TY - JOUR
T1 - A qualitative analysis of on-again/off-again romantic relationships
T2 - "It's up and down, all around"
AU - Dailey, René M.
AU - Rossetto, Kelly R.
AU - Pfiester, Abigail
AU - Surra, Catherine A.
PY - 2009/6
Y1 - 2009/6
N2 - Although relational research predominantly conceptualizes romantic relationships as either together or apart, some relationships break up and renew (i.e., on-again/off-again relationships). Partners' accounts of on-again/off-again relational experiences were qualitatively analyzed to explore both reasons for breakups and reasons for renewals. Themes were interpreted within an interdependence framework to explain why partners dissolved as well as renewed their relationships. The themes in combination suggest renewals occurred due to dissatisfying experiences with alternative relationship partners and an increase in outcomes (i.e., rewards minus costs) after breakups. Partners' post-dissolution contact and their uncertainty about relational status may have further facilitated renewals. More generally, the themes suggest, for on-again/ off-again partners, breakups did not indicate the end of interdependence but rather a redefinition of the relationship.
AB - Although relational research predominantly conceptualizes romantic relationships as either together or apart, some relationships break up and renew (i.e., on-again/off-again relationships). Partners' accounts of on-again/off-again relational experiences were qualitatively analyzed to explore both reasons for breakups and reasons for renewals. Themes were interpreted within an interdependence framework to explain why partners dissolved as well as renewed their relationships. The themes in combination suggest renewals occurred due to dissatisfying experiences with alternative relationship partners and an increase in outcomes (i.e., rewards minus costs) after breakups. Partners' post-dissolution contact and their uncertainty about relational status may have further facilitated renewals. More generally, the themes suggest, for on-again/ off-again partners, breakups did not indicate the end of interdependence but rather a redefinition of the relationship.
KW - Dating relationships
KW - Interdependence
KW - On-again/off-again relationships
KW - Reconciliation
KW - Relational dissolution
KW - Relational stability
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=72149100468&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0265407509351035
DO - 10.1177/0265407509351035
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:72149100468
SN - 0265-4075
VL - 26
SP - 443
EP - 466
JO - Journal of Social and Personal Relationships
JF - Journal of Social and Personal Relationships
IS - 4
ER -