Emotional common ground bridges cultural divides in couples: The facilitating effects of emotional match between romantic partners in intercultural (vs. monocultural) communication and relationships
Seo, Minjae
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127429
Description
Title
Emotional common ground bridges cultural divides in couples: The facilitating effects of emotional match between romantic partners in intercultural (vs. monocultural) communication and relationships
Author(s)
Seo, Minjae
Issue Date
2024-08-15
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Cohen, Dov
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Cohen, Dov
Committee Member(s)
Laurent, Sean M
Kim, Young-Hoon
Rios, Kimberly M
Ogolsky, Brian G
Department of Study
Psychology
Discipline
Psychology
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Culture
Romantic Relationships
Emotion
Emotional Similarity
Partner Match
Intercultural Communication
Intercultural Couples
Relationship Satisfaction
Self-disclosure
Perceived Partner Responsiveness
Language
eng
Abstract
Intercultural romantic relationships have increased rapidly over the past few decades. In the US, 17% of newly married couples in 2015 were interracial, and 24% of all marriages from 2010 to 2014 were interfaith (Pew Research Center). Despite this continued growth, intercultural relationships—especially their challenges and means for overcoming them—remain understudied. This research examines the effects of partners’ different cultural backgrounds on couples’ interpersonal processes and relationship functioning, comparing monocultural and intercultural relationships. It particularly focuses on the role of emotional (mis)match between partners in bridging intercultural divides. Two correlational studies (Studies 1-2) with dating student couples (5% same-sex couples) and cohabitating adult couples (70% same-sex couples) found that: (a) compared with monocultural couples, individuals in intercultural couples are more apprehensive about self-disclosure but simultaneously need more sharing and understanding from each other; (b) emotional match (vs. mismatch)—rather than other types of matches—between partners predicts open communication across cultural divides as well as greater relationship satisfaction; and (c) the effect of emotional match on intercultural couples’ open communication (partially) mediates its effect on their relationship satisfaction. The final study (Study 3) with married and unmarried individuals of varying ages (16% same-sex couples) used an experimental design and replicated the findings that emotional (mis)match has a greater effect on relationship satisfaction for intercultural (vs. monocultural) partners, at least partially mediated through its greater effect on their willingness to openly communicate with their partners. This study’s experimental manipulation of match vs. mismatch makes it plausible that the causal arrow runs in this direction in Studies 1 and 2 as well.
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