Poster #224 - Family Qualities Related to Fear of Intimacy, Relationship Anxiety, and Relational Aggression in Latino Emerging Adults

• In Event: 3-159 - Poster Session 12
  In Poster Session: PS 12 Section - Social Relationships

Integrative Statement

Developmental challenges during emerging adulthood include renegotiating roles with parents, establishing and maintaining relationships with peers, developing intimacy, and developing romantic relationships (Arnett, 2007; Erikson, 1959; Feldman et al., 1998; Shulman & Connolly, 2013; Tanner, 2009). This study examined three relationship qualities: (a) fear of intimacy (i.e., hindered ability to share important feelings and thoughts with a significant other due to anxiety; Descutner & Thelen, 1991), (b) interpersonal relationship anxiety with others who are important (Naz & Kausar, 2015); and (c) relational aggression (i.e., deliberate behaviors to harm a person’s feelings and/or to exclude them from peers; Swearer, 2008). Each relationship component can lead to emotional, interpersonal, mental, and physical problems (Hook et al., 2003; Wilhelm & Parker, 1998).
The family is a primary interactional context within which views of attachment and relationships are developed and learned (Black & Schutte, 2006; Bowlby, 1982; Hazan & Shaver, 1987); this may be especially true in Latino families given the high value of family (Stein et al., 2018). Potential family qualities related to relationship dynamics include family cohesion, family flexibility (Olson, 2000), perceived maternal and paternal warmth (Rohner, 2008), living in intact families (i.e., two married biological/adopted parents) versus other family forms, and living with a parent or not. Because this study focused on Latinos, generation status was included as a control. Also, age was included as a control.
Self-report survey data were gathered from 777 Latino students in a psychology subject pool at a comprehensive university (i.e., Hispanic Serving Institution) in the greater Los Angeles area. They completed the survey in small groups (10-24 students). The measures have been shown to be valid and reliable in studies with emerging adults.
The family dynamics were correlated to men and women’s relationship qualities at the bivariate level. Results from hierarchical multiple regressions showed the following variables were not related to relationship qualities: age, generation status, intact families vs. other, and living with parent. After controlling for these variables, family cohesion was significantly and negatively related to men and women’s interpersonal relationship anxiety and relational aggression, as well as men’s fear of intimacy. Perceived paternal warmth was significantly and negatively related to men’s interpersonal relationship anxiety and relational aggression. Perceived maternal warmth was significantly and negatively related to fear of intimacy in men and women. Family flexibility was significantly and negatively related to women’s fear of intimacy. The family dynamics accounted for 10-12% of the variance in men’s relationship qualities and 4-7% of women’s relationship qualities.
A more cohesive family can create a stronger base for intimate relationship, lead to more emotional intimacy (Larson & Reedy, 2004; Parade et al., 2012), and model positive relationship behaviors and skills. Warmth from parents can promote a more secure relationship schema, and the parental behaviors can be modeled in future relationships (Rohner & Britner, 2002). When families are flexible, they can accommodate to the needs of the family members. Modeling flexibility in relationships can enhance future relationship qualities. Gendered differences and implications of the finding will be discussed.

Authors

• Ovsanna Balian, California State University, Northridge
  Presenting Author

• Paymon Jalali, California State University, Northridge
  Non-Presenting Author

• Scott Plunkett, CSU, Northridge
  Non-Presenting Author