Relationship of Conflict Resolution Styles in Marriage with Marital Adjustment and Satisfaction Cover Image

Evlilikte Çatışma Çözme Stillerinin Evlilik Uyumu ve Doyumu ile İlişkisi
Relationship of Conflict Resolution Styles in Marriage with Marital Adjustment and Satisfaction

Author(s): Özge Ünal, Serap Akgün
Subject(s): Comparative Psychology, Psychology of Self, Behaviorism, Family and social welfare
Published by: Çukurova Universitesi Tip Fakultesi Psikiyatri Anabilim Dalı
Keywords: Conflict; marital adjustment; satisfaction; marriage;

Summary/Abstract: This review focuses on the relationship between spouses’ conflict resolution styles and marital happiness, firstly the conceptualizations of marital satisfaction and marital adjustment were defined and their differences were discussed. Prior studies show that marital adjustment and satisfaction are two concepts related to marital happiness but need to be separated from each other. Then, the relationships between spouses’ approaches to their marital conflicts and their marital happiness were considered in this review. Conflict is a natural part of all marriages but the couples’ approaches to marital conflicts may lead to constructive or destructive outcomes for their relationships. One of the most important goals of many intervention programs developed for distressed couples is to provide spouses with the ability to resolve their conflicts constructively. Findings showed that constructive conflict resolution (considering conflict as a social problem that could be solved with cooperation, striving to satisfy the needs of both parties, and finding out solutions together) leads to an increase in marital satisfaction and marital adjustment. Destructive behaviors with hostile intentions focused on self-interest (physical and verbal aggression and oppression) seem to be negatively related to marital adjustment and satisfaction. Besides these negative coping behaviors, it will be beneficial for spouses to gain awareness of behaviors such as submission, protective buffering, and underestimating the coping capabilities of the partner with an overprotective attitude, which are not based on hostile intentions in dealing with problems but can have devastating consequences in the long term.

  • Issue Year: 14/2022
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 322-330
  • Page Count: 9
  • Language: Turkish