Prediction of Relationship Stability and Quality Using Vocal Stress Measures, Demand-Withdraw Communication Pattern, and Sequential Analysis
Final Report Abstract
Across cultures (Germany and United States) and communication settings (conflict discussions and social support interactions), the set of findings contains what we think are important links between vocally encoded emotional arousal as measured by f0 and relationship functioning. Both concurrent and longitudinal associations between f0 and variables of interest were found in hypothesized directions. Cross-sectionally, higher levels of f0 are associated with greater physiological arousal, lower selfreported relationship functioning, and more negative and fewer positive observed communication behaviors as well as higher levels of psychopathology (namely, depression). These results are consistent with the well-established body of work examining encoded arousal in individuals and are consistent with the literature linking emotional arousal indexed with other measures to poorer relationship and individual functioning. Significant links have been found for summary scores of vocally encoded arousal (averaging individual f0 scores across an entire interaction) as well as for continuously assessed levels of f0. Longitudinally, higher levels of f0 have been linked to a number of unwanted outcomes over the course of 11 years like a reduction in skills remembered from a preventive couple-relationship education program and a higher likelihood for divorce and relationship dissolution. Furthermore, higher sequential f0 scores across an interaction were predictive of lower levels of relationship satisfaction 3.5 years later. This investigation was the first study to investigate sequential, cyclical patterns of vocally encoded emotional arousal in spousal communication, thus providing new directions for research in the couple arena by identifying a major domain requiring attention in couples research and behavioral couplerelationship education. Additionally, close associations between nonverbal and verbal aspects of communication (demand/withdraw interaction pattern) were found, giving support to the assumption of Actor-Partner Interdependence Models (APIM) that spouses influence each other reciprocally in terms of their emotional arousal. Thus, communication quality in general is shown to be an important aspect of distressed relationships and their course. Furthermore, the project at hand is the first one the investigators are aware of that included investigation of f0 in two different types of couple-based intervention studies using two different behavioral communication tasks with each type of study conducted both in Germany and the US. The long term relationships between investigators in Germany and the US at these two sites have provided a rare opportunity to conduct this investigation using similar interventions, measures, and overall methodologies. Whereas this opportunity for cross cultural validation is rare, it is even more unique to detect these patterns of findings across countries with other couples experiencing a very different life circumstance, mainly breast cancer. The current unobtrusive measure of arousal, f0, is a whole new line of research for the couple area, and the findings from the investigation conducted thus far suggest that this is a fruitful avenue for continued investigation in dyadic relationships. In future research, we hope to use the knowledge gained from the currently funded DFG grants to additionally examine other important dyadic interactions, such as between psychotherapist and client during psychotherapy sessions.
Publications
- (2012). Greater emotional arousal predicts poorer long-term memory of communication skills in couples. Behavior Research and Therapy, 50, 442-447
Baucom, B.R., Weusthoff, S., Atkins, D.C., & Hahlweg, K.
(See online at https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2012.03.010) - (2013). Fundamental frequency during couple conflict: An analysis of physiological, behavioral, and sex-linked information encoded in vocal expression. Journal of Family Psychology, 27, 212-220
Weusthoff, S., Baucom, B. R., & Hahlweg, K.
(See online at https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0031887) - (2013). The Siren song of vocal fundamental frequency for romantic relationships. Frontiers in Psychology, 4:439
Weusthoff, S., Baucom, B. R., & Hahlweg, K.
(See online at https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00439) - (2014). The interpersonal process model of demand/withdraw behavior. Journal of Family Psychology
Baucom, B. R., Dickenson, J. A., Atkins, D. C., Baucom, D. H., Fischer, M. S., Weusthoff, S., Hahlweg, K., & Zimmermann, T.
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000044) - Emotional arousal predicts observed social support in German and American couples talking about breast cancer. Journal of Family Psychology, 2015 Oct;29(5):744-54
Fischer, M. S., Baucom, D. H., Baucom, B. R., Weusthoff, S., Hahlweg, K., Atkins, D. C., Porter, L. S., & Zimmermann, T.
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000092) - Predicting long-term risk for divorce using non-parametric conditional survival trees. Journal of Family Psychology, 2015 Dec;29(6):807-17
Kliem, S., Weusthoff, S., Hahlweg, K. , Baucom, K.J. & Baucom, B.R.
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000134)
