Exhibit 3.

1 Relational Satisfaction Portion of Literary Review to Communication

Research Methods Group Project
Relational satisfaction or satisfaction level, has been conceptualized in a way that,
concerns the degree to which an individual favorably evaluates a relationship and believes that a
partner fulfills important needs; satisfaction encompasses all of the positive and negative feelings
that are associated with a relationship (Rusbult & Buunk, 1993). Previous research on
satisfaction in relationships across different contexts has indicated a number of different
constructs of relational satisfaction that are associated with these positive and negative feelings.
Some of these, which relate to communication apprehension and anxiety, include communication
satisfaction, attachment, and self-disclosure.
Communication satisfaction (CS) relies on fulfilling expectations in a communication
situation (Rubin & Rubin, 1989). The most powerful indicators of CS are communication skills,
motivation and communication adaptability. In a study of 180 naturally occurring dyads, the
links between CS and five communication skills (anxiety, immediacy, expressiveness, interaction
management, and other-orientation) were examined (Spitzberg & Hecht, 1984). It was found that
the best predictor of both self and others communication satisfaction was other-orientation,
while immediacy acted as a secondary contributor to the others communication satisfaction.
One must communicate an other orientation or concern and interest in self in order for self to
feel satisfied with the conversation (Spitzberg & Hecht, 1984). In order for both individuals in a
communication occurrence to achieve self-satisfaction, however, interaction management is
highly necessary as well. This indicates the importance of a smooth-flowing conversation for a
communicators feelings about self. Strong interaction management skills mean a satisfying
distribution of speaking turns and an effective and emotionally fulfilling conversational rhythm
and flow (Spitzberg & Hecht, 1984).

Exhibit 3.1 Relational Satisfaction Portion of Literary Review to Communication

Research Methods Group Project
Along with communication skills, motivation has an effect on communication
satisfaction. Motivation, proved to be the best predictor of selfs communication satisfaction
and a significant predictor of selfs other satisfaction. Motivated participants in a
communication interaction produce more efficient communication (Spitzberg & Hecht, 1984).
Motivation and skill not only predict aspects of communication satisfaction, but they provide an
effective model of competent communication as well. Ones satisfaction in a communication
interaction can be affected by the degree to which the other is skilled, non-anxious, open,
involved and motivated (Spitzberg & Hecht, 1984).
In addition to communication skills and motivation it has also been found that
communication adaptability relates to CS in interpersonal settings (Duran & Zakahi, 1987).
Originally, it was presumed that communication adaptability consisted of social composure with
appropriate disclosure and articulation (Duran, 1983). However, it was later determined that an
attentive and friendly communication style, appropriate disclosure, social experience, openness,
impression, leaving, being animated, social control, with, good articulation and social relaxation
were also relevant (Duran & Zakahi, 1987). While it was determined that qualities of
communication adaptability relate to CS, they also relate to low levels of communication
apprehension (Wheeless & Duran, 1982).
A determining link between communication apprehension and communication
satisfaction was discovered when people with high levels of communication apprehension
reported less pleasure in communication situations than people with low levels of
communication apprehension (Biggers & Masterson, 1984). Furthermore, higher levels of CA
are linked to lower levels of CS. The interrelationship of these constructs provides evidence that
satisfaction is a significant outcome of apprehension (Rubin & Rubin 1989).

Exhibit 3.1 Relational Satisfaction Portion of Literary Review to Communication

Research Methods Group Project
Another primary construct of relational satisfaction is attachment. As a relationship
progresses, individuals develop a secure or insecure attachment to their partner. The main
concept behind attachment is security, which is based on the development of a positive model of
self and of others. High levels of security are associated with confidence, while low levels of
security are associated with dismissiveness and preoccupation (Guerrero, Farinelli & McEwan,
2009). The varying levels of security amongst adults affects not only their attachment to
caregivers, but to significant others in adulthood as well (Hazan & Shaver, 1987). These
significant others may include romantic partners. Previous research suggests that levels of
security influence relational satisfaction. It has been found that individuals with high levels of
security are happier and more trusting in their relationships, than those who are considered,
insecure (Hazan & Shaver, 1987). Also, when a relationship has two individuals that exhibit high
levels of security, it has been shown to be highly satisfying (Senchak & Leonard, 1992).
While high levels of security are positively correlated with high levels of relational
satisfaction, attachment styles which display communication traits that indicate lower levels of
security, such as avoidance and anxiety, are negatively correlated with relational satisfaction
(Simpson, 1990). In a study that examined the impact of secure, anxious and avoidant attachment
styles on romantic relationships, the anxious and avoidant attachment styles were associated with
lower levels of relationship interdependence, commitment, trust and satisfaction than the secure
attachment style (Simpson, 1990). These attachment styles also displayed differences in
emotions as well. The anxious and avoidant attachment styles were associated with less frequent
positive emotions and more frequent negative emotions in the relationship than the secure
attachment style (Simpson, 1990). Anxious attachment styles have also shown differences in
marital satisfaction between husbands and wives (Feeney, 1994). Not only is the satisfaction of

Exhibit 3.1 Relational Satisfaction Portion of Literary Review to Communication

Research Methods Group Project
wives associated with low levels of anxiety, but their levels of anxiety are also inversely related
to their husbands satisfaction in the marriage. These findings suggest that the effects of
attachment on satisfaction in marriage are more determined by the communication patterns of
wives, than those of husbands, but that anxious attachment styles have an effect on satisfaction in
marriage (Feeney, 1994). Since communication apprehension has been identified as a persons
level of fear or anxiety they associate with true or untrue anticipated communication with
another person or other people (McCroskey, 1977), and the secure, anxious and avoidant
attachment styles have shown these differing effects on relational satisfaction, a link between
communication apprehension and relational satisfaction may exist.
Along with communication apprehension, relational satisfaction is different across
contextual backgrounds. Different factors influence levels of relational satisfaction across
different contexts. In marriage, although there are many components which lead to stable marital
satisfaction, marital communication is most prevalent (Jorgensen & Gaudy, 1980). Selfdisclosure has been identified as a key component in assessing marital satisfaction (Petronio,
1991, 2000, 2002). Self-disclosure has the potential to either greatly enhance or severely disturb
an interpersonal relationship, depending on the nature of the information that is disclosed. While
definitions have ranged from very broad to highly restrictive, in a study concerning the
variability in communication behavior regarding self-disclosure, it has been defined as, any
information about the self that is intentionally or unintentionally communicated to another
person through verbal or nonverbal messages (McCroskey & Richmond, 1977). Self-disclosure
varies from person to person in that some people disclose more about themselves than others in
general, but we also disclose more to some people, than to others. Not only do levels of

Exhibit 3.1 Relational Satisfaction Portion of Literary Review to Communication

Research Methods Group Project
disclosure vary from person to person, but individuals vary in their disclosure by the context of
communication (McCroskey & Richmond, 1977).
As patterns of self-disclosure change across different contexts, it is an important factor in
determining relational satisfaction across many different contexts as well. It is believed that
when couples self-disclose; they will enhance each others satisfaction within the relationship
(Jorgensen & Gaudy, 1980). While it is typically important in influencing relational satisfaction,
self-disclosure does not have this effect in every context. To achieve satisfaction in parent-child
relationships, the constructive management of conflict is the most important part (La Valley &
Guerrero, 2012). In these relationships, it is important to resolve conflict differently along the
lifespan of the child, assuming that when they are younger, their behavior is more highly
regulated by their parents, than as they get older (Burleson, Delia & Applegate, 1995).
While certain levels of self-disclosure are important in maintaining satisfaction in other
kinds of relationships, as children get older, they may be more satisfied withholding more
information about themselves. The effect could carry over into adulthood, reflecting the
curvilinear association found between self-disclosure in marriage and marriage satisfaction.
(Jorgensen & Gaudy, 1980). In order for a relationship to remain satisfactory for both relational
partners, they need both open and closed patterns of disclosure (Petronio, 1991, 2000, 2002).
Marital couples manage talking about private matters with each other by balancing the need for
disclosure with the need for privacy (Petronio, 1991). The balance between these two needs may
be assessed by examining the expectations of boundary management in a relationship. Along
with individual feelings of self-disclosure of themselves, levels of self-disclosure in a
relationship must be coordinated with relational partners expectations of each others patterns
for self-disclosure and boundary management (Petronio, 1991). Levels of disclosure are

Exhibit 3.1 Relational Satisfaction Portion of Literary Review to Communication

Research Methods Group Project
indicative of satisfaction in a relationship when they are coordinated properly with the
expectations of disclosure patterns and boundaries held within each relational partner (Petronio,
1991).
Over the course of a marital relationship, expectations of boundaries in communication
are either met or violated. The patterns of interaction that develop as a result of the meeting or
violating of these boundaries could affect the marital relationship either positively or negatively
(Petronio, 1991). If a pattern of interaction develops as a result of repeated violations of expected
boundaries, this pattern could negatively affect the relationship. The repeated use of
communicative patterns that display lower levels of self-disclosure than what is expected by the
relational partner, would lead to negative feelings in the relational partners assessment of the
relationship because their expectations of disclosure are not being met. The coordination
regarding levels of disclosure of private information and the management of communicative
boundaries is important in assessing the satisfaction for marital relationships (Petronio, 1991).
This connection between levels of disclosure, expectations and boundaries might provide
a link between communication apprehension and relational satisfaction. Since individuals who
are high in communication apprehension are fearful and anxious during real or anticipated
communication experiences, it has an effect on their fear and anxiety regarding self-disclosure as
well. If individuals with high levels of communication apprehension perceive that they are more
likely to disclose negative information, it supports the idea that they would attempt to avoid this
result by limiting or restricting their disclosure (McCroskey & Richmond, 1977). If high levels
of communication apprehension lead to the restriction of disclosure, and levels of disclosure do
not meet the expectations of relational partners, then there should be a negative correlation
between communication apprehension and relational satisfaction.