Correlates of the perceived resolvability and relational consequences of serial arguing in dating relationships: Argumentative features and the use of coping strategies

Sometimes partners do not resolve an argument in a single episode and engag e each other in serial arguing as they repeatedly confront one another over the problem. This study concerns how features of argumentative episodes an d coping strategies enacted between episodes are related to perceived resol vability and relational quality. A survey of undergraduates in dating relat ionships indicated that engaging in relationally confirming behavior during argumentative episodes and making optimistic relational comparisons betwee n episodes were positively related to perceived resolvability and negativel y related to relational harm arising from arguing. Although other argumenta tive features and coping strategies were sometimes related to resolvability and relational harm, relational confirmation and optimistic comparisons we re more strongly associated with both.