Dysfunctional Beliefs, Belief Similarity, and Marital Distress: A Comparison of Models

Abstract

Although often examined separately, the joint influence of belief similarity and dysfunctionality on relationship satisfaction has not been investigated, and conceptual models to guide this inquiry are lacking. The present study compared five models of how similarity and irrationality may contribute individually and jointly to marital distress. Multiple measures of those constructs were administered to 49 nonclinical married couples. A content model received support when actual similarity was considered, such that dysfunctional relationship beliefs (assessed by the Relationship Belief Inventory, Eidelson & Epstein, 1 982), but not actual similarity in those beliefs, were associated with distress. Also, marriage-relevant beliefs were associated more strongly with distress than were more general irrational beliefs. When spouses' perceived belief similarity was examined, both dysfunctionality and perceived similarity predicted distress, supporting an additive model for females and an interactive model for males.The ability to accurately predict one's spouse's relationship beliefs was unrelated to marital distress.The role of cognitive factors in enhancing or interfering with functioning in interpersonal relationships has received increasing attention (Berley & Jacobson, 1984;Epstein, 1982;Stuart, 1980). Two general approaches to the study of such cognitions have emerged in the theoretical and experimental literature. The first of these focuses on the contribution of the congruence of couples' cognitions to relationship satisfaction and distress. A second approach has as its focus the content of the couples' attitudes or beliefs. The present study examines marital distress as a function of both the similarity and the content of spouses' dysfunctional marriage-relevant beliefs.The literature demonstrating that attitude similarity is a powerful determinant of interpersonal attraction has provided a major focus for the study of cognition in relationships. Early research by Byrne and Requests for reprints should be sent to

Dysfunctional Relationship Beliefs in Marital Satisfaction and Adjustment

“…Contrary to the expectation that gendered patterns of socialization may lead men to develop more dysfunctional relationship beliefs, there was no gender difference in irrational beliefs related to the relationship. This finding was not consistent with previous research showing married women and men had different levels of irrational relationship beliefs (Bradbury & Fincham, 1993;Haferkamp, 1994;Jones & Stanton, 1988;Stackert & Bursik, 2003). As stated before, educational level had a significant effect on dysfunctional relationship beliefs.…”

“…In addition, some researchers have found that the low dyadic adjustment group had significantly more irrational relationship beliefs than did the high dyadic adjustment group (Debord et al, 1996;Möller & Van der Merwe, 1997;Möller & Van Zyl, 1991). Other researchers have reported similar findings for marital satisfaction (Jones & Stanton, 1988;Metts & Cupach, 1990;Stackert & Bursik, 2003;Sullivan & Schwebel, 1995). Moreover, some researchers have shown that there is gender difference in dysfunctional relationship beliefs.…”

Perfectionism, marital satisfaction, and contributing factors to sexual dysfunction in men with erectile disorder and their spouses

“…Thus, the interrelationship among perfectionism, sexual difficulties, and marital satisfaction for sexually dysfunctional men and their wives was examined. Given previous evidence in the literature that certain forms of dysfunctional cognitions (e.g., dysfunctional relationship beliefs) are associated with greater marital maladjustment (Eidelson and Epstein, 1982;Emmelkamp et al, 1987;Jones and Stanton, 1988), marital satisfaction scores were predicted to be inversely related to perfectionism scores in both men and women.…”

Correlates of Couples’ Perceived Similarity at the Initiation Stage and Currently

“…Therefore, in actual relationships, the effect of perceived similarity on satisfaction is stronger than the effect of actual similarity. Example studies that have shown that perceived similarity is more strongly associated than actual similarity with relationship quality in existing couples include Acitelli, Douvan, and Veroff (1993), Hendrick (1981), Jones and Stanton (1988), and Levinger and Breedlove (1966).The strong and consistent effects of perceived similarity on attraction (and satisfaction) may occur because both causal directions are operating. That is, not only is it likely that perceived similarity contributes to attraction (and satisfaction), but feelings of attraction and satisfaction may in turn lead to the perception of similarity.…”

“…Therefore, in actual relationships, the effect of perceived similarity on satisfaction is stronger than the effect of actual similarity. Example studies that have shown that perceived similarity is more strongly associated than actual similarity with relationship quality in existing couples include Acitelli, Douvan, and Veroff (1993), Hendrick (1981), Jones and Stanton (1988), and Levinger and Breedlove (1966).…”