TITLE:
The Construct of Change in Close Relationships
AUTHORS:
Anna H. C. Neo, Weining C. Chang
KEYWORDS:
Change, Relationship Beliefs, Implicit Beliefs, Close Relationships, Romantic Relationships, Scale Validation
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.8 No.8,
June
23,
2017
ABSTRACT: Relationship beliefs are individual’s cognitive representations of interpersonal relationships found to contribute to the functioning, development and resolution of close relationships. The present study extends Rogge and Bradbury’s (2002) multidimensional approach to the understanding of relationship change by exploring the construct of change that involves both intentional interventions and naturally occurring changes. We conducted two studies on Singaporean Chinese adults, aged 18 to 29 years old. Study 1 explored the laypeople’s construct of relationship change through qualitative interviews. The responses were utilized to develop the Relationship Beliefs about Change (RBC) scale. Study 2 aimed to validate the RBC scale and found three dimensions: Agent of Change (AGC), Inevitable Change (IC), and Managing Change (MC). The RBC demonstrated adequate psychometric properties as an assessment of change beliefs in relationship. The scale revealed a multifaceted system of beliefs consisting of the constantly changing nature of relationship: AGC—who or what changes; IC—the belief system about change, and MC—the need for intervention to curb changes in relationships.