This collection includes most of the ASU Theses and Dissertations from 2011 to present. ASU Theses and Dissertations are available in downloadable PDF format; however, a small percentage of items are under embargo. Information about the dissertations/theses includes degree information, committee members, an abstract, supporting data or media.
In addition to the electronic theses found in the ASU Digital Repository, ASU Theses and Dissertations can be found in the ASU Library Catalog.
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Emerging adulthood (18 – 28 years) is a distinctive period in the life course whereyoung people are involved in the process of transitioning to adult roles in their careers
and social relationships. Due to the ongoing COVID- 19 pandemic, economic instability,
and other social factors, emerging adults in the United States are…
Emerging adulthood (18 – 28 years) is a distinctive period in the life course whereyoung people are involved in the process of transitioning to adult roles in their careers
and social relationships. Due to the ongoing COVID- 19 pandemic, economic instability,
and other social factors, emerging adults in the United States are experiencing greater
stress and challenges than ever before. In this climate of high stress, personal
characteristics such as an individual’s propensity to endorse sociotropy (the tendency to
focus primarily on relationships) or autonomy (the tendency to focus primarily on the
self) may be associated with experiences of stress and resulting depressive feelings based
on the diathesis-stress model of depression proposed by Beck in 1967. However,
perceived partner’s dyadic coping may buffer against the positive association between
stress and depression. Despite this plausible link, not much is known about how personal
characteristics (here sociotropy and autonomy) of emerging adults may influence their
perceptions of their own as well as partner’s dyadic coping. To address this gap, the
present study used survey data from 269 emerging adults to examine whether personal
characteristics such as sociotropy and autonomy are associated with their perceptions of
dyadic coping and to examine if these associations are moderated by perceived
relationship commitment, given commitment has been found to increase relationship
maintenance behaviors. Results found that both sociotropy and autonomy were associated
positively with positive dyadic coping by self and negatively with negative dyadic coping
by partner. Relationship commitment partially moderated these associations. Results of
this study have the ability to inform therapy for emerging adults in romantic relationships
who may be experiencing higher stress, symptoms of depression, and those who may be
experiencing difficulties in their relationships. Limitations and future directions for
research are discussed
