,college-educatedcouples,andmostcoupleinterventionsweredesignedbasedonthisresearch.Comparativelylessisknownaboutrelationshipfunctioningandsatisfactionamongdiversepopulations.Further,itisnotknownwhetherexistinginterventionsarerelevanttotheneedsofmorediversegroups.Inparticular,individualsofLatinx/Hispanicbackgroundareoneofthefastestgrowingethnic-minoritygroupsintheUnitedStatesandyetitisentirelyplausiblethatexistingrelationshipinterventionsarenotaddressingthedomainsofrelationshipfunctioningthataremostrelevantfortheirrelationshipsatisfaction.ThecurrentresearchwilltestthewidelyheldassumptionthatWhite,non-Hispaniccouplesarethestandardbywhichweunderstandandintervenewithallothercouples.OurresearchwillalsoinvestigateculturallyrelevantfactorsthatareuniquelyimportanttoLatinx/Hispanicfamilies.Implicationsforresearch,clinicalinterventions,andpublicpolicywillbediscussed.Personalversusjointleisuregoalsincloserelationships:Understandingtheroleofrelationalboredom,satisfactionandsecurebasesupportShamarukhChowdhury&CherylHarasymchukCarletonUniversityThepresentstudyinvestigatedtheroleofrelationalboredomandsecurebasesupportinthepursuitofpersonalgoalsandsharedleisuregoalsinromanticrelationships.Relationship

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satisfactionwasalsoexamined.AssessmentofbothtypesofprojectswasmadeusingLittle’s(1983)PersonalProjectAnalysis(PPA)whereparticipantsappraisedtheseprojectsondimensionssuchasimportance,challenge,outcomeandresponsibility.Appraisalscoreswereobtainedfromonerelationshippartner’sperspective.111participantswererecruitedinthisstudy.Resultsshowedthatforbothpersonalandsharedgoals,aperceiveddiscrepancyingoalappraisalbyapartnerrelatestolowrelationshipsatisfactionandthisrelationshipismediatedbyrelationalboredom.Furthermore,whenparticipants’perceiveddifferenceinevaluationoftheirpersonalgoalsbetweenselfandpartneronimportancedimension,theyalsofeltlowsecurebasesupport,thatis,lowavailabilityandlowencouragementtowardstheirprojectsfromtheirpartner.Self-monitoringandempathy:AgiveandtakeinromanticrelationshipsKathrynCoduto1&RyanRasner21TheOhioStateUniversity,2LouisianaStateUniversityCommunicationplaysasignificantroleintheinitiationandmaintenanceofromanticrelationships,whereinindividualsvaryinself-monitoring--theirabilitiestorecognizeandcontroltheirbehaviorsinsocialandrelationalcontexts.Conversely,empathicindividualsrecognizethealteredemotionsandbehaviorsofothersinthesesituations.Yetlittleisknownabouttheassociationbetweenself-monitoringandempathyinromanticrelationships.Thisstudy(N=316)ofundergraduatestudentswasconductedtoinvestigatetherelationshipbetweenself-monitoringandempathyinrelationalcontexts.Indiscussingpositiveandnegativeinteractionswiththeirsignificantothers,participantsansweredopen-andclosed-endedquestions.Theopen-endedquestionswerecodedthroughthematicanalysis.Preliminaryresultsindicateaninverserelationshipbetweenparticipant’sreportedself-monitoringbehaviorsandempathy.Thisinvestigationoffersinsightintotherelationshipbetweenself-monitoringandempathy,aswellasthevaryingcommunicationtopicsdiscussedbyhighandlowself-monitoringindividualsreportingonbothpositiveandnegativeencountersinromanticrelationships.Rosecolouredglasses:Theupsideofoptimisminunderstandingtheattachment-depressionlink ScottieCurran&ElaineScharfeTrentUniversityBowlby(1969)proposedthatourworkingmodelsofselfandothersdirectlyinfluencehowweseekandmaintainproximitywithattachmentfigureswhenill,distressed,orafraid.Notsurprisingly,considerableresearchhasdemonstratedsignificantassociationsbetweenattachmentanddistress(e.g.,Kidd,Hamer,&Steptoe,2011;Lee&Hankin,2009;Scharfe,2007;Vogel&Wei,2005;Weietal.,2005).However,Bowlbywasclearthatattachmentrepresentationswouldonlyguidebehaviourwhenill,distressed,orafraid.Todate,therearenostudiesthatdirectlytestBowlby’sproposalthatattachmenteffectsondistresswouldbelesspronouncedinindividualswhoareoptimistic.Inthisstudy,wetestedwhethertheeffectsofattachmentwouldbereducedinindividualswhoreportedhighlevelsofoptimismcomparedto

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individualswhoreportedlowlevels.Specifically,wetestedwhethertheassociationsbetweendistress(depression,anxiety,andstress)andattachmentrepresentationswithpeerswouldbesignificantlydifferentbetweenindividualswhoreporthighversuslowlevelsofoptimism.RomanticloveisinverselyassociatedwithnumberofbiologicaloffspringforU.S.AmericanadultsKoryFloyd&BenjaminCusterUniversityofArizonaEvolutionarypsychologistshaveproposedthatloveenduresinthehumanspeciesprimarilyduetoitscontributionstoreproductivesuccess.ArecentstudybySorokowskietal.(2017)documentedpositiveassociationsbetweenmaritalloveandnumberofbiologicaloffspringamongtheHadza,anindigenousethnicgroupinnorth-centralTanzaniathatmaintainsahunter-gatherersocialstructure.Usinglifehistorytheory,thepresentinvestigationreplicatedtheassociationsbetweenloveandreproductivesuccessamongmarriedU.S.Americanadults,hypothesizingthatloveisinverselyrelatedtonumberofbiologicaloffspring.Resultsrevealedthatnumberofbiologicalchildrenwasnegativelyassociatedwithreportedintimacy,passion,andcommitmentwithone’sspouse.Implicationsforlifehistorytheoryareidentified.Contactcomfortandchronicpain:ArevisedlaboratoryexperimentationMarie-PierreDaigleMarie-FranceLafontaine,CamilleFerland&MichelleLonerganUniversityofOttawaResearchdemonstratesthattheprovisionofcontactcomfortwithinacouple’srelationshipisoneofthefactorsthathelpsindividualstofeelbetterduringastressfulevent.Thispilotstudyfirsttestedarevisedversionofanovellaboratoryexperimentthatsoughttorecreateastressfulsituationforfourpatientsreportingchronicpain.Further,itexaminedhowexposuretocontactcomfort(absenceorpresence)affectstheirpsychophysiologicalresponse(electrodermalactivity).Weusedasinglecaseexperimentaldesign,whichallowedforacomparisonofwithin-subjectchangeacrossconditions.Duringtheexperiment,patientswatchedastressfulvideoonchronicpainaswellasaneutralvideo.Duringeachvideo,theirromanticpartneralternatedbetweenholdingtheirhandandlettinggoforsegmentsof2.5minutes.Thestressfulvideoonchronicpainwaseffectivefortwoparticipantsoutoffour,whichwasconfirmedbythemqualitatively.Thissuggeststhattheexperienceofchronicpainishighlysubjectiveandthatapersonmightbeactivateddifferentlydependingonwhethertheyhadmadepeacewiththeirpain.Thistypeofinformationsuggeststhatitmightbeimportanttotailorstressorstoeachindividualparticipantwhoreportschronicpaininordertofurthertesttheimpactofcontactcomfort.

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Committedtobeingsingle?Relationshipnormsandsinglepeoples’well-beinganddesireforrelationshipsBrittanyDennett&YuthikaGirmeSimonFraserUniversityPeopleinrelationshipsoftenexperiencegreaterwellbeingcomparedtosinglepeople,however,peoples’fearsofbeingsinglecanmotivatethemtostayinlessfullingrelationships.Acrosstwo14-daydiarystudiesofuniversitystudents(Study1,N=128)andcommunityparticipants(Study2,N=67)wedemonstratethatsinglepeoplewhoendorsegreaterpro-relationshipnorms(i.e.,thebeliefthatpeopleneedtobeinarelationshiptobehappy)reportgreaterfearsofbeingsingle,whichunderminestheirdailylifesatisfaction.InStudy3(N=209),weuseexperimentaldatatotestwhetherparticipantsprimedwithpro-relationshipnormsreportgreaterfearsofbeingsingle,andthusaremorereceptivetoenteringintorelationshipsandaremorelikelytowanttobeinacommittedrelationship.Thisresearchcanfosterabetterunderstandingofhowendorsementofrelationshipsocietalnormscanimpactsingleindividuals’wellbeinganddatingexperiences.Keepyourfriendscloseandyourfrenemiescloser:Attachment,benignattributions,andrelationalaggression GhinwaEl-Ariss&ElaineScharfeTrentUniversityBackground/rationale:Hostileattributionshavebeenconsistentlyusedtoexplainaggressioninadults(e.g.,Bailey&Ostrov,2008;Coccaro,Fanning,&Lee,2017).However,theroleofbenignattributionsinpredictingaggressioninadultpeerrelationshipshasreceivedscantattention.Inthisstudy,wetestedthehypothesisthatbenignattributionswouldcontributeuniquevariancetoproactiverelationalaggressionaftercontrollingforthevariancepredictedbypeerattachment.Method:Todate,258Psychologyundergraduatestudentshavecompletedaquestionnairetoassessattachmenttopeers(TrentRelationshipScalesQuestionnaire;Scharfe,2016),vignettestoassessattributionsinresponsetorelationalaggressionbetweenpeers(SocialInformationProcessing-AttributionandEmotionalResponseQuestionnaire;Coccaro,Noblett,&McCloskey,2009),andbothaquestionnaire(Self-ReportofAggressionandSocialBehaviorMeasure;Morales&Crick,1998)andfollow-upquestionsafterthehypotheticalvignettestoassessrelationalaggression.Results:Ourfindingssuggestthat,aftercontrollingforthevariancepredictedbypeerattachment,benignattributionssignificantlypredictedproactiverelationalaggression(measuredusingthequestionsfollowingthevignettes).Conclusions:Thesefindingsdemonstratetheimportanceofassessingbenignattributionswhenexploringproactiverelationalaggressioninpeerrelationships.

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Resistingtemptation:Approach-avoidancebiasinromantically-involvedindividualsM.CatalinaEnestrom1,EmilieAuger,MandyWu,&JohnE.Lydon1McGillUniversityThepresenceofattractiveindividualsmaybenefitsinglesseekingadatingpartnerbutthreatenthoseinexistingromanticrelationships.Thecurrentstudyexaminedthetendencyforromantically-involvedindividualstoavoidattractivealternativesasanautomaticrelationshipmaintenanceresponse.Further,weinvestigatedwhetherthistendencywouldvarydependingonrelationshipidentification(i.e.,theextenttowhichone’srelationshipiscentraltoone’ssenseofself).Participants(N=313)completedtheimplicitmanikinapproachavoidancetask(AAT)inwhichtheywereaskedtoapproachoravoidlandscapeorportraitimagesoffacesoftheirpreferredsex.Overall,participantsweresignificantlyfastertoapproachfaces.Further,participantsweremarginallyfastertoapproachattractivefacescomparedtounattractivefaces.Whiletherewasnosignificanteffectforrelationshipstatus,thosehigherinrelationshipidentificationweremarginallyfastertorespondacrossconditionsandfaces.Behindtheprime:AnalyzingtheeffectivenessofsecurityprimingJocelynEnright&ElaineScharfeTrentUniversityAnincreasinglypopularmethodologyinthefieldofattachmentresearchistheuseofsecurityprimingtochangemood,however,todate,theeffectivenessofsecurityprimeshasnotbeenstudied.Inthisstudy,weexploredwhethersecureandinsecureindividualsrespondeddifferentlytoasecurityprime.Participantscompletedmeasuresofattachment(Scharfe,2016),wereaskedtolistpositivewordstodescribesomeoneclosetothem(i.e.,thesecurityprime)andcompletedthePANAStoassesstheirmood(Watson,Clark,&Tellegen,1988).Wecountedthenumberofwordslisted,aswellasthenumberof“securebase”and“safehaven”words.Interestingly,thetotalnumberofwordspositivelypredictednegativemoodaftertheprime.Specifically,individualswhoreportedinsecureattachmentalsolistedfewersecurebasewordsandreportedhighernegativemood.Thesefindingssuggestthatsecurityprimesmaynothavethesameeffectsonsecureandinsecureindividuals.FrenchvalidationoftheConflictResolutionStylesInventoryforadolescentsinromanticrelationshipsAndréanneFortin,AlisonParadis,Emily-HelenTodorov,AndréanneLapierre,&MartineHébertUniversitéduQuébecàMontréalRomanticrelationshipsduringadolescencehaveadecisiveinfluenceonthosethatwilltakeplaceinadulthoodbyallowingauniquelearningopportunitytodevelopconstructiveconflictmanagementskills.Furthermore,theuseofdestructivestrategiesisassociatedwithnumerousnegativeconsequencesonadolescents’psychologicalwell-being.Currently,thereisnoinstrumentthatmeasureswhichconflictmanagementstrategiesadolescentsinQuebecuseinthecontextoftheirromanticrelationships.ThepurposeofthisstudyistoevaluatethepsychometricpropertiesofanadaptedversionoftheConflictResolutionStyleInventory(CRSI,

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Kurdek,1994)among262francophoneadolescentsfromtheprovinceofQuebecagedbetween14and19(M=17,SD=1.51).Thefactorstructure,internalconsistencyandconvergentvalidityoftheinstrumentareexamined.Theresultsreveala3-factorstructure(i.e.,conflictengagement,withdrawalandpositiveproblemsolving).AttachmentandPersonalGrowthFollowingRomanticBreakupsAmongEmergingAdults:ForgivenessofSelfandOthersasmediatorsMonicaGuzman-Gonzalez UniversidadCatolicadelNorteAlthoughindividualdifferencesinreactionstoromanticbreakups,divorcesand/orseparationsarewell-establishedandgenerallyassociatedwithnegativepsychologicalconsequences,recentliteraturepointsoutthattheremightbeasilverliningofabreakup.Themaingoalofthepresentstudywastoexaminetheassociationbetweenindividualdifferencesinattachmentanxietyandattachmentavoidanceandposttraumaticgrowthafteraseparation.Secondarily,weexploredtheroleofparticipationinpsychotherapyinenhancingtheperceptionofgrowth.Thesampleconsistedof919separatedordivorcedChileansparticipants.Theresultsindicatethatonlyattachmentavoidancewasinverselyassociatedwithposttraumaticgrowthinbothmenandwomen.Incontrast,attachmentanxietydidnothaveasignificanteffect.Additionally,thosewhoattendedtopsychotherapyexperiencedhigherlevelsofposttraumaticgrowth.Finally,amongthosewhoattendedpsychotherapy,theavoidanceofattachmentceasedtobeafactorthathindersgrowth.Copingwithdilemmasinmaritalrelationshipsduringlaterlife,whenaspousehasamentalhealthproblem MariHelinTampereUniversityIfocusonmydoctoralstudiestothemaritalrelationshipsduringlaterlife,whenaspousehasamentalhealthproblem.Researchquestioninthispaperistostudywaystellersfindtocopewithdilemmasinmaritalrelationshipsduringlaterlife.Iinterviewednineelderlytellerswhohadaspousewithapsychiatricdiagnosis.Iusednarrativeinterviewandanalyse.Results:Themesofdilemmas:reciprocalinteraction,sexuality,takingcareofandtheexistenceofmaritalrelationship.Waystosolvedilemmas:definingmeanings,conditionsandconsequences,arguingtheextensionofthesituation,definingtheworkingorderandroles,comparingownsituationandexpectationstotheculturalnarratives,andusingconcreteways.Waystojustifysolutionsfordilemmas:it’sgoodforsomeone,itissomethingthathastobedone,someone’spersonalityandmoralreasoning.Assessingvalidityandreliabilityofthemulti-dimensionalforgivenessinventoryJamesHillman&JamesHillmanQueen'sUniversity

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Baumister,Exline,andSommer(1998)developedamodelofforgivenesspositingthatforgivenessconsistsofaninterpersonal(external)andintrapsychic(internal)component.Accordingly,individualscanexhibit“Incongruent”forgiveness,inthattheycanexpress(butnotfeel)forgiveness,orfeel(butnotexpress)forgiveness.Todate,thereisnoscaledesignedspecificallytoassessthesesubtypesofforgiveness.WearedevelopingascalecalledtheMulti-DimensionalForgivenessInventory(MDFI)withsubscalesassessingthreedimensionsofForgiveness:Affect,Cognition,andBehavior.AffectandCognitionrepresenttheinternalcomponentofBaumeisteretal.’smodel,whereasBehaviorrepresentstheexternalcomponent.Here,wepresentdatatoexploreassociationsbetweentheMDFIandotherforgivenessscales,aswellasindividualdifferences(suchasattachmentorientationandpersonalitytraits).Furthermore,wecomparefactorstructureandmodelfitbetweenaUniversitystudentsample(n=200)andtwoMechanicalTurksamples(n=300andn=200).LGBTQ+belongingnessincollegiatefraternityandsororitylife ZacharyHopkins&ChanaEtengoffAdelphiUniversityLGBTQ+collegestudentsoftenfacemicroaggressionsandsocialexclusionsfromcampusspaces,suchasfraternityandsororitylife,termedGreekLife.However,inrecentyears,GreekLifehasbecomeincreasinglydiverseandamoreinclusivesuperordinateGreekLifeidentityisemerging.Thecurrentproject,therefore,aimstoanswertwoprimaryresearchquestions:HowdoGreekLifeandLGBTQ+campusexperiencesandrelationshipsintersect?DoesthesuperordinateidentityofGreekLifecreateasenseofbelongingnessforLGBTQ+GreekLifemembers?Wearerecruiting50LGBTQ+MembersinGreekLifeacrosstheUStocompleteasemi-structuredonlinesurveyfocusingontheintersectionalrelationshipbetweenLGBTQ+andGreekLifeidentitiesandbelongingness.Thisstudyisuniqueinthatitexploressociorelationaldevelopmentasitunfoldswithinapreviouslyhostileandexclusionaryspace.NarrativeanalyseswillbuildonthepositivepsychologicalmodelsofQueertheory,LGBTQ+identityModels,andIntersectionality.Disagreementsinromanticrelationships:Individualdifferencesthatpredicttheimpactofdisagreementonincompatiblerelationshipoutcomes KathleenHuber&LauraVanderDriftSyracuseUniversityResearchonromanticpartnerincompatibilityoftenrestsontheassumptionthatdissimilaritybetweenpartnershasanegativeimpactonrelationshipstability.Dissimilarpartnersinherentlyencountervariousconflictand/ordisagreementsituations,andsuchsituationsoftenelicitnegativeoutcomesontheindividualsinvolved.However,previousresearchalsodemonstratesthatnotallconflictand/ordisagreementsituationsproduceconsistentnegativeoutcomesontherelationship.Thisprojectincorporatesindividual-levelpredictorsofdisagreementoutcomesintoamodelthatdissectstheassociationbetweenpartnerincompatibilityandrelationshipoutcomes.Wetestvariousindividualdifferencesthepredicttheextenttowhichanindividualisnegativelyimpactedbydisagreementsintherelationship.Wethentestthis

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disagreementimpactfactorasamoderatorintheassociationbetweenpartnerincompatibilityandrelationshipoutcomes.Resultsfromthisstudywillbepresentedaswellastheimplicationsfordisagreementprocessesonincompatiblepartners’relationshipoutcomes.Understandingdatenight:Howinsecurityaffectsrelationshipactivitiesandrelationalboredom BarbaraIppolito&MelissaJoyMcClureAdelphiUniversityRelationalboredomisassociatedwithnumerousrelationshipissues,includingdissatisfactionanddisengagement,buthasonlyrecentlybeguntoreceiveattentionfromresearchers(Harasymchuk&Fehr,2012).Weexaminehowdifferencesinattachmentsecurityandrelationalself-efficacyareassociatedwithdatingactivities,comparingfamiliaractivities(whichenhancesecuritybutdonotalleviateboredom)tonovelactivities(whichenhancegrowthandalleviateboredom,butmaybehigherinrisk;Harasymchuketal.,2017).Participantsincommittedrelationshipscompletedawebsurveymeasuringattachmentsecurity,relationalself-efficacy,relationalboredom,familiarityversusnoveltyofpreferreddatingactivities,andplansfortheirnextdate.Weexpecttofindthatinsecurityandinefficacywillbeassociatedwithpreferencesforfamiliarratherthannoveldatingactivities,andsohigherlevelsofrelationalboredom.Knowinghowindividualdifferencescontributetorelationalboredomwillhelpresearchersdeveloptargetedinterventionstosolvethiscrucialproblem.Moderatingeffectoffamilyincomeinthelinkbetweenparentalattachmentrelationships,negativeautomaticthoughtsanddepressivesymptomsamonglateadolescenceinPakistan SiddrahIrfan&NorSheereenZulkeflyUniversitiPutraMalaysiaLowfamilyincomeisdocumentedasoneoftheimportantfactorwhichstrengthenedtheassociationbetweeninsecureattachment,maladaptivethoughtsanddepressivesymptomsamongyoungsters.However,littleisknownonthemoderatingeffectoffamilyincomeamongtheselinkages,specificallyinnon-WesterncountriessuchasPakistan.Thus,thisstudy(N=936)testedthemoderatingeffectoffamilyincomeinthelinkbetweennegativeautomaticthoughts,parentalattachmentanddepressivesymptomsamonglateadolescentsinRawalpindi,Pakistan.Resultsindicatedthatadolescentsfromlowincomefamilieswithinsecurematernalandpaternalattachmentweremorelikelytobeatriskofhavinghighlevelsofnegativeautomaticthoughtsanddepressivesymptoms.Meanwhile,adolescentsfromhighincomefamilieswithinsecurepaternalattachmentrelationshipswerefoundtobemorevulnerabletonegativeautomaticthoughtsanddepressivesymptoms.Thisstudyhasmanyimplicationsforfutureresearchinnon-WesternsocietiesandclinicalinterventionfortheyoungstersinPakistan.

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Associationbetweencommunicationpatternsandrelationshipsatisfactioninlongitudinallystudiedcouples StephanieJolin1,Marie-FranceLafontaine1,YvanLussier2,&AudreyBrassard31UniversityofOttawa,2UniversitéduQuébecàTrois-Rivières,3UniversitédeSherbrookeThisstudyseekstoestablishtheassociationbetweendemand/withdrawcommunicationpatternsandrelationshipsatisfactioninlongitudinallystudiedcouples,lookingatbothactorandpartnereffects.Weexpectthatforbothgenders,self-demand/partnerwithdrawandpartnerdemand/self-withdrawcommunicationpatternsatTime1willbe:a)negativelyrelatedtotheirownandtheirpartner’slevelofrelationshipsatisfactionatTime1,andb)associatedwithadecreaseinboth,theirownandtheirpartner’slevelofrelationshipsatisfactionoveraperiodofayear.Onehundredandfifty-onecouplescompletedtheCommunicationPatternQuestionnaire–ShortForm(Christensen&Heavey,1990)andtheDyadicAdjustmentScale(Spanier,1976;Sabourin,Valois,&Lussier,2005).Cross-sectionalandlongitudinalanalysesshowedthatdemand/withdrawcommunicationpatternsarerelatedtorelationshipsatisfaction,butresultsdifferaccordingtogender.Theseresultswillbediscussedinthelightofattachmenttheory.Therelationbetweenself-conceptclarityandrelationalself-expansion:Examiningthetypesofdatespeoplewithlowself-conceptclarityengageinChloeJonesCarletonUniversityJointparticipationinself-expandingactivities(i.e.,exciting)hasbeenfoundtoincreaserelationshipsatisfactioninlongterm-relationships.However,littleisknownaboutthefactorsthatinfluencetheengagementinsharedself-expandingactivities.Thegoalofthisstudywastoexaminethelinkbetweenself-conceptclarityandthelikelihoodofengaginginself-expandingdates.InPart1ofthestudy,participantsplannedadateandcompletedameasureofself-conceptclarity.InPart2(oneweeklater),participantsdescribedthedatetheywentonandansweredquestionsaboutthepropertiesofthedate(e.g.,novel,arousing,creative).Ihypothesizedthatpeoplewithlowself-conceptclaritywillbelesslikelytoengageinself-expandingdatesandwillbelesslikelytoself-expandonthedatestheyengagein.Contrarytomypredictions,self-conceptclaritywasnotassociatedwiththetypesofdatespeopleengagedinortheamountofrelationalself-expansion.Undergraduatestudents’attitudesonthemoralacceptabilityofghostingCaitlynKay,ErinLeighCourtice,&KrystelleShaughnessyUniversityofOttawa“Ghosting”referstoendingarelationshipbycuttingoffcontactandignoringaformerpartner’sattemptstoreachout,withoutprovidinganexplanation.Thepurposeofthisstudyistoexamine:(i)theprevalenceofghostingamongundergraduates,and(ii)attitudesabouttheacceptabilityofghosting.Wepresentedparticipants(n=414)withninescenariosvaryinginrelationshiplength,intensity,andperspective.Participantsindicatedtheirbeliefsaboutthe

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acceptabilityofghostingona7-pointbipolarscale.Ofoursample,52.5%reportedghostingsomeoneand43.5%reportedbeingghosted.Theresultsofa2(perspective)X3(relationshiplength)X3(relationshipintensity)mixedANOVArevealedasignificantthree-wayinteractionbetweenlength,intensity,andperspective(p<.001),asignificanttwo-wayinteractionbetweenlengthandintensity,andmaineffectsoflengthandintensity(p<.001)withineachlevelofperspective.Thatis,ghostinginlowintensityandshortrelationshipswasmoreacceptablethaninhighintensityandlongrelationships.Effectsofself-conceptclarityonintrojectedapproachvsavoidancemotivationinromanticrelationships DitaKubin&JohnE.LydonMcGillUniversityWeexaminedthelinkbetweenclearandstableself-beliefs(i.e.,self-conceptclarity)andintrojectedmotivesforbeinginaromanticrelationship.Wecreatedascaletodisambiguateintrojectedrelationshipmotivesintoapproach-orientedvsavoidance-orientedmotives,andvalidateditwithtwodiversesamplesofindividualsincommittedrelationships(Emergingadults,N=96;Middle-agedadults,N=114).Inexploratoryanalysesofthetwostudies,wefoundthatforemergingadultsindatingrelationships,butnotmiddle-agedadultsinmoreinvestedrelationships,self-conceptclarityuniquelypredictedintrojectedapproachmotives.Conversely,wefoundthatformiddle-agedadults,butnotemergingadults,self-conceptclarityuniquelypredictedintrojectedavoidancemotives.Ourpreliminaryresultssuggestthatintrojectionmaybeexpresseddifferentlyinyoungerdatingvsolderestablishedadultrelationships,andthatanunstable/unclearself-conceptmayunderminevolitionandleadpeopletoclingtorelationshipsforlessself-determinedreasons.Adyadicmodelofcaregivingandsexualfunctioninginpartnersseekingcouples’therapy ThalieLabonté1,SawsaneElAmiri1,SabrinaLaplante1,AudreyBrassard2&KatherinePéloquin11UniversitédeMontréal,2UniversitédeSherbrookeFewstudieshaveexaminedthelinkbetweenthecaregivingandsexualbehavioralsystemsempirically.Giventhatdistressedcouplesaremorelikelytoexperienceproblemsinsexualfunctioning(Brassardetal.,2012)andthatrelationaldistressmaydisruptcaregivingprocesses(Feeney&Collins,2001),examiningthelinkbetweencaregivingandsexualfunctioninginaclinicalsampleseemshighlyrelevant.Usingadyadicframework,thepresentstudyexaminedtheassociationsbetweenperceptionsofreceivedandgivenpartnersupportandsexualfunctionandsatisfactionin299heterosexualcouplesseekingcouplestherapy.Pathanalysesrevealedthatmen’sperceptionsofreceivedsupport,aswellassupportgiventotheirpartnerswerepositivelyrelatedtotheirownsexualsatisfaction.Women’sperceptionsofreceivedsupportwerepositivelyrelatedtotheirownsexualfunctionandsatisfaction,aswellasthesexualsatisfactionoftheirpartners.Women’sperceptionsofgivensupportwerenegativelyassociatedwiththeirpartners’sexualsatisfaction.

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Emergingadultcouplesandhousework:Examiningthepathwayfromcleanlinesspreferencestofrustration MyleneLachance-Grzela,AndréanneCharbonneau,&GenevièveBouchardUniversitédeMonctonWomengenerallyassumethelion’sshareofhousework.Albertsandcolleagues(2011)proposedthatcleanlinesspreferencesaretherootofrelationalconflictsconcerningthedivisionofhousework.Thecurrentlongitudinalstudyexaminedatwo-stagemodelofconditionaleffectinwhichperceivedpartnerskillandperceivedfairnessmoderatetheindirecteffectofrelativestandardsofcleanlinessonincreasedfeelingsoffrustrationthroughthedivisionofhouseholdtasks.Atotalof186emergingadultcouplescompletedquestionnairesattwopointswithina6-monthperiod.Resultsrevealedthatwomen’shigherstandardsofcleanlinessrelativetotheirpartnerwereassociatedwithamoreunbalanceddivisionofhouseworkwhentheyconsideredtheirpartnersasbeingpoorlyskilledatdoinghousework.Inturn,theunbalanceddivisionofhouseworkwaslinkedtoincreasedfeelingsoffrustrationwhenwomenconsideredthehouseworkarrangementtobeunfair.Themodelwasnotsupportedformen.Genderdifferenceswillbediscussed.Personalandrelationalself-expansionaspredictorsofrelationshipsatisfactioninlong-distancecouples BrittanyLasanen&RebeccaJ.CobbSimonFraserUniversityLivinglong-distancefromaromanticpartnercancontributetodissatisfactionwithintimacy(Mietzner&Lin,2005)andfearsaboutgrowingapart(Arditti&Kauffman,2004).However,long-distanceandgeographicallycloserelationshipsareequivalentinmanyrelationshipqualities(Dargieetal.,2015).Wepredictedthatpersonalandrelationalself-expansion(SE)couldexplainhowcouplesmaintainrelationalwell-beingwhileapart.Long-distancecouples(N=193)completedonlinemeasuresofpersonalSE(Xuetal.,2010),relationalSE(Mattinglyetal.,2014),andrelationshipsatisfaction(Funk&Rogge,2007).Individuals’relationalSEpositivelypredictedindividuals’andpartners’relationshipsatisfaction.However,individuals’personalSEnegativelypredictedindividuals’relationshipsatisfactionandwasunrelatedtopartners’relationshipsatisfaction.Thus,meaningfulchangeindependentfromapartnermightbedetrimentaltoindividuals’,butnotpartners’,relationships.However,whenpartnersfeeltheyhaveanenrichedsenseofselfthroughtheirpartnership,theirrelationshipsmightbenefit.AdailydiarystudyoftheeffectsofdyadicplanninginfacilitatinggoalprogressOphirLeshets1NinaKnoll,GertrudStadler,&EranBar-Kalifa11BenGurionUniversityoftheNegevGoalattainmentisrobustlyrelatedtowell-being.Onekeyprocessintranslatingpeople’sintentionsintogoalpromotingbehaviorsisplanning–constructingawell-definedcourseofactionforpromotinggoalachievement.Importantly,dyadicprocesseswithinromanticrelationshipshavebeenrecentlyidentifiedasplayingasignificantroleingoalattainment.In

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thecurrentstudywefocusedontheeffectofdyadicplanning(DP)–theprocessthroughwhichindividualsformulateplanswiththeirpartner(vs.alone).Specifically,wetestedwhetherDPisassociatedwithenhancedgoal-relatedactioncontrol(i.e.,awarenessofstandards,self-monitoring,andregulationeffort),aswellaswithactualgoalprogress.Tothisaim,wecollecteddailydiariesfrom75couplesfor4weeks.Theresultsofmulti-levelmodelsrevealedthatdyadicplanningwasassociatedwithgreaterdailyactioncontrol.Moreover,ondaysinwhichindividualplanningwaslow,dyadicplanningwasassociatedwithgreatergoalprogress.CommitmentandvaluesamongAfricanAmericanengagedcouples EmilyMcKnightIowaStateUniversityThepurposeofthisstudywastoobtaintheperspectivesofmarriageenrichmentfacilitatorsaboutcommitmentandvalues,andunderstandhowtheserelationshipdynamicsserveasfacilitators/barrierstoasuccessfultransitiontomarriage.Thefocusgroupparticipantswerefacilitatorsofapre-maritalpreparationprogramatafaith-basedcommunityinLosAngeles,withapredominantlyAfricanAmericancongregation.Facilitatorsparticipatedinaroundtablein-persondiscussion.Thefollowingqualitativethemesemerged:coupleswhovaluetheinstitutionofmarriage,haveaweddingdate,activelyparticipateinthecourseandseekhelpofcounselorswhenissuesarise,aresaidtomostlikelytransitionfromengagementtomarriage.Coupleswhoarecurrentlycohabiting,exhibitlackoftrust,andhavedifferentbeliefsthantheirfaith-basedpractices,mostoftendiscontinuetheprogramanddonotproceedwiththeirweddingplans.Thisresearchhopestoadvanceunderstandingaboutcommitmentandvaluesforthosewhostilldesiremarriage.Supportiveinterpersonalmessagesandtheirrelationshipwithhealthfulbehaviors KathrynNydegger&&Dr.KellyDillonWittenbergUniversityDoesthesender,andtheirrelationshiptothereceiverortopic,matterinsupportive,encouragingmediatedmessages?Whatifthattopicishealthrelated,specificallyencouragingphysicalactivity?Atwo-partqualitativeandquantitativestudywasconductedtofurtherdevelopresearchusingsociallysupportivemessagessentviaSMStodetermineifamessagefromsenders,relatedtohealthfulbehaviors,wereconsideredmoreimpactfulthanmessagesfromuninvolvedindividuals.Ourresultssuggestoneshouldnotworrywhethertheyareinvolvedinthehealthfulactivityinordertosupportamessagereceiver.Inotherwords,wanttooffersomeonesocialsupportinhealthfulbehaviors?Asanothersupportiveslogansuggests,justdoit!Theroleofself-compassionasamediatorbetweenattachmentandsocialindicesofwell-being KatieO'Connell&EnricoDiTommasoUniversityofNewBrunswick

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Self-compassionisgainingrecognitionforitsroleinpromotingpositivewell-being.Thecurrentstudyinvestigatedwhetherself-compassionmediatestherelationshipbetweenattachment(i.e.,anxietyandavoidance)andrelationship-orientedindicesofwell-being.Itwaspredictedthatmoreinsecurelyattachedindividualswouldreportlowerself-compassion,whichinturnwouldcontributetopoorerwell-being(Neff&McGehee,2010).Totestthishypothesis,225undergraduatestudents(meanage=20.86;range17-52)wererecruitedtocompleteabatteryofself-reportquestionnaires.Resultsprovidedpartialsupportforthishypothesis:thosewithhigherattachmentanxietyandavoidancereportedlessself-compassion;whichinturnwasassociatedwithlowerwell-beinginareasofbelongingness,senseofcommunity,andperceivedrespect.However,self-compassionfailedtoactasamediatorbetweenattachmentandperceivedsocialsupport,trust,orloneliness.Thesefindingswillbediscussedinthecontextofclinicalinterventionandfuturedirectionsforresearch.It’snotyou,it’smyattachmentstyle:ExaminingriskandprotectivefactorsofrelationalcyclingMaggieParkerBinghamtonUniversityDespitebeingassociatedwithavarietyofnegativerelationalpatternsandoutcomes,cyclicalrelationships--orthosethatbreak-upandgetbacktogether--arecommon(Dailey,Middleton&Green,2012)andrelativelyunderstudied.Toaddressthisandexamineotherriskandprotectivefactors,aninitialstudywasrunusing379college-agedindividuals,whichfocusedonpossiblepredictorsofcycling(e.g.,relationshipattributions,communication,attachmentstyle,etc.,).Usingabivariatelogisticregression,resultsindicatedthatinsecure-anxiousattachmentstylewaspredictiveofcycling,withrelationalambivalenceactingasapartialmediator.Basedontheseresults,weconductedafollow-upstudy(N=448)withincreasedsamplediversitytoreplicateandexpandonthesefindingsbyexaminingfactorsthatmaymitigateriskofcycling,aswellfurtherunderstandhowthesedifferingtrajectoriesofrelationshipstabilitydevelopandpersistovertime.Feelingsofunfairnessfollowingsexualrejectionsandtheirroleinpredictingromanticrevengeandforgiveness MélaniePaulin,PoojaSohal,&SusanD.BoonUniversityofCalgaryWhenaromanticpartnerisnot“inthemood”forsex,navigatingthetaskofcommunicatingsuchdisinteresttoapartnercanbetricky.BasedonKimetal.’s(inpress)“SexualRejectionModel”,weinvestigatedwhetherdifferenttypesofsexualrejection(i.e.,hostile,deflecting,assertive,andreassuring)leadtodifferentperceptionsoffairnessintherelationship.Wealsoexaminedwhetherperceptionsconcerningthefairnessoftherejectioninfluenceswhetherrejectedpartners’inclinationstotakerevengeortoforgivetheirromanticpartnerfollowingrejection.Ourfindingssuggestthatanassertiverejectionisperceivedasthemostfair,andconsequently,partnerswhoarerejectedinanassertivemanneraretheleastlikelytotakerevenge,andthemostlikelytoforgive.Additionally,adeflectiverejectionisperceivedasthe

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leastfair,andisleastlikelytoresultinpartnerforgiveness.Lastly,ahostilerejectionismostlikelytoresultinrevenge.Supportingthevictimafterromanticinfidelity:Communicationprocessesandchallengesoftheirpersonalnetwork JoshuaPederson,LeahLeFebvre,ReillyLockwood,BrooklynPfanstiel,AbigailSlusser,&CarolineWardUniversityofAlabamaThisstudyinvestigateshowvictimsandpersonalnetworkmembersmanagesupportingthevictimafterexperiencingromanticinfidelityandexplorestherolethird-partiesplayincopingandrepairprocesses.Collegiateparticipantswhoexperiencedcheating(victims,n=9)andsupportproviders(n=13)intheirpersonalnetworkcompletedsemi-structuredinterviews.Networksincludedstrong(n=6),weak(n=5),orabsent(n=2)connections.Employinganiterativeemergentthematicanalysis,wehighlighttheprocessesofdisclosure,support,andinterplaybetweenvictimsandnetworkmembers.Sixthemes–visceral,hesitancy,challenged,confirmed,comforted,andwithholding–wereidentifiedforcomfortingandadvisingthevictim.Networkmembers,facedwithcomplexchoices,werechallengedtodecidehowspilloveraffectedthemandtheirrelationshiptovictimandperpetuator.Findingssuggestthatinfidelityinadolescenceandemergingadulthoodposesdilemmasforsupport,coping,andrelationalrepairandthatripplethroughthenetwork.Theimpactofambiguoussacrificesontheexpressionofgratitude MorganProulx&LauraV.MachiaSyracuseUniversityTheexpressionofgratitudeisanespeciallybeneficialprocessthroughwhichpositiveindividualandrelationaloutcomescanbeobtained.Whereasresearchershaveexaminedhowpro-relationalbehaviors(e.g.sacrifices)promotegratitudeandhavemadedistinctionsbetweentheimpactsofdifferenttypeofsacrifices,theimpactofambiguityontheinterpretationofsacrificesandthepromotionofgratitudeislessclear.Itseemsplausiblethatasacrificingbehaviorenactedbyonepartnermaynotberecognizedasasacrificebythebenefactor.Ifthesacrificeisambiguouslyinterpretedbythebenefactor,howmightthebenefactorinterpretandreacttothisbehavior?Thepresentworkwillexaminetheimpactofambiguityofasacrificeonthelikelihoodofexpressinggratitude.Datafromastudyexaminingpassiveandactivesacrificeswillbepresented,toexplorehowambiguityratingsfordifferenttypesofsacrificesimpactthelikelihoodofexpressinggratitude.ThebenefitsofmindfulnessforindividualshighinattachmentanxietyRachaelQuickert&TaraMacDonaldQueen'sUniversityAlthoughmindfulnesshaspositiveoutcomesforrelationships(Karremansetal.,2017),littleresearchhasexploredthemechanismsunderlyingthesebenefits.Mindfulnessmaybe

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particularlyhelpfulforindividualshighinattachmentanxiety,whofearrejectionbytheirromanticpartners(Hazan&Shaver,1987).Theseindividualsengagein“hyperactivatingstrategies”suchasruminationandexcessivereassurance-seeking(Simpson&Rholes,2012).Wereasonedthatmindfulnessmayreducehyperactivatingstrategiesinindividualshighinattachmentanxiety.Inthelaboratorywerandomlyassignedparticipantstomeditateorlistentoaninformationaltalk.Wethenelicitedfeelingsofrejectionbyhavingparticipantsimagineascenariowherearomanticrivaltextstheirpartner.Wecollecteddataonattachmentanxietyandanticipatedresponsestothescenario(examininghyperactivatingstrategies).Attachmentanxietywasrelatedtolessdispositionalmindfulness.Ourmindfulnessinductiondidnotreducehyperactivatingstrategies;however,weareconductingafollow-upstudytofurtherexplorethishypothesis.Levelingtherelationalplayingfield:Examiningthefriendzonethroughexperientialaccounts RyanRasner1&LeahLeFebvre21LouisianaStateUniversity,2UniversityofAlabamaThisstudyinvestigatedthefriendzonephenomenonthroughlaypersons’prioraccounts.Buildingonthenotionofrelationshipstatuses–friendswithbenefits(FWB;Claxton&vanDulmen,2013;Mongeauetal.,2013)andfriendzone(Akbulut&Weger,2015)–thesestatusesrepresentadesireorattempttoshiftfromfriendstoaromanticrelationshipbyonepersonintherelationship.Weexploredthecolloquialterminologythroughtheirexperiencesandilluminatedthecommunicativedistinctionsbybothroleandsex.Collegiateparticipants(N=780)completedopen-endedresponsesabouttheirexperiences.Weemployedmultiplemethodologies:(1)MeaningExtractionMethodtoobtaincommonthemesfromparticipants’responsesinacorpususingprincipalcomponentanalysis,and(2)thematicanalysistoidentifychangestorelationshiptrajectories.Thesefindingshighlightthecomplexityinfriendship,interplaybetweenroleandsexininitiatingandrespondingtoromanticinterest,andbegintountangletheFWBandfriendzonecolloquialterminology.“Igavebirth,Igottheleave”:AcontentanalysisofCanadianparents’decisiontoshareparentalleaveMylèneRoss-Plourde&VéroniqueSavoieUniversitédeMonctonFewparentshavingaccesstoapaidparentalleavechoosetoshareitwiththeirpartner,withmothersmostoftentakingtheleaveentirely(StatisticsCanada,2017)andthefactorsconsideredinthisdecisionremainlargelyunknown.Thisstudyexploreshowcouplesdecideonthedivisionofparentalleave.OnehundredandfiftyCanadianparentscompletedanonlinequestionnaire.Resultsindicatethatonaverage,motherstook45weeksofleave(S.D.=15.05),whilefatherstook7weeks(S.D.=11.47).Althoughparentsfrequentlycitedfinancialfactorsandbreastfeedingasreasonsforthemothertotaketheleave,thebeliefthattheparentalleavebelongstothemotherappearstobepresentinmanyparents.Moreover,someparentsconsiderthatthepresenceofthemotherprovidesmorebenefitstothechild.Overall,the

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presentresultsprovideinsightonthebeliefsandsocialnormsthatarestillpresentregardingparentingroles.Whataretherewards?Whatarethethreats?Howinsecurityaffectsonlinedatingbehaviors JenniferRyan&M.JoyMcClureAdelphiUniversityThepurposeofthisresearchistoseeifindividualsthatscorerelativelyhigherininsecureattachmentactinwaysthatarecharacteristicoftheirinsecurityononlinedatingapps/sites.Wearealsointerestedinperceivedsocialrewardandsocialthreatsofusingdatingsites/appsandhowindividualsdecidetousethem.Individualswithhigheravoidantattachmentareinsensitivetosocialrewardswhileindividualswithhigheranxiousattachmentaresensitivetobothsocialrewardsandespeciallysocialthreats.Ifanindividualishigherintheanxiousoravoidantformsofinsecurity,weexpectthattherewillbecharacteristicpreferencesintheiruseofonlinedatingsites/apps,higheravoidancepredictingstrategiestominimizeintimacyandhigheranxietypredictingstrategiestomaximizeintimacybutalsoreactivitytopotentialrejection.Onlinedatingappsandsitesarepreferredbysometotraditionaldatingbecausethereislessstressinthesituations.Dodual-arrestpoliciesincreaseIntimatePartnerViolencerecidivism? RodinaScott&DanneyRascoWestTexasA&MUniversityIntimatePartnerViolence(IPV)negativelyimpactsvictimsandtheirrelationships,andrecurrentIPVisparticularlyproblematic.Legalresponseshaveevolvedfrommediationviapolice-assistedconflictresolutiontomandatoryarrestlawsanddual-arrestpolicies.Mandatoryarrestlaws–requiredarrestofsuspectedIPVperpetrator–haveprovedusefulindecreasingrecidivism.However,dual-arrestpolicies–bothindividualsinvolvedarearrested–canmisidentifyvictimsasperpetratorsorco-perpetratorsandleadvictimstohesitateinreportingfutureviolence.Additionally,thesecasesaredifficultforprosecutorsasthereoftenisnotsufficientevidencetodeterminewhoinstigatedtheviolence;thismayleadprosecutorstodropallchargesresultinginperpetratorsnotbeingpunished.Weintendtoevaluatehowthesefactorsimpactlikelihoodforrecidivismwithina12-monthperiodfollowinginitialprosecutionordismissalforthefirstoffenseusingadatasetwithapproximately3,500arrests.DevelopmentandanalysisofaPartnerRegulationCommunicationStrategiesscaleNatalieSisson1,JustinCavallo2,ChristianJordan2,EmilyImpett1&YoobinPark11UniversityofToronto,2WilfridLaurierUniversityOneofthewayscouplestacklepersistentconflictsisbyaskingeachothertomakebehaviouralchanges,whichcanleadtosuccessfulconflictresolution.Despiteagrowingbodyofliteratureonpartnerregulation,thereisnotawell-validatedorpublishedmeasureofcommunicationstrategiesthatromanticpartnersimplementtocommunicatetheirdesireforeachothertochange.Acrosstwostudies(N=75;N=349),a24-itemscalewasdevelopedtoassessa

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partner’suseofpartnerregulationcommunicationstrategies,buildingonpreviousliterature,whichhasdemonstratedthedistincteffectsoffourcategoriesofpartnerregulationcommunicationstrategiesthatfallacrosstwoorthogonaldimensions.Ineachsample,exploratoryfactoranalysisrevealedfourfactorswithgoodinternalconsistency,whichmappedontonegative-direct,positive-direct,negative-indirectandpositive-indirectcommunicationstrategiesoutlinedintheliterature.Futurestudieswillconductconfirmatoryfactoranalysisandtestthescale’sabilitytopredictsuccessfulpartnerchange.Can’tswipemelove:Approachandavoidancegoalsareassociateddatingsuccessontinder Julieta Strugo&AmyMuiseYorkUniversityTinder,themobiledatingapp,iswidelyused,butlittleresearchhasinvestigatedthedatingexperiencesofusers.Weappliedapproach-avoidancetheoryofsocialmotivationtounderstandtheassociationbetweengoalsforTinderuseandperceivedandactualdatingsuccess.Inanexploratorystudywith334Tinderusers(167men;162women),wefoundthatpeoplehigherinapproachgoalsforTinderuse,suchastodevelopintimacy,reportedmorepositivebeliefsaboutpeopleonTinderandinturn,perceivedgreaterdatingsuccessonTinderandhadmorerelationshippartnersfromTinder.Peoplewithhigheravoidancegoals,suchastoavoidembarrassment,reportedmoreanxietywhenusingTinderandinturn,reportedlessperceiveddatingsuccess.InStudy2—apreregisteredreplication—welargelyreplicatedthefindings.TheroleofmotivationindatingsuccessonTinderandnovelmechanismsfortheassociationbetweendatinggoalsandsuccessarediscussed.Emotionalregulationandsatisfactioninadolescentromanticrelationships:Theroleofnegativeconflictresolutionstrategies Emily-HelenTodorov&AlisonParadisUniversitéduQuébecàMontréalBytheageof15,approximately71%ofCanadianadolescentsreporthavingbeeninadatingrelationship.Suchrelationshipshaveimplicationsforadolescents’psychosocialdevelopmentandforthequalityoftheiradultrelationships.However,theliteratureonromanticsatisfactioninadolescenceisscarce.Thisstudyaimstoexaminehowtwofactorsidentifiedintheadultliteraturearerelatedtosatisfactioninadolescence:emotionaldysregulationandnegativeconflictresolutionstrategies.Asampleof138datingadolescentscompletedanonlinesurvey.Aftercontrollingforgender,age,andrelationshipduration,anindirecteffectmodelusingtheMEDIATESPSSmacrorevealedasignificantindirecteffectofemotionaldysregulation,throughtheuseofnegativeconflictresolutionstrategies,onrelationshipsatisfaction.Theseresultshighlighttheneedtointerveneonemotionsinadolescence,inordertoencouragethelearningofhealthyconflictresolutionstrategies,andultimatelytopromotesatisfyingconcurrentandfutureromanticrelationships.

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OptimismandrelationshipsatisfactionindyadsundergoingopenheartsurgeryKaraTurcotte&SusanHoltzmanUniversityofBritishColumbiaTheimportanceofthepatient-spousedyadincardiovasculardiseaseisincreasinglyrecognized.Limitedresearchhasassesseddispositionaloptimismandperceivedrelationshipsatisfactionindyadswhereonememberhascardiovasculardisease.Thepurposeofthepresentresearchwastoinvestigatetheextenttowhichoptimisminapatient-spousedyadisrelatedtotheirperceivedrelationshipquality,andthatoftheirpartner.Standardizedmeasuresofdispositionaloptimismandrelationshipsatisfactionwerecompletedby75patient-spousedyadspriortocardiacsurgery.TheeffectswereexaminedusingActor-PartnerInterdependenceModelling.Theresultsrevealedsignificantactoreffects,suggestingthathigherlevelsofoptimismwereassociatedwithhigherlevelsofrelationshipsatisfactioninboththepatientandthespouse.Asignificantpartnereffectemergedrevealingthatpatientoptimismwasassociatedwiththeirspouse’srelationshipsatisfaction.Thesefindingsrevealacomplexdyadicpatternintheassociationbetweenoptimismandrelationshipoutcomesindyadsundergoingopen-heartsurgery.Attractiveatadistance:Perceptionsofautonomyinromanticrelationships.SamuelE.vanGinkel&CherylHarasymchukCarletonUniversityAbstract:Inherbest-sellingbookMatinginCaptivity,romanticrelationshipsauthorEstherPerelprescribesthat“desireneedsspace”inrelationships.Specifically,sheclaimsthatthatfeelingsofsexualdesireandattractionarisewhenthereisseparatenessbetweenpartners(autonomy),andwhenone’spartnerisbeingadmiredbyothers(socialadmirability).Theseclaims,however,remainempiricallyuntested.Weconductedanexploratoryinvestigationintoperceivedrelationshipoutcomesassociatedwithautonomyandsocialadmirability.Specifically,weaskedparticipants(N=512)toimaginehighandlowautonomyandsocialadmirabilityrelationshipscenariosandtoratethesubjectiveexperiencesofapartnerintherelationship.Whileparticipantsperceivedthatincreasedautonomywasrelatedtoreducedrelationshipsecurity,closeness,andsatisfaction,theyalsoperceivedthatitrelatedtogreaterattractiontotheautonomouspartner.Wantforinterpersonalcloseness:Howpastexperiencesandinternalworkingmodelsofselfandothersimpacttouchavoidance SamanthaWagnerBinghamtonUniversityPhysicaltouchplaysanimportantroleinhumanbondingandwhilepastresearchstronglysupportsthattouchplaysacrucialroleinfacilitatinghealthyrelationshipssomeindividualsaremoreavoidantoftouchthanothers.Thisstudyutilizedadiversesample(N=448)andexploredthewayanindividual’sworkingmodelofthemselvesandothers(e.g.attachment),aswellaspastrelationshipinjuries(e.g.beingcheatedon),explainindividualdifferencesinwanting

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interpersonalcloseness.Utilizinglinearregressionmodelingwefoundthatindividualslowerinavoidantattachmenttendencies,thosewhoexperiencedlesspsychologicalmaltreatment,andthosewhowereyounger,werelesslikelytoavoidtouch.Surprisingly,wealsofoundthatthosewhoendorsedhavingbeencheatedoninthepastwerelesslikelytobeavoidantoftouch.Overall,ourfindingssupportthatwantforinterpersonalclosenessis,inpart,impactedbypastexperiencesandperceptionsofothersandself.Challengesinsharedrelationshipactivities:Towardsaperceptualmodelofgrowthinself-expandingactivities DeannaL.Walker1,CherylHarasymchuk2,&ChantalBacev-Giles21WesternUniversity,2CarletonUniversitySelf-expansionliteraturehassuggestedthatcouplessignificantlybenefitfromengaginginnovelandexcitingactivities;however,whathappenswhenroadblocksgetintheway?Atpresent,thereislimitedresearchtoexplorethemannerinwhichcouplesexperienceandovercomeobstaclesinthecontextofsharedactivities.Acrosstwostudies,thepresentresearchexaminestheoccurrenceofobstacleswithinplanningandengagingself-expandingactivities.Weinvestigateindividualdifferencesintheexperienceandperceptionofobstacles,andsuggestthatthesedifferencesareonepossiblemechanismforthedevelopment,andhindrance,ofrelationshipgrowth.First,wepredictthatindividuals’perceptionofobstacleswillsignificantlypredicttheirabilitytoovercomesuchobstaclesandachieverelationshipgrowth.Additionally,weexploreindividualdifferencesintheseperceptions,withafocusongrowthanddestinybeliefs.GenderdifferencesinhowaffectionatetouchpromoteswillingnesstosacrificeDelanceyWu1,BrittanyJakubiak2,BrookeFeeney3,&NancyCollins11UniversityofCalifornia,2SyracuseUniversity,3CarnegieMellonUniversityWeexaminedhowaffectionatetouchinfluencedcouplemembers’willingnesstosacrificeforeachotherandwhatfactorsmayinfluencethisdecision.Werandomlyassignedparticipantstoreceiveaffectionatetouch(ornot)fromtheirpartnerandthengavebothparticipantsanopportunitytosacrificefortheirpartner.Wepredictedthatparticipantswouldbemorewillingtosacrificewhentheyreceivedaffectionatetouchthanwhentheydidnot.Althoughresultsdidnotsupportthishypothesisinthefullsample,wefoundthatwomenweremorewillingtosacrificethanmenwhentheydidnotreceivetouch,butthisgenderdifferenceisreversedwhenreceivingtouch.Thiseffectmaybedrivenbyperceivedpartnerresponsiveness(PPR),asparticipantsreceivingtouchreportedsignificantlyhigherPPRthanparticipantswhodidnot.Thisstudyhasthepotentialtoadvanceourunderstandingoftheconditionsunderwhichtouchismorelikelytobenefitindividualsandrelationships.

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Secret-keepingwithinromanticrelationships:Thefearofdiscovery ElisabethBailinXie,HannahBrazeau,&CristopherDavisCarletonUniversityKeepingsecretsfromone’sromanticpartnerhasbeenassociatedwithlowerrelationshipsatisfaction,commitment,andwell-beingwithmorepreoccupyingsecretsbeingassociatedwithworseconsequences.Previousresearchhassuggestedthatindividualdifferencesinself-concealmentcontributestothesenegativeeffects.However,weproposethatthefearofdiscovery(FoD)–definedasthefearthatone’ssecretmayberevealedbysomemeansotherthandeliberatedisclosure—mayalsohelpexplainthenegativeconsequencesofsecretkeepingthroughpredictingone’slevelofpreoccupationwiththesecret.Totestthisproposition,weconductedthreesurveys(combinedN=851)toassesstheextenttowhichadultsinaromanticrelationshipexperiencedFoD,self-concealmenttendenciesandpreoccupationwithone’ssecret.FoDpredictedgreaterpreoccupationwiththesecretoverandabovethatofself-concealmentacrossthethreestudies.Moreover,greaterpreoccupationwasassociatedwithlowerlevelsofrelationshipsatisfaction.Self-controlandrelationshipsatisfactionamongheterosexualcouples:Howstrongistheeffectreally? PeiyingZuo1,JohanC.Karremans1,WilliamJ.Burk1,AnoukP.J.Scheres1,EstherS.Kluwer1,2,&CatrinFinkenauer2,31RadboudUniversity,2UtrechtUniversity,3VrijeUniversiteitAmsterdamBackground:Accumulatingevidencehasindicatedthatself-controlmayimposepositiveeffectsonone’ownandthepartner’srelationshipsatisfaction.However,Butdopartnershighinself-controlhavemoresatisfyingrelationships?Perhapssurprisingly,evidenceismixed.Objectives:Thepre-registratedstudyexamined1)thedyadiceffectsofself-controlonrelationshipsatisfactionamongmarriedcouplescross-sectionallyandlongitudinally,2)doanyeffectsholdwhencontrollingforotherimportantfactorsforrelationshipsatisfaction,inparticularrelationshipcommitmentandattachmentinsecurity,and3)exploredthepotentialmoderatingroleofrelationshipcommitmentandattachmentinsecurityontheassociationbetweenself-controlandrelationshipsatisfaction.Method:Toaddressthefirstresearchquestions,APIMmodelsweretestedamongheterosexualcouplesfromthreestudies(S1:N=195couples,longitudinal;S2:N=249couples,longitudinal;S3:N=929couples,cross-sectional).APIMoMmodelsweretestedtoanswerthethirdresearchquestion.ResultsandConclusion:Resultsindicatedthat1)bothpositiveactorandpartnereffectsofself-controlonrelationshipsatisfactionwerefoundforbothgenders(effectsize:fromsmalltomedium).However,consistentevidencewasobtainedonlyforthecross-sectionalactoreffect.2)Aftercontrollingforrelationshipcommitmentandattachmentinsecurity,bothactorandpartnereffectsdiminished.3)Bothrelationshipcommitmentandattachmentinsecuritymoderatedtherelationshipbetweenself-controlandrelationshipsatisfaction(particularlyformale’ssatisfaction),whichsuggestedthatbothvariablescouldcompensatethenegativeimpactoflowself-controlonrelationshipsatisfaction.However,noconsistentmoderatingpatternwerefoundacrossstudies.Additionally,themoderatingeffectsnotonlyhappenedwithinapartner,

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butalsobetweenpartners,whichfurthervalidatedtheneedtoinvestigatetherelationshipsbetweenthosevariableswithadyadicperspective.