Title:
The role of identity as a moderator in the relation between social withdrawal subtypes and emerging adults' romantic relationship characteristics
Author:
Jennifer Christofferson
Thesis Advisor:
Carolyn Barry
Committee Member:
Beth A. Kotchick
Committee Member:
Rachel Grover
Committee Member:
James Miracky
Committee Member:
Larry Nelson
Degree Granting Institution:
Loyola University Maryland--College of Arts and Sciences
Place:
Baltimore (Md.)
Publisher:
Loyola University Maryland
Date Created:
2012
Type of Resource:
text
Genre:
thesis
Language:
eng
Format:
application/pdf
Physical Form:
electronic
Digital Source:
born digital
Abstract:
Social withdrawal has been associated with many negative outcomes, such as difficulties in social situations; however, most of this research has been conducted with infants and young adolescents. Since temperament influences personality into the 30s and emerging adulthood is a time of heightened identity and romantic relationship exploration, it is important to consider how social withdrawal is related to emerging adults' psychosocial adjustment. Given the instability and increasing variety of social contexts for emerging adults in this time period, it is not surprising that shy emerging adults have reported poorer romantic relationship outcomes (i.e., satisfaction and duration) as compared to their sociable peers. Similarly, it has been found that if one is not able to develop a strong sense of identity, it may present issues in relationship contexts. The current study examined emerging adults' identity (exploration and commitment) as moderators between the relations of social withdrawal types and romantic relationship characteristics (duration and quality). Undergraduates (N = 792) from four universities completed online questionnaires. Hierarchical regression analyses were run on romantic relationship duration (RRD) and then quality (RRQ). Results of the study indicated a relation between social withdrawal subtypes and romantic relationship outcomes. Specifically, avoidant and shy subtypes were related negatively to romantic relationship satisfaction. The hypothesis of identity as a moderator was not supported; however, linkages were found between both identity variables and social withdrawal subtypes as well as romantic relationship subtypes. Therefore, identity was found to play some role in the relation. The current study provides evidence for the distinct and unique pathways of socially- withdrawn individuals during emerging adulthood as compared to their non socially- withdrawn peers. More research needs to be conducted in this area to ascertain the self and social experiences of socially-withdrawn emerging adults.
Degree:
Master of Science
Level:
Master
Discipline:
Psychology
Restrictions on Access:
Author has given permission to make this work available online.
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Identifier:
ChristoffersonJ-12
