Assessments of disclosure from the in-laws: Links among disclosure topics, family privacy orientations, and relational quality

This study investigated newlyweds' perceptions of private disclosures received from their in-laws and the outcomes of such disclosures for their familial relationships. In Study 1, 271 married individuals participated in a study designed to develop scales measuring relevant variables. Participants in Study 2 were 107 recently married individuals who completed online questionnaires. Results indicated that in-laws' disclosure regarding acceptance of the participant positively influences relational outcomes, whereas in-laws' slanderous disclosure about family members negatively influences relational outcomes. In-laws' disclosures about relational trouble and about the family's historical identity also influence relational outcomes, and, in some cases, those relationships are moderated by family privacy orientation of the participant. Perceived in-group status within the in-laws' family was positively correlated with in-law satisfaction.