Sample Literature Review (Paper 1)

Maintenance Behaviors, Equity, and Relational Satisfaction: A look at the interconnectedness between assurances and positivity, equity, and relationship satisfaction

Dainton stated that personal relationships "are constituted by the communication that takes place within them…and that everyday interactions provide the force that sustains relationships" (Dainton, 1998, p. 101, citing the original authors, Duck & Pittman, 1994). Specifically, Canary & Stafford (1992) argue that there are certain types of interaction behavior that act to preserve ongoing relationships. These maintenance strategies are used to sustain desired relational definitions. Various researchers have linked relationship maintenance behaviors and relationship satisfaction together (e.g. Dainton, 2000; Dindia, 1989, as cited in Stafford & Canary, 1991). Furthermore, other theorists have connected equity to both maintenance behaviors and relationship satisfaction (e.g. Stafford & Canary, 1992). The purpose of this study is to further evaluate the relationships between two specific maintenance behaviors, relationship satisfaction, and equity.

Maintenance Behaviors
There are some theorists who have argued that relationships are naturally inclined to decay without the ongoing investment of exchange (e.g. Levinger, 1983, as cited in Dindia & Baxter, 1987). Because of this, there is a need to employ various maintenance strategy behaviors in order to preserve the relationship. Relationship maintenance usually refers to keeping "a relationship in a specified state or condition" (Dindia & Canary 1993a, as cited in Ragsdale 1996, p. 354). Stafford and Canary (1991) have uncovered five types of relationship maintenance strategies employed to maintain relationships. Stafford and Canary asked various individuals in relationships to tell what they did to maintain satisfactory relationships (Stafford & Canar,y 1991, as cited in Dainton, 2000). Through this, they were able to find the following maintenance strategies: positivity, assurances, openness, social networks, and shared tasks. Positivity refers to behaving in a cheerful and optimistic manner. Assurances are messages, which stress commitment to the partner and the relationship. Openness includes both self-disclosure as well as direct discussion of the relationship. Social networks rely upon the mutual friends and affiliations. Shared tasks involve equal responsibility for accomplishing tasks that face the couple. These five strategies exemplify the proactive approaches that individuals may use to maintain their relationship involvement (Stafford & Canary, 1991).
Assurances, Positivity, and Relationship Satisfaction
Relationship satisfaction is most often described as an "individual's attitude toward the partner and the relationship typically in the terms of the perceived quality of the relationship" (Dainton et al., 1994, p. 90). In regards to marriage, relationship satisfaction experienced by each marital partner is considered by some to be one of the best indicators of marital stability (Kelley & Burgoon, 1991). Because relationship satisfaction can be an effective indicator of relationship stability, much research has been done to find what exactly influences relationship satisfaction. What makes some couples more satisfied than others?
Numerous studies have shown that "the five maintenance strategies are consistent and strong predictors of relational characteristics such as love, liking, satisfaction, commitment, and control mutability" (Dainton, 2000, p. 829). In fact, one of the definitions of relational maintenance is to maintain a satisfying relationship (Dindia & Canary, 1993). The purpose of this study is to more closely evaluate two of these maintenance strategies, assurances and positivity, in regards to relationship satisfaction. Previous research has shown that the use of assurances is the largest predictor of relationship satisfaction (e.g. Stafford & Canary, 1991; Dainton, 2000). Furthermore, Dainton et al. (1994) found that assurances and positivity were the two best predictors of satisfaction in their study of husbands and wives. Based upon the numerous studies connecting maintenance behaviors, and more specifically assurances and positivity, the first hypothesis is proposed:

H1: Assurances and positivity will be positively related to relational satisfaction.

Equity
Interrelated to both maintenance behaviors and relationship satisfaction is the concept of equity. Equity is based on "distributive justice," which holds that "fairness is determined by comparing partners' outcome-input ratios" (Canary & Stafford, 1992). Therefore, if these output-input ratios are the same then the relationship is equal. The main idea of equity theory is that people are always attempting to maximize their outcomes. These outcomes are in turn maximized in equitable relationships. Along these same lines is interdependence theory, which states that relational outcomes rely upon the rewards and costs that relationship partners experience (Thibaut & Kelley, 1959, as cited in Dainton, 2000). Both equity and interdependence theories "suggest that the partner's use of maintenance strategies serves as a reward to individuals in relationships and the theories would predict that the extent to which one's expectations for maintenance activities are fulfilled affects one's own relational satisfaction" (Dainton, 2000, p. 828).

Equity, Assurances and Positivity
In general, equity theory states that relational partners will weigh their contributions (inputs) in the relationship in terms of the benefits (outputs) that they receive (Ragsdale, 1996). Furthermore, they will also calculate the inputs and outputs of their partners as well. In regards to inputs and outputs, Canary and Stafford have argued that "maintenance behavior strategies serve as both outcomes and inputs in equity calculations-in short, maintenance behaviors engaged in by the partner are rewards, but maintenance behaviors engaged in by the individual are costs"(Canary & Stafford, 1992, as cited in Dainton, 2000, p. 829). If this is the case, then equity can in part be defined by the use of maintenance behavior strategies. Canary and Stafford (1992 as cited in Ragsdale, 1996) hypothesized that equitable relationships would use the largest number of maintenance behaviors to maintain the relationship. Canary and Stafford did find that relationship maintenance strategies were most common in wife-defined equitable marriages. This research seeks to build on this study by Canary and Stafford and states the hypothesis:

H2: People in equitable relationships use more assurances and positivity than individuals in inequitable relationships.

Equity and Relationship Satisfaction
Because of the relationship between maintenance behaviors and equity, equity may also be a predictor of relationship satisfaction. Stafford and Canary (1992, p. 244) have proposed that "equity directly affects continuance behaviors, and both equity and maintenance behaviors affect relational outcomes." In addition, there have been several researchers who have linked equity and relationship satisfaction. Some theorists have gone so far as to develop the definition of relationship satisfaction to include the concept of equity (e.g. Stafford & Canary, 1992; Ragsdale, 1996). Stafford and Canary (1991, p. 225) define a satisfying relationship as "one in which the distribution of rewards is equitable and the relational rewards outweigh the costs." Based upon this definition, several theorists have related relationship satisfaction to both interdependence and equity theories (e.g. Stafford & Canary, 1992; Ragsdale, 1996). Interdependence theory states that relational outcomes rely upon the rewards and costs that partners experience (Dainton, 2000). As a result of this, relationship satisfaction is calculated by "the discrepancy between what an individual actually experiences and what he or she expects to experience" (Dainton, 2000, p. 828). The investment model was developed based upon the interdependence theory and asserts, "higher reward value and lower cost value should induce greater satisfaction within relationships" (Rusbult et al., 1986). Social exchange theorists "believe that the survival or demise of a relationship is contingent upon rewards outweighing the costs (Thibaut & Kelley, 1959). Thus, maintaining a relationship requires that partners provide one another with rewards" (Guerrero et al., 1993, p. 274). If stability of a relationship is based largely upon relationship satisfaction and stability is contingent upon equity, then the question is raised as to whether there is a relationship between equity and relationship satisfaction. Therefore, the research question asks:

R: Are individuals in equitable relationships more satisfied by their relationships than those in inequitable relationships?

References

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Dainton, M. (1998). Everyday Interaction in Marital Relationships: Variations in Relative
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Dainton, M. (2000). Maintenance behaviors, expectations for maintenance, and satisfaction:
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Dainton, M., Stafford, L., & Canary, D. J. (1994). Maintenance Strategies and Physical
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Dindia, K. & Baxter, L. (1987). Strategies for Maintaining and Repairing Marital
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Dindia, K., & Canary, D. J. (1993). Definitions and Theoretical Perspectives on Maintaining
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Kelley, D. L, & Burgoon, J.K. (1991). Understanding Marital Satisfaction and Couple Type
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Ragsdale, J. D., (1996). Gender, Satisfaction Level, and the Use of Relational Maintenance
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Rusbult, C. E., Johnson, D. J., & Morrow, G. D. (1986). Predicting Satisfaction and
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Stafford, L., & Canary, D. J. (1991). Maintenance Strategies and Romantic Relationship
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