Marianne Dainton

La Salle University · Department of Communication

Research indicates that individuals in remarriages experience less marital satisfaction than individuals in a first marriage. This study sought to determine whether variations in equity and maintenance might explain this phenomenon. A sample of 547 married individuals from the United States completed an online survey. Results suggested virtually no...

This unique communication theory textbook provides practical material for career-oriented readers. Featuring new case studies, updated examples, and the latest research, the Fourth Edition of this bestseller introduces communication theory in a way that helps you understand its importance to careers in communication and business. Real-world case st...

Maintaining Black Marriage: Individual, Interpersonal, and Contextual Dynamics moves beyond the usual demographics in the study of Black marriage to focus on the communication that sustains it. Using original data and secondary research, Marianne Dainton provides the story of Black marriage success and the contexts and communication that contribute...

This study used attachment theory to examine romantic partners’ use of negative behaviors to maintain their relationships. Romantic couples (N = 227 dyads) completed self-reports of their attachment styles and use of negative relational maintenance behaviors. Actor-partner interdependence models provided dyadic results: (a) having a secure attachme...

This study examined the dyadic effects of relationship uncertainty and the use of negative relational maintenance behaviors. Romantic couples (N = 227 dyads) completed a survey assessing their current relationship uncertainty (i.e., definition, mutuality, behavioral, future) and their use of negative behaviors to maintain their relationship (i.e.,...

This study investigated the extent to which generalized equity, a reciprocal exchange approach to maintenance (e.g., reward minus costs), and a self-interest approach (e.g., rewards only) were associated with marital satisfaction. An online survey was distributed to 547 heterosexual married individuals. Results supported equity predictions for six...

This study investigated the extent to which positive and negative maintenance communication predicted marital satisfaction and commitment in a sample of 90 individuals in an interracial marriage. An interdependence theory approach was used. Participants completed an online survey using SurveyMonkey's audience request. Results of a regression equati...

Previous work indicates that one of the central motives for using Facebook is relationship maintenance and that the use of Facebook is linked with romantic jealousy. Grounded in a uses and gratifications perspective, this study examined the maintenance motive for using Facebook; positive and negative online maintenance activity; and trait, cognitiv...

Existing research suggests that social networking sites (SNSs) allow romantic partners to maintain their relationships online. This study examined how relational maintenance behaviors associated with Facebook (FB) use were predicted by satisfaction, uncertainty, and FB jealousy. A survey was conducted sampling 281 undergraduates in a romantic relat...

The present study sought to uncover the gratifications sought by the public for “following” organizations via social media, as well as their perceptions of salient relationship characteristics. An online survey was distributed to 156 users of social media. Results indicate that the most common gratifications sought were to stay up-to-date about an...

Previous research indicates that the primary reason college students use Facebook is for relationship maintenance. The present study sought to determine the relationship between Facebook maintenance and general maintenance efforts in college student romantic relation-ships, as well as the impacts of such behaviors on the relationship. Survey data w...

Previous work has linked the use of Facebook with romantic jealousy. Further, research indicates that one of the central motives for using Facebook is relationship maintenance. This study sought to uncover the relationships among Facebook use, emotional jealousy, and positive and negative maintenance behavior. Online surveys were completed by 109 c...

Research provides support for four theoretical explanations for relationship maintenance: equity, uncertainty, attachment, and reciprocity. This study focused on the relationships among these theoretical explanations, as well as whether the concepts might be combined to provide a single explanation for why an individual enacts maintenance behavior....

Research provides support for four theoretical explanations for relationship maintenance: equity, uncertainty, attachment, and reciprocity. This study focused on the relationships among these theoretical explanations, as well as whether the concepts might be combined to provide a single explanation for why an individual enacts maintenance behavior....

This is a textbook about communication theory. We are unable to provide digital copies of this book because it violates the copyright.

Our goal was to uncover the negative behaviors that are used for relational maintenance purposes, using equity as a theoretical framework. Two data collections were undertaken. The first solicited potential negative maintenance behaviors. From these responses, scale items were created. Then, 151 individuals completed measures of positive and negati...

This study hypothesized that parents would use less maintenance behavior than nonparents, and that parents with children present in the home would use less maintenance behavior than either nonparents or parents whose children are not living at home. The alternative hypothesis was that relationship length affects maintenance use. Survey data were co...

Is attachment theory a good fit for explaining differences in relationship maintenance? This study hypothesized that the secure attachment style would be positively associated with self-reported relationship maintenance, and that the dismissive style would be negatively associated with self-reported relationship maintenance. Further, it was propose...

The current study contributes to 2 growing areas of research: one distinguishes between routine and strategic relational maintenance behaviors, and the other concerns the relative utility of biological sex and psychological gender as predictors of communication behaviors. Specifically, we sought to uncover sex and gender differences in routine and...

Two explanations for relational maintenance processes center on the constructs of equity and relationship uncertainty. The current study sought to uncover how these two explanations compare when predicting relational maintenance data. Survey data were collected from 219 individuals in romantic relationships. As predicted, both inequity and uncertai...

The present study focuses on associations between communication channel use and relational maintenance by individuals in long‐distance romantic relationships. Survey data were collected from 114 individuals in long‐distance relationships (LDRs). Results indicate that use of communication channels covaries such that there are positive relationships...

The goal of the present study was to examine the patterns of relationships between routine and strategic maintenance enactment. Data were collected from 189 individuals in a romantic relationship. Results indicated that positivity and sharing tasks were more often performed routinely than strategically. Second, moderate to strong, positive correlat...

The present study seeks to examine biological sex, psychological gender, and relational type as antecedents in jealousy experience, expression, and goals. Data were collected from 334 individuals in romantic relationships. Results indicated that men experienced significantly more cognitive jealousy, while women were more likely to communicatively e...

This study uses an uncertainty framework to uncover the patterns of relationships between uncertainty, jealousy, maintenance, and trust in two types of long‐distance relationships (LDRs; both those without face‐to‐face contact and those with some face‐to‐face contact) and geographically close relationships (GCRs). Data were collected from 311 indiv...

Two studies were conducted to assess the relationship between expectancy fulfillment for the partner's use of relational maintenance activities and one's own satisfaction with the relationship. In Study 1, 478 people in romantic relationships completed questionnaires assessing their experience of their partner's use of maintenance activities relati...

In the present study, we incorporate both routine and strategic maintenance behaviors in an expanded maintenance scale. In addition, we seek to determine whether sex or gender role is a stronger predictor of maintenance behaviors, and to ascertain the extent to which maintenance predicts the relational characteristics of satisfaction, commitment, l...

Thus far, researchers have made significant strides in identifying maintenance behaviors and articulating the impact of maintenance behaviors on salient relational characteristics. This study seeks to identify those variables which best predict the enactment of particular maintenance strategies among married individuals. Data were collected from 52...

Introduction Ants to Elephants: A Comparative Perspective on the Meaning of Relationship by Jo Liska Historical Frames of Relational Perspectives by John Stewart Relationships and Communication: A Social Communication and Strongly Consequential View by Stuart J. Sigman The Meaning of Relationship in Relational Communication by L. Edna Rogers Gidden...

This study takes an insider's perspective to develop a descriptive map of the types of interactions enacted on an everyday basis in intact marriages. Data were gathered from 55 married couples, who kept logs of all of their dyadic interactions over a 7‐day period. Overall, the results indicate that the most frequently described interactions involve...

The purpose of this research effort is to examine five relational maintenance strategies and two measures of physical affection as predictors of love, liking, and satisfaction in marriage. The sample consisted of 200 married couples. Results indicate that perceptions of the partners’ use of maintenance strategies and respondents’ own satisfaction w...

This study replicates and extends previous research by probing for routine behaviors that maintain relationships. In addition, maintenance behaviors of married vs dating partners are compared, and similarity of relational partners' reports of maintenance behaviors is assessed. Finally, the differences in the use of maintenance behaviors by men and...

The abstract for this document is available on CSA Illumina.To view the Abstract, click the Abstract button above the document title.

provides an overview of parenting from a family systems framework / offers a brief review of systems concepts / approaches parenting from 3 perspectives: the parenting of mothers vs fathers; the effect of the marital relationship on parenting; and . . . the influence of siblings on parenting / research reflective of a more truly systemic nature is...