A Meaningful Theory: 25 Years of Relational Dialectics Theory in the <i>Journal of Family Communication</i>

In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Journal of Family Communication (JFC), the present essay celebrates two and a half decades of relational dialectics theory (RDT) in JFC, highlighting the reciprocal relationship between theory and journal. The authors, both of whom have a breadth of experience in conducting RDT research, first provide a history of RDT and an overview of key terms and assumptions. The essay then traces the history of RDT through the first 25 volumes of JFC. A review of the RDT-based original research articles in JFC turns an eye toward the family communication contexts that have – and have not – been studied. The authors conclude by turning to possible future RDT endeavors and providing suggestions for those who are, or are interested in, conducting research based on RDT.