The relationship between personality factors, self-control and marital coping strategies with marital conflict

Authors

1 Department of Counseling, University of Kurdistan, Kurdistan, Iran

2 Department of Counseling, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Conflict is inevitable in intimate relationship in the form of disagreements, dislikes, arguments and tensions. It may result in the renovation if handled properly or deterioration of relationship if managed poorly. The aim of this descriptive- correlation study was to investigate the effects of marital coping strategies, personality and self-control on the marital conflict in a propositional structural model. Methods: The research population consisted of all the parents of elementary school children in Kurdistan in 2014. The two-stage cluster sampling was used. The research instruments were the Marital Conflict Questionnaire (MCQ), NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI, short form), Self- control questionnaire & Marital Coping Inventory (MCI). Required data was collected through research instruments. Correlation analysis, multiple regression and structural equation model was done using AMOS22. Results: The results showed that self- control, personality and marital coping strategies had effects on marital conflict and can predict it. Marital coping strategies have the strongest effect on marital conflict among these variables (-0.74). Conceptual model showed that personality factor had strong effects on marital coping strategies (-0.43) & self- control (-.89).Conclusions: Besides specifying the relationship among research variables, the results indicated that personality factor can affect marital conflict through self – control & marital coping strategies. Considering that personality traits are resistant to change and modification, it seems that family therapists can moderate the effects of personality & reduce marital conflict by intervening on self – control & marital coping strategies.

Keywords


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