Gender, Emotion Work, and Relationship Quality: A Daily Diary Study

被引:45
作者
Curran, Melissa A. [1 ]
McDaniel, Brandon T. [2 ]
Pollitt, Amanda M. [1 ]
Totenhagen, Casey J. [3 ]
机构
[1] Univ Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA
[2] Penn State Univ, University Pk, PA 16802 USA
[3] Univ Alabama, Child Dev Res Ctr 214, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 USA
关键词
Gender; Emotion work; Relationship quality; Daily diary; Daily volatility; RELATIONSHIP SATISFACTION; ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS; FAMILY WORK; PERCEPTIONS; IDEOLOGY; MARRIAGE; INTIMACY; SUPPORT; POWER; FLUCTUATIONS;
D O I
10.1007/s11199-015-0495-8
中图分类号
B844 [发展心理学(人类心理学)];
学科分类号
040202 ;
摘要
We use the gender relations perspective from feminist theorizing to investigate how gender and daily emotion work predict daily relationship quality in 74 couples (148 individuals in dating, cohabiting, or married relationships) primarily from the southwest U.S. Emotion work is characterized by activities that enhance others' emotional well-being. We examined emotion work two ways: trait (individuals' average levels) and state (individuals' daily fluctuations). We examined actor and partner effects of emotion work and tested for gender differences. As outcome variables, we included six types of daily relationship quality: love, commitment, satisfaction, closeness, ambivalence, and conflict. This approach allowed us to predict three aspects of relationship quality: average levels, daily fluctuations, and volatility (overall daily variability across a week). Three patterns emerged. First, emotion work predicted relationship quality in this diverse set of couples. Second, gender differences were minimal for fixed effects: Trait and state emotion work predicted higher average scores on, and positive daily increases in, individuals' own positive relationship quality and lower average ambivalence. Third, gender differences were more robust for volatility: For partner effects, having a partner who reported higher average emotion work predicted lower volatility in love, satisfaction, and closeness for women versus greater volatility in love and commitment for men. Neither gender nor emotion work predicted average levels, daily fluctuations, or volatility in conflict. We discuss implications and future directions pertaining to the unique role of gender in understanding the associations between daily emotion work and volatility in daily relationship quality for relational partners.
引用
收藏
页码:157 / 173
页数:17
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