12/12
FR 2-6
Abstract
How Family-of-Origin Perspectives Influence Self and Partner Attributions
Prepared by:
Kelly Johnson
Marriage and Family Therapy Graduate Student
kellynj@okstate.edu
Brandt Gardner, Ph.D.
Professor
343 HES, Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078-6122
brandt.garnder@okstate.edu
Gardner, B. C., Busby, D. M., Burr, B. K., & Lyon, S. E. (2011). Getting to the root of relationship
attributions: Family-of-origin perspectives on self and partner views. Contemporary Family
Therapy, 33, 253-272. doi: 10.1007/s10591-011-9163-5
IMPLICATIONS
FOR
COOPERATIVE
EXTENSION: The results of this study indicate that
there is an association between family-of-origin
(FOO) experiences and the formation of relationship
attributions. This is especially pronounced in
attributions made about one’s own communication
and personality variables, as well as one’s partner’s
communication and personality variables.
Marital/couple therapists and family life educators
may incorporate these findings into their therapeutic
interventions and sessions.
Highlighting the
importance of the FOO may also facilitate partners
in understanding how each other’s histories impact
their current relationship attributions.
Overview
A vast amount of literature confirms that the FOO
experience influences multiple areas of development
and functioning. Some of these areas include
relationship
outcomes,
relational
processes,
communication
patterns
and
relationship
satisfaction. The previous research on attributions
indicates that relational attributions impact areas
such as communication, problem resolution, and
satisfaction in couple’s relationships. There is less
known about the connection between the FOO and
attributions in future relationships. The purpose of
this study is to examine how the FOO experiences
influence self and relational attributions made in
romantic relationships.
Method
Data was collected using the RELATionship
Evaluation (RELATE) instrument database.
Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to
analyze this data and evaluate the relationships
between variables.
Findings
The results of this study confirm that FOO
experiences contribute to the formation of relational
attributions. FOO experiences also affect the way
individuals attach meaning to their own as well as
their partner’s characteristics and behavior. Some
gender differences were found in the correlations of
communication variables. In many ways these
findings were consistent with previous literature.
Because this research is a cross-sectional design, it
only provides a “snapshot” of the associations. This
study lays ground for future research on this topic.
Researchers are encouraged to take into account the
dynamics of the FOO when examining couple
relationships.
Conclusions
This study investigates the FOO influences on
attributions made about one’s own and one’s
partner’s communication and personality. These
attributions
were
particularly
strong
for
communication variables. Further research is needed
to examine the impact of specific aspects of the FOO
experience on relational attributions. Practitioners
can benefit by incorporating FOO influences on
relationship attributions.