Relationship Personality, Conflict Resolution, and Marital Satisfaction in the First 5 Years of Marriage^*

Abstract

We explore the relationship between couples' stable personality variables associated with interpersonal competencies (referred to here as relationship personality variables) and marital satisfaction with conflict resolution style as the mediating factor. Eighty-three newlywed couples participated in the study at 6 points over 5 years at 1-year intervals. The results indicate strong mediational effects across time. In particular, conflict resolution styles appear to form during the 1st year of marriage and are habituated thereafter to a large extent. The relationship personality variables correspond closely with conflict resolution styles, which in turn influence marital satisfaction. The implications for intervention, especially for preventive intervention in early marriage, are presented.

Effect of Pre-Marriage Counseling on Marital Satisfaction of Iranian Newlywed Couples: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Silliman and Schumm (1999) believed that the most important component of a pre-marriage program is communication and conflict resolution skills, because it directly affects marital satisfaction and also indirectly through resolving of financial, sexual or personality differences. Also, Schneewind and Gerhard (2002) showed that, over time, couples' conflict resolution style becomes more influential in predicting marital satisfaction. However, Burlson and Denton (1997) demonstrated that the relationship between communication skills and marital satisfaction is not always direct and simple.…”

Alexithymia and Marital Quality: The Mediating Role of Relationship Maintenance Behaviors

“…We used 5 years as a criterion for participation because previous studies have concluded that this period of time is sufficient for the honeymoon period to pass and for the effects of relationship processes to become apparent on relationship outcomes (Schneewind & Gerhard, 2002). Subject participation consisted of completion of an online questionnaire.…”

Marital Adjustment Factors for International Marriages in South Korea

“…In previous studies, it was reported that active extroversion, steady agreeableness, diligent conscientiousness, openness, and artistic sense positively influenced marital adjustment; however, mental instability and vulnerable neuroticism had a negative effect (Gottman, 1998;Karney & Bradbury, 1997;Schneewind& Anna-Katharina, 2002).…”

“…Researchers are interested in understanding the influence of personality and communication in relationships; subsequently, initial studies that compared an adjustment to marriage and maladjustment to marriage found relatively strong personality (Buss, 1995;John & Ted, 2000;McCrae & Costa, 1994;William & Vicky, 2001) and communication (Brant & Wayne, 1997;Hwang & Ko, 2010;Lee & Yun, 2007;Schneewind & Anna-Katharina, 2002) correlates. In existing international marriage studies (Bray & Jouriles, 1995;Choi et al, 2009;Fu & Kendall, 2001;Qian & Daniel, 2007;Zhang, 2009), husbands or wives only were used as the study subjects due to the cultural difficulties in selecting the subjects to be surveyed.…”