Close Relationships Research

Our Recent Close Relationships Publications

Reyes, M. A. & Clark, E. M. (in press). Sexual beliefs and sexual goals are associated with gender, relationship

characteristics, and life satisfaction. Sexual and Relationship Therapy.

Ma, L. & Clark, E. M. (in press). Examining the association between willingness to self-disclose to romantic partner and physical health: The mediating roles of relationship factors and self-esteem. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice.
Reyes, M. A., Kuebli, J. E., & Clark, E. M. (2025). Parents’ proclivity to apologize to their romantic partner is associated with positive parental attitudes on apologies and parental apology prompting. Contemporary Family Therapy, 47(3), 381-400.
Reyes, M. A., Clark, E. M., & Matsuo, H. (2025). The association between relationship status and health: The role of relationship quality, past relationship experiences, and gender. Contemporary Family Therapy, 47(2), 242-261.
Reyes, M. A. & Clark, E. M. (2024). The relation between perceived partner responsiveness and sexual communication in romantic relationships. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 40(1), 254-276.
Reyes, M. A. & Clark, E. M. (2024). The association of self-esteem and sensation seeking with sociosexual orientation and sexual risk-taking. Sexuality & Culture, 28(4), 1643-1663.
Ma, L., Hatch, H., & Clark, E. M. (2024). The investment model of commitment: Examining asexual and aromantic populations using confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis. Psychology and Sexuality, 15(1), 38-53.
Ma, L. & Clark, E. M. (2024). I hope my partner can make me change: Expected relational self-changes and relational outcomes. Journal of Social Psychology, 164(1), 136-148.
Ma, L. & Clark, E. M. (2024). Willingness to self-disclose in romantic relationships only marginally predicts COVID stress but there are indirect effects of self-esteem and relationship commitment. Social and Personality Psychology Compass. ArtID e12888.
Reyes, M. A. & Clark, E. M. (2023). Predictors of relationship dissolution. In R. A. R. Gurung (Ed.). Routledge Encyclopedia of Psychology in the Real World. Routledge.

https://doi.org/10.4324/9780367198459-REPRW242-1

Clark, E. M., Reyes, M., Ma, L., & Stiles, D. L. (2022). Unrequited love. In R. A. R. Gurung (Ed.), Routledge Encyclopedia of Psychology in the Real World. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780/9780367198459-REPRW37-1
Williams, B. R., Williams, R. M., Clark, E. M., Park, C. L., Schulz, E., Knott, C. L., & Ghosh, D. (2021). Marital status and depressive symptoms in African Americans: The moderating role of social and religious resources. Journal of Family Issues, 42 (7), 1403-1428.
Clark, E. M., Votaw, K. L. B., Harris, A. L., Hasan, M., & Fernandez, P. (2020). Unrequited love: The role of prior commitment, motivation to remain friends, and friendship maintenance. Journal of Social Psychology, 160, 293-309.
Bosch, J., Weaver, T. L., Arnold, L. D., & Clark, E. M. (2017). The impact of intimate partner violence on women's physical health: Findings from the Missouri Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 32, 3402-3419.
Hasan, M. & Clark, E. M. (2017). I get so lonely baby: The effects of loneliness and social isolation on romantic dependency. Journal of Social Psychology, 157, 429-444.
Clark, E. M., Fernandez, P., Harris, A. L., Hasan, M., & Votaw, K. B. (2017). The Aftermath: Friendship after romantic relationship termination. In M. Hojjat & A. Moyer (Eds.). The Psychology of Friendship (pp. 177-194). Oxford, U. K.: Oxford University Press.
Gaines, S. O., Jr., Clark, E. M., & Afful, S. E. (2015). Interethnic marriage in the United States: An introduction. Journal of Social Issues, 71, 647-658 (Special Issue on Interethnic Marriage).
Clark, E. M., Harris, A. L., Hasan, M., Votaw, K. B., & Fernandez, P. (2015). Concluding thoughts: Interethnic marriage through the lens of interdependence theory. Journal of Social Issues, 71, 822-834 (Special Issue on Interethnic Marriage).
Van Berkel, L. D., Solomon, E. D., & Clark, E. M. (2012). Security and similarity: Parent-child political attitude congruence as predicted by parental attachment. Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, 17, 90-98.
Mattingly, B. A. & Clark, E. M. (2012). Weakening the relationship that we are trying to preserve? Motivated sacrificial behavior as a mediator between attachment anxiety and avoidance and relationship satisfaction. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 42, 373-386.
Mattingly, B. A., Clark, E. M. & Cahill, M. J. (2012). Approach and avoidance motivation as predictors of pro-relationship behaviors. Personality and Individual Differences, 52, 21-25.
Hackathorn, J., Mattingly, B. A., Clark, E. M., & Mattingly, M. J. B. (2011). Practicing what you preach: Infidelity attitudes as a predictor of fidelity. Current Psychology, 30, 299-311.
Weidler, D. J. & Clark, E. M. (2011). A distinct association: Inclusion of other in self and self-disclosure. New School Psychology Bulletin, 9, 36-45.
Bullock, M., Hackathorn, J., & Clark, E. M. (2011). Can we be (and stay) friends? Remaining friends after dissolution of a romantic relationship. Journal of Social Psychology, 151, 662-666.
Mattingly, B. A., Clark, E. M., Weidler, D. J., Bullock, M., Hackathorn, J., & Blankmeyer, K. (2011). Sociosexual orientation, commitment, and infidelity: A mediational analysis. Journal of Social Psychology, 151, 222-226.
Mattingly, B. A., Oswald, D. L., & Clark, E. M. (2011). An examination of relational- interdependent self-construal, communal strength, and pro-relationship behaviors in friendships. Personality and Individual Differences, 50, 1243-1248.
Wilson, K., Mattingly, B. A., Clark, E. M., Weidler, D. J., & Bequette, A. W. (2011). The gray area: Exploring attitudes toward infidelity and the development of the Perceptions of Dating Infidelity scale. Journal of Social Psychology, 151, 63-86.
Mattingly, B. A., Wilson, K., Clark, E. M., Bequette, A. W., & Weidler, D .J. (2010). Foggy faithfulness: Relationship quality, religiosity, and the Perceptions of Dating Infidelity Scale in an adult sample. Journal of Family Issues, 31, 1465-1480.
Oswald, D. L., & Clark, E. M. (2006). How do friendship maintenance behaviors and problem- solving styles function at the individual and dyadic level? Personal Relationships, 13, 333-348.
Oswald, D. L., Clark, E. M., & Kelly, C. M. (2004). Friendship maintenance: An analysis of individual and dyad behaviors. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 23, 413-441.
Oswald, D. L. & Clark, E. M. (2003). Best friends forever?: High school best friendships and the transition to college. Personal Relationships, 10, 187-196.

Recent Close Relationships Presentations

Reyes, M. A., & Clark, E. M. (2025, November). The role of gender, relationship status, and sexual

desire discrepancy on views on sexual satisfaction and reasons for having partnered sex. Oral

presentation at the annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, Philadelphia, PA.

Reyes, M. A. & Clark, E. M. (2024, October). Though negatively associated with sexual satisfaction, sexual destiny beliefs are positively associated with life satisfaction. Data Blitz presented at the biennial meeting of the International Association of Relationships Research, Boston, MA.
Reyes, M. A. & Clark, E. M. (2024, April). Does sex increase the satisfaction in individuals with avoidance goals? Presented at the annual meetings of the Midwestern Psychological Assocatin. Chicago, IL.
Reyes, M. A. & Clark, E. M. (2024, February). Coping strategies as moderators of the association between substance use and sexual risk taking. Presented at the Sexuality Preconference of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. San Diego, CA.
Reyes, M. A. & Clark, E. M. (2024, February). Reasons for unmarried cohabitation: Do they correlate with relationship quality? Presented at the annual meetings for the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. San Diego, CA.
Reyes, M. A. & Clark, E. M. (2023, April). Individual differences in sexual promiscuity. Presented at the annual meetings of the Midwestern Psychological Association. Chicago, IL.
Ma, L. & Clark, E. M. (2023, February). Linear and curvilinear relationships between self-disclosure to romantic partners and health. Presented at the annual meetings of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology Close Relationships Pre-Conference. Atlanta, GA.
Reyes, M. A. & Clark, E. M. (2023, February). The relation between perceived partner responsiveness and sexual satisfaction. Presented at the annual meetings of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. Atlanta, GA.
Ma, L. & Clark, E. M. (2023, February). The moderation effect of gender and partner responsiveness

on the relationship between self-disclosure in romantic relationships and health. Presented at the annual meetings of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. Atlanta, GA.

Reyes, M. A., Clark, E. M., & Matsuo, H. (2022, July). "After I do," Does marriage predict better health? Presented at the Summer Psychology Forum of the Society of Social and Personality Social Psychology. Minneapolis, MN.
Reyes, M. A. & Clark, E. M. (2022, April). Expectancy fulfillment as a buffer against the negative influence of conflict on relationship satisfaction. Presented at the annual meetings of the Saint Louis University Graduate School Association Research Symposium. St. Louis, MO.
Ma, L. & Clark, E. M. (2022). Understanding the association between self-disclosure and health in romantic relationships. Presented at the annual meetings of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. San Francisco, CA.
Ma, L. & Clark, E. M. (2022). Understanding the association between self-disclosure and health in romantic relationships. Presented at the annual meetings of Sigma Xi. Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO.
Reyes, M. A. & Clark, E. M. (2022, February). Expectancy fulfillment as a buffer against the negative influence of conflict on relationship satisfaction. Presented at the annual meetings of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. San Francisco, CA.
Hatch, H. A., Ma, L., & Clark, E. M. (2021, April). Perceptions of infidelity in asexual and aromantic populations. Presented at the annual meetings of the Midwestern Psychological Association. Chicago, IL.
Hatch, H. A., Ma, L., & Clark, E. M. (2021, February). Examining asexual and aromantic populations. Presented at the annual meetings of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. Austin, TX.

Hatch, H. A., Ma, L., & Clark, E. M. (2020, May). Perceptions of infidelity in asexual and aromantic population. Presented at the annual meetings of Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Honor Society (Virtual Conference). St. Louis, MO.

Ma, L. & Clark, E. M. (2020, April). Cognitive dissonance in people's infidelity behaviors. Presented at the annual meetings of the Midwestern Psychological Association. Chicago, IL (conference canceled due to COVID-19).

Stiles, D. L. & Clark, E. M. (2020, February). Personality, cell phone use and romantic relationships within an adult sample: Predictors and implications. Presented at the annual meetings of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. New Orleans, LA.

Ma, L. & Clark, E. M. (2020, February). How do expected self-changes in romantic relationships affect future relationship outcomes? Presented at the annual meetings of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. New Orleans, LA.

Ma, L. & Clark, E. M. (2019, February). I hope my partner can make me a better or worse person: How do relational satisfaction and commitment affect expected self-change in romantic relationships? Presented at the annual meetings of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. Portland, OR.
Stiles, D. L. & Clark, E. M. (2019, February). Relationship proximity, social media, and technology usage effects on romantic relational satisfaction. Presented at the annual meetings of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. Portland, OR.
Votaw, K. B. & Clark, E. M. (2017, April). Looking for "The One": Maximizing in romantic relationships. Presented at the annual meetings of the Midwestern Psychological Association. Chicago.
Harris, A. L. & Clark, E. M. (2017, April). Does justification for infidelity impact perceptions? It depends. Presented at the annual meetings of the Midwestern Psychological Association. Chicago.
Saffaf, F., Harris, A. L., Fernandez, P., Hasan, M., Votaw, K. B., Broussard, K., & Clark, E. M. (2017, April). Unrequited love and motivations to remain friends. Presented at the annual meetings of the Midwestern Psychological Association. Chicago.
Saffaf, F., Harris, A., Fernandez, P., Hasan, M., Votaw, K. B., Broussard, K., & Clark, E. M. (2017, March). Unrequited love and motivations to remain friends. Presented at the annual Saint Louis University Graduate Student Association Research Symposium. St. Louis, MO.
Fernandez, P., Clark, E. M., & Harris, A. L. (2017, January). Examining the influence of romantic attachment in a victim's response to cheating. Presented at the annual meetings of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. San Antonio.
Harris, A. L., Clark, E. M., & Fernandez, P. (2017, January). Does justification for infidelity matter? It depends. Presented at the annual meetings of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. San Antonio.
Fernandez, P. Y., Clark, E. M., & Harris, A. (2015, February). Does cheating breed cheating? Exploring the relationship between being a victim of infidelity and transgressor of ambiguous, deceptive, and explicit infidelity. Presented at the annual meetings of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. Long Beach, CA.
Harris, A. L., Clark, E. M., & Fernandez, P. (2015, February). I didn't know: The role of ambiguity of knowledge in impression formation. Presented at the annual meetings of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology. Long Beach, CA.
Fernandez, P. & Clark, E. M. (2015, May). The reality of fantasizing: Examining sexual fantasies and cheating. Presented at the annual meetings of the Midwestern Psychological Association. Chicago.
Hasan, M. & Clark, E. M. (2014, May). Colors of love: Predictors of forgiveness following hypothetical infidelity. Presented at the annual meetings of the Midwestern Psychological Association. Chicago.
Fernandez, P. & Clark, E. M. (2014, May). Approval or behavior? Exploring gender differences in norms and infidelity. Presented at the annual meetings of the Midwestern Psychological Association. Chicago.
Fernandez, P. & Clark, E. M. (2014, February). Is engaging in unfaithful behavior relevant to normative perceptions? Examining the influence of descriptive and injunctive norms in infidelity. Presented at the annual meetings of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology. Austin, TX.
Hasan, M. & Clark, E. M. (2013, May). The relationship between love styles and forgiveness following infidelity. Presented at the annual meetings of the Midwestern Psychological Association. Chicago.

To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. -- Titus 3:2

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. -- Philippians 4:8

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