Open communication and partner support in intercultural and interfaith romantic relationships: A relational maintenance approach

• Published in: Journal of social and personal relationships Vol. 25; no. 4; pp. 539 - 559
• Main Authors: Reiter, Michael J., Gee, Christina B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.08.2008; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: College students; Communication; Culture; Ethnicity; Intercultural communication; Interfaith relationships; Intermarriage; Interpersonal communication; Interpersonal Relations; Interracial relationships; Pluralism; Race; Religion; Religiosity; Support; Young adults; interethnic; relationship satisfaction; interracial; relational maintenance; intercultural; communication; support; interfaith
• ISSN: 0265-4075; 1460-3608
• DOI: 10.1177/0265407508090872

Open communication regarding cultural and religious differences and similarities, partner support for culture and religion, and relationship distress were examined at baseline and one-year follow-up in 353 late adolescent and young adult college-students involved in romantic relationships. For intercultural relationships, at baseline, higher levels of open communication about culture were associated with lower levels of relationship distress. Longitudinally, open communication about culture was positively associated with satisfaction, but not with commitment or break-up. For interfaith unions, at baseline, higher levels of open communication about religion were associated with lower levels of relationship distress. Although involvement in an intercultural union predicted break-up at follow-up, involvement in an interfaith union did not predict break-up.