Self-Construal and Conflict Resolution Styles in Relation to Marital Satisfaction and Adjustment: A Structural Equation Model From Türkiye

The aim of the study was to examine the mediating role of marital adjustment on the relationship between conflict resolution styles and marital satisfaction in terms of actor and partner effects. It was hypothesized that the marital adjustment mediates the effect of conflict resolution styles on marital satisfaction. One hundred and fifty-five married couples participated in the study. Conflict Resolution Styles Inventory, Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and Relationship Satisfaction Scale were used to collect the data. The hypotheses were tested using Actor Partner Interdependence Model (Kenny et al., 2006). According to the results, both wives’ and husbands’ positive problem-solving styles predicted their own marital satisfaction via marital adjustment. In addition, husbands’ positive and negative problem-solving styles predicted both their own and their wives’ marital satisfaction through marital adjustment.

Introduction: Considering the importance of marital adjustment in the stability and sustainability of the family, and at the same time, the mental health of spouses and children, researchers have not focused on identifying the factors affecting couples' satisfaction and adjustment. While improving the level of marital satisfaction and adjustment leads to the strengthening of the family and the continuation of cohabitation. Cognitive behavioral strategies are effective in reducing conflicts and improving marital satisfaction and adjustment; therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of determining the effectiveness of group couple therapy based on the cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approach on marital satisfaction and adjustment of couples. Methods: The present study was an experimental pre-test and post-test study with a control group. The research population consisted of married individuals with marital problems and conflicts who referred to Farhan Counseling Center in Qom in2023, who were selected through purposive sampling and then randomly assigned to the control and experimental groups based on the entry and exit criteria. The measurement tools were the Spiner Marital Adjustment Questionnaire and the Enrich Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire. 60people were randomly divided into two groups of 30 people, and the experimental group received10 therapy sessions in a group setting once a week. The duration of the sessions was 90 minutes. Rusults: Analysis of variance test was used to examine the effectiveness of group couple therapy based on CBT approach on marital satisfaction and adjustment. The results showed that group couple therapy based on CBT approach had an effect on marital satisfaction and adjustment. The effect of treatment implementation on each of the dependent variables was also examined. The results showed that in the post-test phase, group couple therapy based on CBT approach had an effect on marital satisfaction and adjustment compared to the control group(P<0/05).Thus, group couple therapy based on CBT approach increased marital satisfaction and adjustment. Conclusion: According to the results obtained, it is suggested that group couple therapy based on the CBT approach be used to increase marital satisfaction and adjustment of married individuals.

BACKGROUND:Crises such as the coronavirus outbreak is associated with a lot of fear and anxiety. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between anxiety caused by coronavirus disease (COVID) and marital satisfaction mediated by empathy and conflict resolution styles in married women.MATERIALS AND METHODS:This descriptive-analytical study was carried out on 326 married women referring to a marriage counseling center in Tehran. Data were collected using the questionnaires of marital satisfaction, marital empathy, conflict resolution styles, and the coronavirus disease anxiety scale (CDAS). Data analysis was performed by Pearson correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling (SEM).RESULTS:The psychological symptoms of coronavirus disease anxiety (CDA) had a positive and significant effect on empathy and conflict resolution styles (P < 0.05) while the physical symptoms of CDA had a negative and significant effect on empathy, conflict resolution styles, and marital satisfaction (P < 0.05). The indirect effect of psychological symptoms of CDA on marital satisfaction due to empathy and conflict resolution styles was positive and significant (P < 0.05). The explained variance of marital satisfaction in terms of psychological and physical symptoms of CDA, empathy, and conflict resolution styles was equal to R2 = 0.42.CONCLUSION:Psychological symptoms of CDA increased marital satisfaction by affecting problem-solving styles and marital empathy. Therefore, empathy skills and conflict resolution styles can be used to reduce coronary anxiety and increase satisfaction levels.

Identifying what specific conflict resolution styles are linked to change in marital satisfaction is important because managing conflict is one of the central tasks of maintaining a marriage (Gottman, 1994) and because declines in marital satisfaction herald a series of processes indicative of a deteriorating marriage (Gottman & Levenson, 1992). Findings regarding the concurrent link between conflict resolution styles and marital satisfaction have been consistent in indicating that each spouse's marital satisfaction is positively related to the frequency with which each spouse uses constructive strategies to resolve conflict (such as agreement, compromise, and humor) and negatively related both to the frequency with which each spouse uses destructive strategies to resolve conflict (such as conflict engagement, withdrawal, and defensiveness) and to the joint frequency with which the wife uses conflict engagement and the husband uses withdrawal (the demand-withdraw pattern). This pattern of findings has been obtained regardless of whether conflict resolution styles were assessed by means of brief behavioral observations (Gottman & Krokoff, 1989; Heavey, Layne, & Christensen, 1993; Noller, Feeney, Bonnell, & Callan, 1994) or by means of self-report and partner-report questionnaire data (Christensen, 1988; Heavey et al., 1993; Huston & Vangelisti, 1991; Noller et al., 1994). Given that the concurrent link between conflict resolution styles and marital satisfaction is well-established, researchers have used longitudinal data to assess the plausibility of two causal relations involving conflict resolution styles and marital satisfaction. The first causal relation--the assumption that the use of certain conflict resolution styles causes marital satisfaction--is based on interdependence theory (Rusbult, 1983) which posits that perceived rewards to a relationship (such as the frequent use of constructive conflict resolution strategies) and perceived costs to the relationship (such as the frequent experience of negative conflict resolution styles) determine satisfaction with the relationship. The longitudinal data consistent with this causal relation would indicate that the frequency with which certain conflict resolution styles are used at Time 1 predicts change in marital satisfaction. The second causal relation--the assumption that the level of marital satisfaction is causally related to the frequency with which certain conflict resolution styles are used--is based on self-fulfilling prophecy theory (e.g., Snyder, Tanke, & Berscheid, 1977) which posits that one's attitude (e.g., level of satisfaction with the marriage) provides a psychological environment that elicits behavior (e.g., conflict resolution styles) that reinforces and is consistent with the initial attitude. The longitudinal data consistent with this causal relation would indicate that the level of marital satisfaction at Time 1 predicts the degree of change in the frequency with which certain conflict resolution styles are used. Unfortunately, longitudinal findings relevant to the plausibility of either causal relation have been inconsistent (Gottman & Krokoff, 1989; Heavey et al., 1993; Huston & Vangelisti, 1991; Noller et al., 1994). In part, this could be due to four methodological and two conceptual limitations of these studies. Regarding the methodological limitations, first, because Gottman and Krokoff (1989) and Heavey et al. (1993) used measures of marital satisfaction that also tapped frequency of conflict and disagreement, the correlations from these measures may have been inflated (see review by Fincham & Bradbury, 1987). Second, only Huston and Vangelisti (1991) reported that marital satisfaction scores changed appreciably over the time interval studied, raising the possibility that, in the other studies, a restriction of range accounted for nonsignificant findings. Third, because the first assessments made by Huston and Vangelisti (1991) and Noller et al. …

Edmonds (1967) developed the Marital Conventionalization Scale to assess the contamination of marital adjustment scales by the social desirability response bias. Although marital conventionalization has been prominent in the marital quality literature, this study represents the first direct examination of Edmonds' hypothesis in a model testing framework. Confirmatory factor analytic results with 101 married participants did not support his conceptualization for males or females. An alternative model that treated marital conventionalization as another measure of marital satisfaction was supported in the confirmatory factor analyses. These results raise questions about the use of marital conventionalization scales as validity scales in marital quality measurement. Idealistic distortion is suggested as a more accurate term for this phenomenon. The vast majority of research on marital satisfaction relies on self-report measures. A persistent concern about the measurement of marital satisfaction has been the degree to which these assessments are contaminated by the social desirability response bias (Edmonds, 1967; Fowers, 1990; L'Abate & Bagarozzi, 1993). Edmonds (1967) developed the construct of marital conventionalization to refer to a tendency to endorse unrealistically positive descriptions of one's partner and marriage. He conceptualized marital conventionalization as a social desirability bias and argued that the distortion was unconscious and unintended. He developed the Marital Conventionalization Scale (MCS) with items that described the marriage in impossibly positive terms (e.g., My marriage is a perfect success, My spouse meets my every need). There has been considerable debate about the importance, place, and explanation of marital conventionalization. Subsequent research has confirmed that the MCS does correlate strongly (in the .50 to .73 range) with a variety of marital adjustment and satisfaction measures, partially confirming Edmonds' thesis (Edmonds, 1967; Filsinger & Wilson, 1984; Fowers, Applegate, Olson, & Pomerantz, 1994; Hansen, 1981). These findings have resulted in the recommendation to control for this bias in marital quality assessment (Fowers, 1990; L'Abate & Bagarozzi, 1993). Indeed, two of the most frequently used clinical inventories of marital satisfaction contain marital conventionalization scales (Olson, Fournier, & Druckman, 1987; Snyder, 1981). It has become increasingly clear, however, that the construct validity of the MCS is questionable. The MCS and marital adjustment measures have been found to have weak relationships to social desirability scales (Hansen, 1981; McCann & Biaggio, 1989). This is in contrast to the strong relationships among measures of marital adjustment, satisfaction, and conventionalization. In addition, Hansen (1981) presented correlational evidence that marital conventionalization may be another measure of marital adjustment. Two recent factor analytic studies provided stronger evidence for this, suggesting that marital conventionalization loads on the same factor as marital adjustment (Rychtarik, Tarnowski, & St. Lawrence, 1989) and marital satisfaction (Fowers et al., 1994). These studies have been inconclusive regarding Edmonds' (1967) hypothesis for three reasons. First, the factor analytic studies did not include social desirability measures, and therefore could not determine whether marital conventionalization represents a social desirability bias. Second, if what is usually termed marital conventionalization is another measure of marital adjustment or satisfaction, it would not be an ordinary scale. This is because the items reflect unreasonably positive perceptions of the marriage. Thus, if marital conventionalization is best considered another aspect of marital quality, it may be more accurately termed idealistic distortion. Third, Edmonds' (1967) conceptualization of marital conventionalization has not been adequately tested because he thought of conventionalization as self-deception. …

Background: When a couple confronts cancer, there is a major impact on their psychosocial life. Marital life and satisfaction with that are important factors in the quality of life of breast cancer patient. The aim of this research was to predict marital satisfaction based on hardiness in women with breast cancer Methods: A total of 100 women with breast cancer participated in this study and completed the Kobasa Personal View Survey and ENRICH (evaluation and nurturing relationship issues, communication, and happiness) Marital Satisfaction Scale. The study was conducted in Rasol Akrm Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Descriptive statistics, correlation, and linear regression were used for data analysis. Results: The results showed a significant relationship between hardiness and marital satisfaction. Moreover, hardiness determined 13% of the variance of marital satisfaction. Conclusions: Hardiness as an efficient coping style in breast cancer is an important factor to increase perceived marital satisfaction in breast cancer. Therefore, healthcare professionals such as psycho-oncologists can promote resiliency in breast cancer patients by improving cognitive hardiness in their patients.

Marriage is the most sacred and complex relationship between two people of the opposite sexes, which has broad and deep dimensions and multiple goals, and addressing marital relationships and promoting compatibility and satisfaction between couples can be considered one of the important missions from the individual to the social level. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of realistic acceptance and commitment therapy on marital compatibility and marital satisfaction of couples on the verge of divorce. The present study was an applied study in terms of purpose and a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test design (with an experimental group and a control group and a three-month follow-up period) in terms of method. The statistical population used in the present study included all couples referring to family counseling and couples therapy centers in Tehran's 5th district in 1401 (1401 AH). From these individuals, 40 individuals (20 couples) were selected using purposive sampling and randomly assigned to an experimental group (20 individuals or 10 couples) and a control group (20 individuals or 10 couples). Then, the realistic acceptance and commitment therapy package was implemented on the experimental group based on the Afshari et al. (2022) protocol. In order to collect data, the research instrument included the Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire (ENRICH) and the Marital Adjustment Questionnaire (DAS). In order to statistically analyze the data, analysis of variance with repeated measures and Tukey's post hoc test and SPSS version 26 were used. Considering the F value and the level of significance obtained in the variables of marital satisfaction (F = 7.76 and P = 0.002) and marital adjustment (F = 7.11 and P = 0.002), it can be concluded that the independent variable (realistic acceptance and commitment therapy) has significantly caused changes in the dependent variables (marital satisfaction and marital adjustment). Therefore, it can be concluded that the changes in the dependent variables were due to the implementation of realistic acceptance and commitment therapy on the experimental group. Also, the results of the Tukey post-hoc test showed that these effects were stable. Based on the existing findings, it can be concluded that realistic acceptance and commitment therapy was effective on marital satisfaction and marital adjustment of couples on the verge of divorce. Therefore, it is suggested that specialists benefit from the techniques of this approach in their work.

There are approximately 1.5 million active duty service members in today's military and approximately 726,000 (56.1 %) of these individuals are married. Therefore, healthy couple functioning is important for the military community. Although there is current literature on couple functioning in non-dual military couples, there is limited research on the marital health of dual military couples. This study explored the marital health (marital satisfaction, adjustment, and quality) and stress among dual Air Force couples in relation to length of time in service, rank, deployments, and level of physiological stress. Results indicated that husbands' deployments, rank, and time in service were related to his physiological distress, wives' rank was negatively related to her marital adjustment and marital quality, and husbands' marital satisfaction was negatively related to wives' rank. Future research recommendations and implications for using a biopsychosocial approach for assessing dual military couples are provided.

Problem. Much more is known about determinants of marital satisfaction in first marriages than remarriages. Although the stepfamily is a dominant and unique family type, it lacks its own theoretical framework from which to investigate factors that contribute to marital satisfaction and stepfamily success. Method. This study evaluated marital satisfaction in stepfamilies in light of the contextual, problem-solving, and investment models of relationship satisfaction. A questionnaire developed to assess marital satisfaction in stepfamilies using variables from the three conceptual models with the Kansas Marital Scale as a global measure of assessment was sent to 660 stepfamilies selected from the mailing list of the Stepfamily Association of America. A total of 405 individuals (163 men and 242 women) responded. Results. Each model explained a large proportion of the variance in marital satisfaction for men and women in stepfamilies, and for respondents in stepmother and complex stepfamilies. Contextual model variables of social support were more useful in predicting marital satisfaction in stepfamiliesthan were demographic or spiritual support variables. The contextual model was the best predictor of marital satisfaction for men in stepfamilies. Problem-solving model variables of conflict resolution styles were more useful in predicting marital satisfaction in stepfamilies than were joint decision-making variables. However, the problem-solving model variables had less impact on marital satisfaction for men in stepfamilies. Investment model variables of relationship costs and relationship benefits effectively predicted marital satisfaction in a stepfamily. The investment model was the best predictor of marital satisfaction for women in stepfamilies. A model was developed that integrated significant variables from each of the three conceptual models which predicted a larger proportion of the variance in marital satisfaction than did any single model. Conclusions. Whereas the contextual, problem-solving, and investment models of relationship satisfaction predicted a large proportion of the variance in marital satisfaction in a stepfamily, there were differences between the models for men and women in stepfamilies and between stepfamily types. A more predictive model is proposed that selects fewer variables from each of the three conceptual modes to form an integrated model of relationship satisfaction to be used with stepfamilies.

The goal of this study was to widen the scope of the social component of family sustainability. The fundamental goal of this non-experimental, quantitative study was to look at the links between parenting correlates, personality characteristics, marital satisfaction, and well-being in couples, as well as to construct explanatory prediction models for relational and marital satisfaction. The study focused on the effects of personality traits, parental self-efficacy, and attachment to marital and relational satisfaction. The test instruments applied were: the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised, Marital Adjustment Test, Couple Satisfaction Index, Relationship Satisfaction Scale, Family Distress Index, Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (adapted to the role of a parent), Mowen’s Personality Scale, and demographic data. A total of 238 Romanians answered the online survey, recruited based on a convenience sampling method. Participants in this research were individuals who were both married and had at least one child. The main findings show that agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, anxious and avoidant attachment, and marital adjustment predict the satisfaction in the relationship, and openness partially mediates the association between marital adjustment and relationship satisfaction. Parental self-efficacy appears to influence the association between relationship satisfaction and marital satisfaction. An increased parental self-efficacy score predicts an increased relationship satisfaction and marital satisfaction. The higher the parental self-efficacy, the higher the satisfaction in the relationship, which leads to an increase in satisfaction in the couple. These results show that marital adjustment and adaptation are related to relational satisfaction, and these relationship are partially mediated by an individual’s openness. Despite some limitations, the current study significantly contributes to couples therapies and interventions in terms of physical and mental health, and the study provides insight into the experiences and perspectives of married individuals with children in Romania.

BackgroundBreast cancer and genital cancer are known as cancers that affect people’s relationships with their partners. Women with such cancers are emotionally vulnerable and need more support from their partners. The present systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of couple-based interventions on the marital outcomes of patients with these cancers and their intimate partners.MethodsTo perform this systematic review, Google Scholar and databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Scopus, SID (Scientific Information Database), and Magiran were searched systematically. The reviewed studies included randomized controlled trials and quasiexperimental studies in which the intervention group, couple-based interventions, and the control group received routine care, general education or no intervention for cancer treatment. In this study, the included participants were patients with breast cancer or genital cancer and their intimate partners. The primary outcomes considered in this study included patients’ marital adjustment, patients’ marital satisfaction, patients’ marital intimacy, and patients’ marital relationships. The secondary outcomes were partners’ marital adjustment, partners’ marital satisfaction, partners’ marital intimacy, and partners’ marital relationships. A meta-analysis was performed with Review Manager v. 5.3 software (The Nordic Cochrane Centre, Cochrane Collaboration, 2014; Copenhagen, Denmark). The intervention impacts on continuous outcomes were measured using standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence interval because of the use of various scales to evaluate the outcomes. The quality of evidence presented in the included studies was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. In the subgroup analysis, the studied outcomes were divided into two parts (theory-based and non-theory-based) in terms of the theoretical context of couple-based interventions.ResultsFrom a total of 138 retrieved studies, 14 trials were eligible for inclusion in the study. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the patient’s marital satisfaction increased significantly with couple-based interventions (SMD 0.46, 95% confidence interval 0.07 to 0.85; 7 trials, 341 patients, very low certainty) compared to the control group, but the evidence was uncertain. However, there were no significant differences between the groups in the partner’s marital satisfaction, the patient’s and partner’s marital adjustment, and the patient’s and partner’s marital intimacy. Additionally, the results of the subgroup analysis showed that the couple-based interventions significantly increased the patient’s marital adjustment (SMD 1.96, 95% CI 0.87 to 3.06; 4 trials, 355 patients, very low certainty), the partner’s marital adjustment (SMD 0.53, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.86; 4 trials, 347 partners, very low certainty), the patient’s marital satisfaction (SMD 0.89, 95% CI 0.35 to 1.43; 2 trials, 123 patients, very low certainty), and the partner’s marital satisfaction (SMD 0.57, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.94; 2 trials, 123 partners, very low certainty) compared to the control group in theory-based studies. In. However, in non-theory-based studies, the results of the meta-analysis revealed no significant differences between the intervention and control groups.ConclusionsThe results of this study demonstrated the impact of couple-based interventions on the marital outcomes of patients with breast and genital cancers. Because of the very low confidence in the evidence, high-quality randomized trials with a sufficient sample size should be conducted considering the proper theoretical context.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, orders to work and study from home became a problem for families in Indonesia. Marital adjustment and gender role partnerships in the household must be well established to create marital satisfaction so that there is no conflict in the family. This study analyzes the factors influencing marital satisfaction in intact families during the Covid-19 pandemic. Respondents in this study are wives from intact families who have children and are domiciled in the city of Bogor. The sampling technique used non-probability purposive sampling with several samples of as many as 128 people. The data was processed using descriptive and inferential tests and multiple linear regression using SPSS 25 and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using SmartPLS 3.0. The correlation test results showed a positive correlation between marital adjustment, gender role partnerships, and marital satisfaction. The results of the linear regression test showed that the husband's income had a significant positive effect on marital satisfaction. Correlation tests, linear regression test results, and SEM showed that marital adjustment and gender role partnerships significantly positively affected marital satisfaction. There is an indirect effect between marital adjustment and marital satisfaction with gender role partnership mediators.

One hundred and nine couples completed questionnaire measures of psychological symptoms, personality, and marital adjustment. They were divided into groups of short, intermediate, and long marriage duration. Psychological symptoms and marital adjustment remained fairly stable over time, although wives scored significantly worse than husbands on most measures in the intermediate duration group. In the short marriages, half the variance in marital satisfaction was predicted by the partner's marital questionnaire score, but when this variable was eliminated from the regression equation, psychological symptoms (phobic anxiety in wives and depression in husbands) were the main predictors of marital satisfaction. In the intermediate group, hostility levels were the main predictors of marital satisfaction. In the long marriages, marital satisfaction was predicted mainly by personality factors (assertiveness in husbands and personal flexibility in wives) and by levels of generalized anxiety. The findings suggest that couples who constructively resolve difficulties in expressing hostility within marriage are more likely to remain married than those who fail to do so.

Background and Aim: Solution-focused therapy is a branch of the postmodern approach in the field of family and couple therapy and focuses on finding solutions to problems. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of solution-focused couple therapy on marital satisfaction and adjustment of couples. Methods: The present study was quasi-experimental with experimental and control groups and pretest-posttest and one-month follow-up, and its statistical population consisted of couples who visited Mehravar Counseling Center of Tehran in 2016. After screening with marital satisfaction Scale (Fowers and Olson, 1993) and Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) (Spanier, 1976), we selected 20 non-adjustment couples using the purposive method, and randomly replaced 10 couples in the experimental group and 10 couples in the control group. The experimental group received eight sessions of solution-based couple therapy interventions in a group, and the control group was placed on a waiting list. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to analyze the data. Results: The results indicated that the solution-focused couple therapy significantly increased marital satisfaction (F= 10.68, P= 0.002) and marital adjustment (F= 13.58, P= 0.001) and the results were stable in the follow-up phase (P=0.05). Conclusion: Based on the findings, solution-focused couple therapy could be a suitable treatment to increase marital satisfaction and adjustment in couples.

New families living with parents-in-law are facing a challenging marital satisfaction issue. This study aimed to determine the effect of marital adjustment and religiosity on marital satisfaction simultaneously and partially. This quantitative study employs data collection techniques using marital satisfaction, marital adjustment, and religiosity scales. 90 Muslim husbands or wives who lived in their parents-in-law’s houses participated in this study. Participants' characteristics were fewer than five years of marriage, first marriage, and living in the Pamekasan Regency. Multiple linear regression was used to test hypotheses. The result shows a significant effect of marital adjustment and religiosity on marital satisfaction. While partially, the marital adjustment has a significant effect on marital satisfaction. Whereas religiosity also has a significant effect on marital satisfaction. Even though marital adjustment and religiosity affect marital satisfaction simultaneously, marital adjustment partially affects marital satisfaction higher than that of religiosity. As an implication, families living with parents-in-law need to enhance their marital adjustment to achieve marital satisfaction.