¶ … enhance our ability to engage in meaningful interpersonal relationships cannot be overstated. This is more so the case at the familial level, where there is a great need to maintain mutual positive relations. Being social animals, human beings largely thrive on interpersonal relationships. Sound understanding of the need for maintenance and development of interpersonal relationships is therefore not only necessary but also beneficial. Smith, S.M. & Kampfe, C.M. (1997). Interpersonal Relationship Implications of Hearing Loss in Persons who are Older. The Journal of Rehabilitation, 63(2), 15-26.

One of the most important components of effective and fruitful interpersonal relationships is listening. In addition to being a sign of interest and concern, listening is of great importance when it comes to the provision of appropriate feedback -- sound interpersonal relationships especially at the familial level are founded on the proper matching of responses to the situation. The authors of this particular article seek to determine how interpersonal relationships are affected by loss of hearing in individuals who happen to be at an advanced age.

Loss of hearing significantly limits an individual's ability to engage in meaningful exchanges of feelings and ideas, especially where verbal communication is involved. Yet, as the authors observe, "family members, care providers, medical personnel, and older persons themselves may be unaware of and uninformed about intrapersonal and interpersonal implications of hearing loss" (Smith & Kampfe, 1997). As the authors point out, some of the said implications (interpersonal) include but they are not limited to decreased interaction with members of the family and/or friends, feeling of isolation, withdrawal from social activities, etc. All these implications of hearing loss have a negative impact on interpersonal relations...

The said prevalence of hearing loss makes this article highly relevant. This is more so the case for those who may at some point be called upon to not only develop but also implement effective communication as well as conflict management and problem solving strategies at a familial level. The authors in this case also engage in an extensive review of literature. This has a positive impact on both the relevance and the reliability of the information they present in the concerned article. It should however be noted that upon a closer look, the authors in this case largely concentrate on the implications as opposed to the solutions. Further inquiry may therefore have to be undertaken to expand on what the authors present.
King, V. (2002). Parental Divorce and Interpersonal Trust in Adult Offspring. Journal of Marriage and Family, 64(3), 642-656.

It is important to note that in the past, numerous studies have been undertaken in an attempt to relate how divorces affect children's ability to engage in meaningful interpersonal relationships, most particularly with their future partners in marriage. A study that seeks determine how the two variables interact is critical especially give that in recent times, divorce rates have been on an upward trend.

According to King, the author, this particular article (amongst other things) seeks to determine whether there is any association that exists between divorce and suppressed offspring interpersonal trust. It is important to note at this point that trust is an essential component of stable social relations most particularly at the familial level. Without trust therefore, interpersonal relations are likely to be strained or affected significantly. With…