The Relationship Between Emotion Regulation and Marital Satisfaction Using the Actor-partner Interdependence Model

Abstract

Objectives The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between emotion regulation dimensions and marital satisfaction along with assessing the moderating role of gender factor. Methods This is a descriptive/correlational study. Participants were 156 married couples living in Tehran, Iran who were recruited using a convenience sampling method. They were measured using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS). In order to explore dyadic relationships, data were analyzed using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM). Results Both in husbands and wives, the emotion regulation ability was predictive of their marital satisfaction. Wives' scores in all 6 dimensions of emotion regulation and their husbands' scores in all dimensions except in "awareness" was positively associated with their marital satisfaction. Acceptance of emotions, goal-directed behavior, impulse control, and access to regulation strategies in men predicted their wives' marital satisfaction, while impulse control, access to regulation strategies, and understanding of emotions in women predicted their husbands' marital satisfaction. The results did not support the moderating role of gender. Conclusion The findings highlight the importance of focus on emotion regulation and its multiple dimensions in assessment and treatment of problems in couples. The use of dyadic data analysis is recommended to better understand the interpersonal phenomena.

Pathways to intimacy: The direct and indirect effects of cognitive flexibility and emotion dysregulation.

“…The indirect effect of cognitive flexibility on emotional intimacy was also supported, suggesting that emotion regulation may serve as a pathway by which cognitive flexibility impacts emotional intimacy. This is consistent with literature linking cognitive flexibility and emotion dysregulation (e.g., Pruessner et al, 2020; Zaehringer et al, 2018) and builds on literature examining how emotion dysregulation impacts relationship satisfaction (e.g., Riahi et al, 2020). Given the role of self-disclosure in emotional intimacy, intimacy may be uniquely vulnerable to negative consequences of emotion dysregulation.…”

“…Second, the literature on emotion regulation and romantic relationships has predominantly examined relationship satisfaction as the outcome of interest (e.g., Riahi et al, 2020; Rick et al, 2017), but emotion regulation likely directly impacts intimacy processes in relationships. The presence of emotion dysregulation may itself disrupt the nature of the emotion expression, as evidence has demonstrated that emotion dysregulation is positively associated with aggression (Garofalo et al, 2016) and intimate partner violence (Bliton et al, 2016).…”

Emotion dysregulation and couple relationship satisfaction of clinical couples: An actor‐partner interdependence model

“…Some of their results are consistent with other studies that emotion regulation strategies have positive influences on relationship satisfaction for both genders (Ben-Naim et al, 2013;Tani et al, 2015). Yet, their findings on the negative impact of partners' emotional awareness and nonacceptance of negative emotions are different from prior findings (Omidi & Talighi, 2017;Riahi et al, 2020;Wachs & Cordova, 2007).…”

“…The first reason is related to a gap between the general community and clinical populations. The vast majority of prior studies on emotion regulation used community samples with an individual focus or were conducted in a laboratory setting, which is also true for most studies on emotion regulation in couples (Ben‐Naim et al, 2013; Bloch et al, 2014; Cooper et al, 2020; Omidi & Talighi, 2017; Riahi et al, 2020; Richards et al, 2003; Tani et al, 2015). However, there are significant differences in pattern, severity, and personal experience of distress between the general community and clients in therapy (Jackson et al, 2014; Rick et al, 2017).…”

Mediating Role of Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies in the Relationship Between Anxiety and Body Image in Women With Breast Cancer Volunteered for Mastectomy

“…According to Gross and Thompson's emotion regulation model, cognitive emotion regulation strategies can play a role in psychiatric disorders. Various studies have proven its role in depression [18][19][20], generalized anxiety disorder [21], bipolar disorder [22], eating disorders [23], and social anxiety [24], suicidal ideation [25], marital satisfaction [26], post-traumatic stress disorder [27], autism spectrum disorder [28], substance abuse [28,29], impulsivity [30], attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder [31] and borderline personality disorder [32,33].…”