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Successful negotiation of goal conflict between romantic partners predicts better goal outcomes during COVID-19: A mixed methods study

Successful negotiation of goal conflict between romantic partners predicts better goal outcomes during COVID-19: A mixed methods study
Successful negotiation of goal conflict between romantic partners predicts better goal outcomes during COVID-19: A mixed methods study
When romantic partners’ personal goals conflict, this can negatively affect personal goal outcomes, such as progress. In a concurrent mixed-methods study, we investigated whether goal conflict and negation of goal conflict were associated with goal outcomes (progress, confidence, motivation) and what strategies partners used during the COVID-19 pandemic to negotiate goal conflict. Survey participants (n = 200) completed a daily diary for a week and weekly longitudinal reports for a month and interview participants (n = 48) attended a semi-structured interview. Results showed that higher goal conflict was associated with lower goal outcomes, and successful negotiation of goal conflict was associated with better goal outcomes. Qualitative analyses identified three goal conflict negotiation strategies (compromise, integration, concession). Conversations focused on both practical and emotional needs and included respectful communication and space from conflict (timeout or avoidance). The mixed-methods results suggest that goal conflict was low during the pandemic and participants were often able to negotiate goal conflict resulting in better goal outcomes.
COVID-19, goal conflict, goals, interpersonal relationships, mixed methods
0265-4075
Vowels, Laura, Marika
c30dc6eb-4a98-4534-b784-499c2d291c5f
Carnelley, Katherine B.
02a55020-a0bc-480e-a0ff-c8fe56ee9c36
Francois-Walcott, Rachel R.R.
0d0708f7-a047-4219-a27d-b30ede74fa56
Vowels, Laura, Marika
c30dc6eb-4a98-4534-b784-499c2d291c5f
Carnelley, Katherine B.
02a55020-a0bc-480e-a0ff-c8fe56ee9c36
Francois-Walcott, Rachel R.R.
0d0708f7-a047-4219-a27d-b30ede74fa56

Vowels, Laura, Marika, Carnelley, Katherine B. and Francois-Walcott, Rachel R.R. (2021) Successful negotiation of goal conflict between romantic partners predicts better goal outcomes during COVID-19: A mixed methods study. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. (doi:10.1177/02654075211033341).

Record type: Article

Abstract

When romantic partners’ personal goals conflict, this can negatively affect personal goal outcomes, such as progress. In a concurrent mixed-methods study, we investigated whether goal conflict and negation of goal conflict were associated with goal outcomes (progress, confidence, motivation) and what strategies partners used during the COVID-19 pandemic to negotiate goal conflict. Survey participants (n = 200) completed a daily diary for a week and weekly longitudinal reports for a month and interview participants (n = 48) attended a semi-structured interview. Results showed that higher goal conflict was associated with lower goal outcomes, and successful negotiation of goal conflict was associated with better goal outcomes. Qualitative analyses identified three goal conflict negotiation strategies (compromise, integration, concession). Conversations focused on both practical and emotional needs and included respectful communication and space from conflict (timeout or avoidance). The mixed-methods results suggest that goal conflict was low during the pandemic and participants were often able to negotiate goal conflict resulting in better goal outcomes.

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Accepted/In Press date: 25 June 2021
e-pub ahead of print date: 19 July 2021
Published date: 19 July 2021
Additional Information: Funding Information: The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was supported by the first author’s Jubilee Scholarship, University of Southampton. Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2021.
Keywords: COVID-19, goal conflict, goals, interpersonal relationships, mixed methods

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 450770
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/450770
ISSN: 0265-4075
PURE UUID: 650f9831-a0e1-4d3a-b1a9-6d9cdd1e90c6
ORCID for Laura, Marika Vowels: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-5594-2095
ORCID for Katherine B. Carnelley: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-4064-8576

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Date deposited: 11 Aug 2021 16:30
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 02:52

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Contributors

Author: Laura, Marika Vowels ORCID iD
Author: Rachel R.R. Francois-Walcott

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