Journal article
Relational uncertainty management in adult children of divorce
JOURNAL OF APPLIED COMMUNICATION RESEARCH, Vol.46(4), pp.469-490
01/01/2018
DOI: 10.1080/00909882.2018.1500025
Abstract
Utilizing uncertainty management theory (UMT) and a multiple goals theory of personal relationships (MGPR) the present study examined how adult children of divorce (ACOD) manage relational uncertainty following parental divorce. In-depth, semi-structured interviews with 25 adult children who had experienced parental divorce when they were 18 years of age or older revealed two, broad types of information acquisition strategies: deliberate (i.e. information-seeking and information-avoiding) and incidental (i.e. incidental information acquisition). Deliberate information acquisition strategies were animated by several goals, including reducing and maintaining uncertainty, avoiding feeling caught, and protection. Alongside goals, various constraints (e.g. target efficacy, coping efficacy) played a role in ACOD's relational uncertainty management. We discuss these results in relation to their theoretical and practical applications.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Relational uncertainty management in adult children of divorce
- Creators
- Sylvia L. Mikucki-Enyart - University of IowaSarah R. Petitte - University of Nebraska–LincolnSarah E. Wilder - Luther College
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- JOURNAL OF APPLIED COMMUNICATION RESEARCH, Vol.46(4), pp.469-490
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- DOI
- 10.1080/00909882.2018.1500025
- ISSN
- 0090-9882
- eISSN
- 1479-5752
- Number of pages
- 22
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/01/2018
- Academic Unit
- Communication Studies; Public Policy Center (Archive); Center for Social Science Innovation
- Record Identifier
- 9984283570602771
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