A Dyadic Study of Relational Turbulence and Communication in Cross-sex Friendships.

摘要

This mixed-methods study tested the applicability of Solomon and Knobloch's (2004) relational turbulence model to cross-sex friendships and also explored communication in cross-sex friendships. In Study 1, 16 young adults participated in interviews concerning their experiences in cross-sex friendships. Findings from this study provided validation of the presence of turbulence in cross-sex friendships as well as insights into communication channel use in managing cross-sex friendships. Results were used to conceptualize a survey study of cross-sex friendships.;In Study 2, 76 cross-sex friend pairs (152 participants) completed an online survey about their experiences of uncertainty, interference, and turbulence in their friendship, as well as communication channel use in their friendship. Findings provide partial support for the applicability of the relational turbulence model in cross-sex friendships, as well as insight into communication channel use across cross-sex friendship types. Implications for future testing of the relational turbulence model and cross-sex friendships in general are discussed.