Abstract
The purpose of this study was to identify the specific behaviors daughters-in-law (DILs) use to maintain relationships with their mothers-in-law (MILs). Participants were 85 DILs who identified the behaviors they use to maintain their relationships with their MILs. Together, they identified 416 behaviors that were then coded into 14 categories of relational maintenance behaviors: mediated communication, family involvement, showing respect, keeping the peace, thoughtfulness, avoiding contact, expressing gratitude, visits, instrumental help, sharing meals, joint activities, frequent communication, common interests, and husband as buffer. From this, we concluded there are three general categories of behaviors in which DILs use: DILs engage in routines and rituals, work towards integrating the MIL, and minimize the relational strain. Future research needs to address how both DILs and MILs utilize relational maintenance behaviors with each other as well as how the use of these relational maintenance behaviors affect DIL/MIL relational quality.
Journal Title
Iowa Journal of Communication
Volume
49
Issue
1
First Page
67
Last Page
79
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Donato, Mary E. and Myers, Scott A.
(2017)
"Keeping the Peace: Daughters In-Law's Relational Maintenance Behaviors with their Mothers In-Law,"
Iowa Journal of Communication: Vol. 49:
No.
1, Article 7.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/ijc/vol49/iss1/7
Copyright
©2017 Iowa Communication Association
