Participants

1. Gender Differences in the Relationship Between Romantic Power and Psychopathological Outcomes Erin M. Miga, Joanna Chango, & Joseph P. Allen University of Virginia This study was made possible by funding from the National Institute of Mental Health awarded to Joseph P. Allen, Principal Investigator ( Grant # R01-MH58066) BACKGROUND METHOD • Participants • Data were collected from a multi-method, multi-reporter, longitudinal study of adolescent development in the context of peer and family relationships. Teens and romantic partners were interviewed at two time points, approximately two years apart • 93 target adolescents (42% male, 58 minority) and their romantic partners filled out measures on relationship dynamics and psychopathological functioning • Mean length of relationship at Time 1: 15 months • Median family income: $50, 000 Procedure • Wave 1: Participants and romantic partners approximately 18 years of age. • Wave 2: Participants and partner s completed measures at approximately 20 years of age. • Measures • Network of Relationships Inventory (Furman & Buhrmester, 1985) . Targets and their romantic partners report on the degree to which their partner makes decisions, takes charge, and is the “boss” in their romantic relationship. Subscale used: relative relationship power. • Depressive Symptoms- Beck Depression Inventory ( Beck, Rush, Shaw, & Emery, 1979). Target participants filled out this 21 item measure regarding the frequency of their depressive symptoms, over the course of the past week. • Anxious Symptoms- State Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, Gorsuch, & Lushene, 1970). Target participants filled out this 20 –item measure regarding their experience of anxiety more generally. • Partner Aggression - Conflict Tactics Scale (Straus, 1979) (This 28-item measure was completed by romantic partners. Physical and psychological aggression subscales were used for the current study. • The development of intimate romantic relationships is a key task of adolescence and early adulthood (Sullivan, 1953; Furman & Wehner, 1994). • Because of the developmental significance of intimate relationship formation, young adults may be particularly susceptible to developing psychopathology when relationships go awry. • Partner aggression rates range from 21-45% in dating relationships; the risk for depression in young adult women is twice the risk of males developing depression. • Therefore, it is important to continue to identify the interpersonal processes that may put young adults at risk for psychopathology. • Relationship power : one relationship construct that has been linked to relationship distress and aggression. Romantic Relationship Power: • Power Bases(economic status, gender) • Power Processes(Demand-withdraw, requests for change) • Power Outcomes(Decision-making, who is “the boss”) • Previous research has begun to establish concurrent links between dissatisfaction with relationship power and inequity, dating violence and depressive symptoms, but has been limited to predominantly Caucasian, college convenience samples (Kaura & Allen, 2004; Ronfeldt et al., 1998; Welsh et al., 1999). • Few studies have examined the risk and protective factors of decision-making power in young adult dating relationships over time. Females who have more decision-making power in their relationships are reporting lower levels of depression two years later (β = .24*). RESULTS RESEARCH QUESTIONS Males who have more decision-making power in their relationships are victimized by higher levels of psychological aggression (β = .26*) and physical aggression by their partners two years later (β = .34**) • The current study uses hierarchical regression analyses to explore the following questions: • 1. Does possessing more relationship power relative to one’s partner predict lower levels of internalizing symptoms over time? • Does possessing more relationship power predict increases in partner aggression over time ? • Are there gender differences in the relationship between powerlessness and psychopathology? CONCLUSIONS • Possessing more power may feel good, but is it good for your relationship? • Findings suggest that relationship dysfunction may be more closely tied to psychopathological functioning in females. Gender socialization theories suggest that the female identity may be more closely tied to affiliation and intimacy; therefore relationships may play a more central role in their future well-being (Whisman, 2001). • The less powerful partner in a relationship may engage in verbally and physically aggressive behaviors as compensatory means by which to regain control, consistent with previous research (Babcock et al., 1993; Sagrestano et al., 1999). • Future research should assess observed power dynamics in dating relationships, in order to enhance our understanding of the multidimensional aspects of power, the role of gender in power dynamics, and its implications for functioning over time. Note. *p < .05 ** p < .01. N =93. Final Beta weights are presented above for analyses covarying gender and total income. Full Information Maximum Likelihood(FIML) was employed to handle occasional missing data.