Ellis, Juliet I. (2021) The cycle of relationship sabotage: The implications of relationship status, length, quality, and number of serious relationships. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Romantic relationships are fundamental to individuals’ development across the lifespan. Yet, they are a common complaint in counselling contexts. However, current relationship interventions are only moderately effective as maladaptive patterns of relationship attitudes and behaviours are difficult to address. Most evidence-based programs in Australia also focus mainly on romantic dyads, somewhat neglecting the individuals in relationships and those that have withdrawn from romantic engagement. Relationship sabotage is a concept that explains the behaviours and attitudes employed by individuals to hinder relationship success and quality. It is defined by three core constructs: (1) defensiveness; (2) trust difficulty; and (3) lack of relationship skills. This quantitative investigation addressed several gaps within the literature and counselling frameworks through assessing the implications of relationship factors on relationship sabotage. Key variables of interest were sabotage constructs and relationship status, length, quality, and the number of serious relationships. The sample included adults from the general community who completed an online survey and were either in a romantic relationship or single with relationship experience. T-test analyses revealed that single individuals exhibit greater levels of defensiveness and trust difficulty. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that the relationship factors used in this study have only a small amount of predictive ability when influencing sabotage constructs. Additional factors should be included in future research on relationship sabotage. Findings provided a greater insight into romantic phenomena, recommendations for counselling frameworks, and further validation of the Relationship Sabotage Scale.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
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| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Counselling (1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | Raquel Peel |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 23 Jul 2025 23:54 |
| Last Modified: | 23 Jul 2025 23:54 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | relationship sabotage ; relationship status ; length ; perceived quality ; number of serious relationships |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52298 |
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