Date of Award

8-2024

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Amy Naugle, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Scott Gaynor, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Gary Bischof, Ph.D.

Fourth Advisor

Tara Cornelius, Ph.D.

Keywords

Couples, experiential avoidance, relationships, self-disclosure

Abstract

The present dissertation project investigated relationship enhancement following a brief self-disclosure task (i.e., the Fast Friends Procedure; FFP) via self-report and observational data. Thirty-three undergraduate couples dating for less than six months asked and answered questions that required increasingly higher levels of self-disclosure for 45 minutes. Interactions were recorded and coded for fondness/admiration, experiential avoidance, interdependence, reciprocity, and relationship satisfaction. Relationship outcomes were assessed pre-FFP, post- FFP, and at a six-month follow-up timepoint. Variables measured via observation demonstrated correlations with and predicted relationship outcomes, though most findings were nonsignificant. Nonsignificant findings may be attributed to the virtual administration of the task, follow-up attrition, and limitations inherent in the collection of observational data. Future investigators may find value in adding an acceptance task or recruiting highly experientially avoidant individuals to explore how these changes may impact relationship outcomes further.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

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Psychology Commons

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