“You” and “I” need to talk about “us”: Linguistic patterns in marital interactions

  1. KATHERINE J. WILLIAMS-BAUCOM1,†,*,
  2. DAVID C. ATKINS2,†,
  3. MIA SEVIER3,†,
  4. KATHLEEN A. ELDRIDGE4,†,
  5. ANDREW CHRISTENSEN1,†

Article first published online: 3 MAR 2010

DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-6811.2010.01251.x

Issue

Personal Relationships

Personal Relationships

Volume 17, Issue 1, pages 41–56, March 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

WILLIAMS-BAUCOM, K. J., ATKINS, D. C., SEVIER, M., ELDRIDGE, K. A. and CHRISTENSEN, A. (2010), “You” and “I” need to talk about “us”: Linguistic patterns in marital interactions. Personal Relationships, 17: 41–56. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-6811.2010.01251.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    University of California, Los Angeles

  2. 2

    University of Washington

  3. 3

    California State University, Fullerton

  4. 4

    Pepperdine University

  1. †

    Katherine J. Williams-Baucom, Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles; David C. Atkins, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle; Mia Sevier, Department of Human Services, California State University, Fullerton; Kathleen A. Eldridge, Department of Psychology, Pepperdine University, Malibu; Andrew Christensen, Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles.

*Katherine J. Williams-Baucom, Department of Psychology, University of California, 1285 Franz Hall, Box 951563, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563, e-mail: kwilliams@ucla.edu.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 3 MAR 2010
  2. Article first published online: 3 MAR 2010

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Links between pronoun use, relationship satisfaction, and observed behavior were examined during 2 problem-solving interactions in which 134 distressed and 48 nondistressed couples participated. Results supported hypotheses that distressed and nondistressed couples would use pronouns at significantly different rates, and that rates would also differ for partners depending on whose topic was being discussed. Actor–partner interdependence models (APIMs; D. A. Kenny, 1996) revealed actor and partner effects of pronoun use on satisfaction and observed positivity and negativity. Interestingly, I-focus pronouns were found to be linked with satisfaction in distressed partners and dissatisfaction in nondistressed partners. The pattern of findings was otherwise largely consistent across topics and levels of distress. These findings have implications for both future research and clinical interventions.

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