https://aub.ie/MilitaryREACH-Peterson2021

Peterson, C., O’Neal C. W., & Futris T. G. (2022). Military couples’ childhood experiences and romantic relationship satisfaction: The role of accepting influence. Family Process, 61(2), 689-704. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12689

Using a sample of 229 military couples (Service member husbands and their civilian wives), this study examined whether partners’ accepting influence (i.e., being open to a partner’s influence by engaging in behaviors such as listening, being considerate, trying to meet a partner’s relationship needs) could explain the association between stressful childhood experiences (e.g., family members yelling, criticizing) and relationship satisfaction. Indicators of the stressful context (i.e., depressive symptoms, number of deployments) were also examined for associations with accepting influence or relationship satisfaction. Civilian spouses with more stressful childhood experiences generally perceived their husbands as less accepting of influence, and, in turn, husbands’ accepting influence was related to wives’ relationship satisfaction. Service member husbands averaged greater relationship satisfaction when both partners demonstrated greater accepting influence.

https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12689

Couples

Army

Active Duty

Active duty service member
Military families
Spouse of service member or veteran

Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)

Cross-Sectional Study
Quantitative Study
Secondary Analysis

Peterson, Clairee, O’Neal, Catherine Walker, Futris, Ted G.

Although accepting influence (i.e., being open to the influence of others) is considered important for couple relationships, there is a lack of empirical research on the association between accepting influence and relationship satisfaction. Moreover, research has not examined what family experiences may precede one's ability to accept influence in later romantic relationships, although life course theory and the vulnerability stress adaptation model support the notion that stressful childhood experiences may be consequential for accepting influence adaptive processes, which, in turn, can impact relationship satisfaction. This study used dyadic, couple data and an actor partner interdependence model to investigate the associations between stressful childhood experiences, accepting influence, and relationship satisfaction in a sample of 229 military couples (with one male service member and one female civilian spouse) after accounting for elements of their military context (e.g., rank, number of deployments), relationship length, and mental health. The path model also estimated the indirect effects from both partners’ stressful childhood experiences to relationship satisfaction through accepting influence. Female spouses’ stressful childhood experiences were associated with their perceptions of male partners’ accepting influence, which, in turn, was associated with both partners’ relationship satisfaction, demonstrating partial mediation. Military couples, as well as other couples in stressful contexts, may benefit from interventions that address how prior family experiences impact current accepting influence processes. Moreover, accepting influence behaviors can be a tool for couples to utilize to mitigate the possible negative consequences of their stressful circumstances on their relationship.

John Wiley & Sons

Article
REACH Publication

Department of Human Science, University of Georgia, CP
Department of Human Science, University of Georgia, CWO
University of Georgia, TGF