Objectives This study examines whether emotional recognition clarity mediates the relationship between self dif-ferentiation and marital satisfaction, and to verify whether couple communication satisfaction modulates this me-diating effect. Methods For this purpose, 249 adults were measured through self-report surveys for self differentiation, marital satisfaction, emotional recognition clarity, and couple communication satisfaction. Results First, in the relationship between self differentiation and marital satisfaction, the mediating effect of emotional recognition clarity was found to be significant. Second, the moderating effect of couple communication satisfaction was significant in the relationship between emotional recognition clarity and marital satisfaction. Third, it was found that couple communication satisfaction moderated the mediating effect of emotional recog-nition clarity on the relationship between self differentiation and marital satisfaction. Conclusions These results suggest the need for intervention on emotional recognition clarity and couple commu-nication satisfaction in counseling settings when clients complain of low marital satisfaction due to self differentiation.