Family‐of‐origin experience and emotional health as predictors of relationship self‐regulation in marriage

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to understand differences in one's ability to implement relationship self‐regulation (RSR) in marriage based on the family‐of‐origin variables of parent–child relationship quality, parental marital satisfaction and current emotional health. The participants were 484 married couples who completed the relationship evaluation. Structural equation modelling was used to test a model that showed that the actor and partner's emotional health were associated with RSR in marriage, while most family‐of‐origin factors were not directly associated with RSR. However, the perceived mother–child relationship quality was associated with RSR for wives, but not husbands, when controlling for the other variables in the model. There were no significant relationships between father–child relationship quality or parental marital satisfaction and RSR. Implications for couple therapists and educators are discussed.Practitioner points Relationship self‐regulation (RSR) involves recognizing one's own positive and negative contribution to the relationship. Emotional health affects RSR and should be attended to in work with couples. Helping partners address emotional health issues may increase a couple's ability to collaboratively work on their relationship. Open expression of emotions and positive communication skills may decrease emotional health symptomology and increase the couples' use of RSR.