title: Gender role attitudes, relationship efficacy, and self-disclosure in intimate relationships.
abstract: Drawing from the intimacy process model and data from 5,042 individuals who remained partnered across Waves 1 and 2 of the German Panel Analysis of Intimate Relationships and Family Dynamics (pairfam), this study examined the contributions of traditional gender role attitudes and relationship efficacy in predicting levels of self-disclosure within an intimate relationship. Independent samples t-tests demonstrated females scored higher than males on self-disclosure and relationship efficacy measures but lower on traditional gender role attitudes. An ordinary least squares regression analysis revealed relationship efficacy was a stronger predictor of self-disclosure compared to traditional gender role attitudes, which were not associated with self-disclosure. The findings suggest attitudes with an interpersonal motivational system may be especially important for setting the intimacy process into motion within an intimate union.
authors.affiliation: a University of Alberta.
authors.forename: Rebecca M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Horne
authors.affiliation: a University of Alberta.
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D057227:Femininity; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D057228:Masculinity; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Couple relationships; gender role attitudes; intimacy process model; relationship efficacy; self-disclosure