Date of Conferral

2016

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Magy Martin

Abstract

Research is limited and inconsistent when identifying basic constructs that improve relationship satisfaction; there is also limited research on marriage education efforts that address effects of premarital programs on relationship satisfaction and how they are influenced by personality. Research questions in this study explored the relationship between personality characteristics and relationship satisfaction and the relationship among personality characteristics and affective communication, role orientation, problem-solving communication, aggression, family history of distress, time together, disagreement about finances, and sexual dissatisfaction, as measured with the 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire (5th ed.) and Marital Satisfaction Inventory-Revised. The family systems theory provided the theoretical foundation. A convenience sample of (N = 58) of individuals, who attended the premarital education program, Preparación de Novios weekend workshop, was recruited. While overall regression analysese were not statistically significant, prohibiting the rejection of null hypotheses, 3 independent variables emerged that supported the results of existing literature and may be useful for future research: affective communication and gender, role orientation and independence, and aggression and independence. These findings have implications for positive social change by informing the efforts of therapists, counselors, and others working with couples, who may note the areas of greatest influence on relationship satisfaction and focus on those problem areas in a relationship with potentially greater impact on satisfaction.

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