The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Improving goal outcomes through relational catalyst support

Improving goal outcomes through relational catalyst support
Improving goal outcomes through relational catalyst support
Based on attachment theory, the theory of thriving through relationships describes the interpersonal process of relational catalyst (RC) support (i.e., emotional or practical support that is responsive to the recipient’s needs) for life’s opportunities in the absence of adversity. While existing literature is clear that partner support positively predicts goal outcomes overall, relatively little is known about by how much, for whom, in which kinds of relationships, and under what conditions partner support is beneficial for goal outcomes. I investigate these research questions in this six-paper thesis. I begin by evaluating the existing literature in a meta-analysis (Manuscript 1). I establish that partner support moderately and positively predicts goal outcomes. Responsive and practical support were equally effective providing support for the theory of thriving through relationships. In Manuscript 2, I use state-of-the-art machine learning techniques to identify the most important individual (attachment avoidance, well-being) and relational (relationship satisfaction, trust, commitment, empathy) predictors of partner support. Manuscript 3 focuses on the link between goal conflict and the RC support process (seeking, perceiving, and providing support as well as pursuing life’s opportunities). In three studies, I show that high goal conflict is a strong negative predictor of all parts of the RC support process. The final three manuscripts extend the thriving through relationships framework by showing that RC support can still be beneficial even in the presence of adversity (COVID-19). Manuscript 4 shows that RC support is effective for goal outcomes during the pandemic. I also show that goal conflict is negatively associated and successful negotiation of goal conflict positively associated with partner support (Manuscript 5) and goal outcomes (Manuscript 6). Together these studies provide robust evidence for the importance of partner support for goal outcomes and highlight several individual, relational, and contextual factors that predict the effectiveness of the support.
University of Southampton
Vowels, Laura Marika
c30dc6eb-4a98-4534-b784-499c2d291c5f
Vowels, Laura Marika
c30dc6eb-4a98-4534-b784-499c2d291c5f
Carnelley, Katherine
02a55020-a0bc-480e-a0ff-c8fe56ee9c36
Sedikides, Constantine
9d45e66d-75bb-44de-87d7-21fd553812c2

Vowels, Laura Marika (2021) Improving goal outcomes through relational catalyst support. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis, 316pp.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

Based on attachment theory, the theory of thriving through relationships describes the interpersonal process of relational catalyst (RC) support (i.e., emotional or practical support that is responsive to the recipient’s needs) for life’s opportunities in the absence of adversity. While existing literature is clear that partner support positively predicts goal outcomes overall, relatively little is known about by how much, for whom, in which kinds of relationships, and under what conditions partner support is beneficial for goal outcomes. I investigate these research questions in this six-paper thesis. I begin by evaluating the existing literature in a meta-analysis (Manuscript 1). I establish that partner support moderately and positively predicts goal outcomes. Responsive and practical support were equally effective providing support for the theory of thriving through relationships. In Manuscript 2, I use state-of-the-art machine learning techniques to identify the most important individual (attachment avoidance, well-being) and relational (relationship satisfaction, trust, commitment, empathy) predictors of partner support. Manuscript 3 focuses on the link between goal conflict and the RC support process (seeking, perceiving, and providing support as well as pursuing life’s opportunities). In three studies, I show that high goal conflict is a strong negative predictor of all parts of the RC support process. The final three manuscripts extend the thriving through relationships framework by showing that RC support can still be beneficial even in the presence of adversity (COVID-19). Manuscript 4 shows that RC support is effective for goal outcomes during the pandemic. I also show that goal conflict is negatively associated and successful negotiation of goal conflict positively associated with partner support (Manuscript 5) and goal outcomes (Manuscript 6). Together these studies provide robust evidence for the importance of partner support for goal outcomes and highlight several individual, relational, and contextual factors that predict the effectiveness of the support.

Text
Improving goal outcomes through relational catalyst support - Version of Record
Available under License University of Southampton Thesis Licence.
Download (4MB)
Text
Laura Vowels - Permission to deposit thesis
Restricted to Repository staff only
Available under License University of Southampton Thesis Licence.

More information

Published date: March 2021

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 449344
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/449344
PURE UUID: 064e7a81-16dc-4aa6-a5ff-ac6ca9ce7b6b
ORCID for Laura Marika Vowels: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-5594-2095
ORCID for Katherine Carnelley: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-4064-8576
ORCID for Constantine Sedikides: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-4036-889X

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 25 May 2021 16:34
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 02:51

Export record

Contributors

Author: Laura Marika Vowels ORCID iD
Thesis advisor: Katherine Carnelley ORCID iD
Thesis advisor: Constantine Sedikides ORCID iD

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×