Time-varying relational interaction dynamics in couples discussing conflict

The process of discussing conflict can impact the quality and longevity of a couple’s relationship. Limited research has characterized the dynamic nature of conflict discussions, including how these discussions unfold and how an actor’s behaviour elicits particular responses from their partner over the course of the discussion. It is also important to consider how additional factors, such as alcohol intoxication, can influence this dynamic. A challenge in conducting this research is having sufficiently fine-grained data along with appropriate analytic methods to characterize the conversation dynamics. To address this gap, we utilized time-varying effect modeling (TVEM) to examine the correspondence of actor-partner behaviours as a function of time and alcohol consumption. We examined this using data from 139 heterosexual couples who were observed for 15 minutes while discussing a conflict. Couples were randomly assigned to have either one, both, or neither drink alcohol prior to the discussion. Using the Rapid Marital Interaction Coding System (RMICS), individuals’ behaviours were coded as either positive, negative, or neutral during each speaking turn. The results supported that positive behaviour tended to elicit positive behaviour and the strength of this relationship increased over the course of discussing conflict. While negative behaviours tended to elicit negative behaviours, the strength of this relationship was stable over time. Alcohol consumption did not alter the relations between actor-partner behaviours over time. Taken together, the findings support the dynamic nature of some aspects of actor-partner behaviours when discussing conflict. Future research could consider how these dynamics predict future relational outcomes or characterize how they unfold in naturalistic settings.