The Mediating Role of Experiential Avoidance in the Relationship Between the Focus on Child and Marital Satisfaction

Abstract

Individuals' attitudes towards their spouses and relationship, including the emotional climate of the marriage are essential for a satisfying marriage. In an unhealthy emotional climate, on the other hand, severe symptoms may emerge. One of these symptoms is the focus-on-child, where child-related issues often cause marital conflicts. The marital conflicts due to focus-on-child may also increase experiential avoidance as a coping style in the relationship. The purpose is to examine the mediating role of experiential avoidance in the relationship between the focus on child and marital satisfaction. One hundred fifty-nine married dyads participated in the study. They completed the Family Genogram Interview Form which consists of Focus on Child Subscale, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II, Relationship Assessment Scale, and Demographic Information Form. Findings of the Common Fate Mediation Model indicated that focus on child and experiential avoidance explained 55% of the variance in marital satisfaction. Experiential avoidance has fully mediated the relationship between focus on the child and marital satisfaction. Findings indicate maladaptive coping methods (i.e., focus-on-child) may trigger the avoidance behaviors of spouses and negatively affect their marital satisfaction. To improve marital satisfaction, we propose that spouses' psychological flexibility and self-differentiation (less focus on the child) levels should be enhanced.