Work

In-Law Relationships Before and After Marriage: Husbands, Wives, and Their Mothers-in-Law

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: = 240) completed interviews prior to, and 6 to 8 months following the wedding. Measures at Time 1 assessed three dimensions of the in-law relationship: a) behavioral (contact by phone, in person), b) emotional (positive and negative relationship qualities), and c) cognitive (knowledge about the other person). Participants also described positive and negative expectations of their future tie. Multilevel models revealed that dimensions of the tie prior to the marriage were associated with post-wedding in-law relationship qualities. When the parties had individual contact with one another and positive feelings before the wedding, ties were stronger following the wedding. Data from open-ended descriptions of negative expectations obtained before the wedding predicted negative relationship qualities after the wedding. Husbands, wives, and mothers-in-law showed similar patterns with regard to relationship qualities. Discussion focuses on the role of early emotional qualities of the in-law tie for subsequent in-law relationships.

Source: Research in Human Development

DOI: 10.1080/15427609.2012.680843

Authors: Karen L. Fingerman, Megan Gilligan, Laura VanderDrift, Lindsay Pitzer

Institutions: The University of Texas at Austin, Purdue University West Lafayette, University of Notre Dame

Language: English

Topic: Attachment and Relationship Dynamics

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institute on Aging, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Awards: Population Research Center, Family Exchanges Study II