Psychological distress, self esteem and emotional dependency of married individuals as predictors of marital adjustment

Abstract

In current literature there are studies that have evaluated the relationship between psychological distresses, self-esteem, emotional dependency and marital adjustment. This study aims to contribute to the expansion of this area of research concentrating on especially Turkish case which seems to be considerably different one from both the United States and other Western countries. It is concluded that marital adjustment is higher for the men than for the women. Psychological distress negatively predicts marital adjustment for both women and men, whereas self-esteem and emotional dependency predicts it positively and psychological distress levels are higher for the women than for the men. Some factors for this could be subordinated status of women at home, lack of sufficient income, violence, social and economic inequalities, traditional duties that should be performed in daily affairs. Those in low income class have lower marital adjustment, self-esteem, emotional dependency compared to those in middle and high income classes. There is no doubt that economic problems enhance the preoccupation with financial issues in many couples. Higher-Post Graduate educational level had higher marriage adjustment scores compared to individuals with Primary-Secondary School educational level. Higher/Post Graduate educational level had lower psychological distress scores compared to individuals with Primary-Secondary School educational level and High School.