1 - (SYM 62) Testing the Dyadic Cultural Competence and Balance Model: Associations with Relationship Quality and Intimate Partner Violence

Little is known about the role of bicultural competence in intimate relationships. As challenges in navigating heritage and dominant cultures may strain relationships, bicultural competence within couples may be protective. Couples who can successfully navigate heritage and dominant cultural contexts may exhibit lower levels of relationship distress related to cultural challenges. However, there have been no theoretical models accounting for the role of cultural competence in relationship functioning. 

To address this, Hendershot and Johnson (in press) proposed the Dyadic Cultural Competence and Balance (DCCB) model. They propose that individual competencies can result in dyadic bicultural competence, or the ability of the dyad to navigate heritage and dominant cultures jointly, leading to improved relational functioning. They also propose that imbalances in cultural burden may result when one partner experiences a disproportionate amount of burden in navigating a culture, leading to relational strain. The DCCB model proposes two moderating effects: cultural context and dyadic adaptive processes. Access to high levels of cultural resources (e.g., living in an area with others who share a heritage cultural background) may buffer against the strain of low dyadic bicultural competence, while high levels of adaptive processes may be necessary for dyadic bicultural competence to lead to improved relational quality. 

We examine support for the core and moderating pathways of the DCCB model longitudinally, utilizing a sample of Latine couples from the Future of Families & Child Wellbeing Study. Couples were assessed at the time of their child’s birth and when the child was 1, 3, 5, and 9 years of age. Hierarchical Linear Modeling will be used to test model pathways longitudinally. Although analyses are ongoing, preliminary findings indicate that higher levels of dyadic bicultural competence are associated with reduced decreases in relationship satisfaction over time, p = .032. Preliminary findings also indicate that low levels of dyadic bicultural competence interact with financial strain to increase risk of intimate partner violence, F(1, 188) = 4.125, p</span> = .044, ηp² = .022. We present the results of this test of the DCCB model along with future directions for model validation.

Given the lack of theories outlining the role of culture in relationship functioning, testing of this model is critical. This research fills a gap in the area of research focusing on the role of culture in relationship functioning and can guide future work in this area.