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The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences Advance Access published online on February 19, 2009
The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, doi:10.1093/geronb/gbn031
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org.

Longitudinal Patterns of Negative Relationship Quality Across Adulthood

Kira S. Birditt, Lisa M. H. Jackey and Toni C. Antonucci

Life Course Development Program, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Address correspondence to Kira S. Birditt, PhD, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, 426 Thompson Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1248. Email: kirasb{at}umich.edu


  Abstract

Some theories suggest that negative relationship quality decreases with age, whereas others suggest that it remains stable. This study examined negative relationship quality over time, by relationship type, and by age. A total of 1,361 adults aged 20–93 years in 1992 and 840 adults in 2005 reported how much their spouse or partner, child, and best friend got on their nerves and made too many demands. Negative child relationship quality decreased over time among younger participants. Negative friend relationship quality decreased over time among people with a different friend but remained stable among people with the same friend. Negative spouse or partner relationship quality decreased over time among those who had a different partner but increased among those with the same partner. This study provides evidence of relationship-specific developmental trajectories in relationship quality.

Key Words: Longitudinal • Negative • Relationships

Received February 5, 2008; Accepted August 20, 2008

Decision Editor: Rosemary Blieszner, PhD


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