Relational Uncertainty, Self-Other Inclusion, and Communication Satisfaction as Predictors of Friendship Relational Maintenance, and How Equity Changes the Story

摘要

Research has identified equity, self-other inclusion, and uncertainty as predictors of relational maintenance behavior. However, theory has not synthesized these predictors into an overarching explanation of maintenance processes. Therefore, in the context of friendship, this investigation examined all three as contingent and joint predictors of maintenance, with communication satisfaction as a mediator. Data were collected by surveying a sample of college students. Although results indicated uncertainty and self-other inclusion were significant predictors mediated by communication satisfaction, equity moderated the overall effect of these predictors on maintenance. Consequently, the interaction enjoyment approach seems to serve as a partial explanation of maintenance, and that, although equity is not a primary motivator of friends' maintenance behavior, it may influence sensitivity to uncertainty and closeness in the friendship.