The Predictive Role of Self-Esteem, Attachment Styles, and Family of Origin Functions in Explaining Conflict Resolution in Romantic Relationships

Year 2022, , 557 - 568, 20.09.2022

Zeynep Çağlayan Serdar Körük

https://doi.org/10.33200/ijcer.1061932

Abstract

The aim of this research is to analyze the predictive role of self-esteem, attachment styles, and origin family functions in explaining conflict resolution in romantic relationships. A total of 265 adult participants were administered Demographics Form, Conflict Resolution Styles Scale (CRSS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R), and Family Assessment Device (FAD). Correlational design was used to examine relationships between variables. Multiple regression analysis, independent T-test analysis, and one-way ANOVA analysis were carried out within the aim of the study. According to the results, the predictive role of attachment styles and origin family functions on conflict resolution was found significant. However, self-esteem was not found to have a significantly predictive role on conflict resolution. Findings were discussed along with current literature; and theoretical implications and suggestions for future research were presented.

Keywords

Conflict resolution, Self-esteem, Attachment styles, Origin family functions

References

• Akdağ, F. (2014). Predicting of psychological well-being in married individuals, according to relationships with family of origin, self-esteem, and marital satisfaction (Unpublished Master’s thesis). Institute of Social Sciences, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey.
• Bahadır, Ş. (2006). The relationship between attachment styles, conflict resolution strategies and negative mood regulation in romantic relations (Unpublished Doctoral dissertation). Institute of Social Sciences, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.
• Bartholomew, K. (1990). Avoidance of intimacy: An attachment perspective. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 7(2), 147-178. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407590072001
• Bulut, I. (1990). Aile Değerlendirme Ölçeği (ADÖ) el kitabı [Family Assessment Device (FAD)]. Ankara: Özgüzeliş Matbaası.
• Cramer, D. (2000). Relationship satisfaction and conflict style in romantic relationships. Journal of Psychology, 134(3), 337-341. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980009600873
• Deutsch, M., Coleman, P. T., & Marcus, E. C. (2006) The handbook of conflict resolution (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
• Demirci, E. (2004). Attachment in marriage and effects of attachment style in management of confliction (Unpublished Master’s thesis). Institute of Social Sciences, Karadeniz Teknik University, Trabzon, Turkey.
• Epstein, N. B., Baldwin, L. M., & Bishop, D. S. (1983). The McMaster family assessment device. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 9(2), 171-180. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.1983.tb01497.x
• Epstein, N. B., Bishop, D. S., & Levin, S. (1978). The McMaster model of family functioning. Journal of Marriage and Family Counseling, 4(4), 19-31. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.1978.tb00537.x
• Feeney, J. A., & Karantzas, G. C. (2017). Couple conflict: Insights from an attachment perspective. Current Opinion in Psychology, 13, 60-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2016.04.017
• Fraley, R. C., Hudson, N. W., & Heffernan, M. (2015). Are adult attachment styles categorical or dimensional? A taxometric analysis of general and relationship-specific attachment orientations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 109(2), 354-368. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000027
• Fraley, R. C., Waller, N. G., & Brennan, K. A. (2000). An item response theory analysis of self-report measures of adult attachment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78(2), 350-365. https://doi.org/1037//0022-3514.78.2.350
• Gottman, J. M., & Krokoff, L. J. (1989). Marital interaction and satisfaction: A longitudinal view. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 57(1), 47-52. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.57.1.47
• Gray-Little, B., Williams, V.S.L., & Hancock, T. D. (1997). An item response theory analysis of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 23, 443-451. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167297235001
• Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(3), 511-524. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.52.3.511
• Kabasakal, Z. (2013). The effects of mother education programs on the functionality, anger management and conflict solution levels of families. Eurosian Journal of Educational Research, 13(52), 1-20.
• Kaya Balkan, İ. (2009). An attachment perspective on marital relationships (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Institute of Social Sciences, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
• Kerr, M. E., & Bowen, M. (1988). Family evaluation: An approach based on bowen theory. W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
• Koerner, A.F., & Fitzpatrick, M.A. (2002). You never leave your family in a fight: The impact of family of origin on conflict behavior in romantic relationships. Communication Studies, 53(3), 234-251. https://doi.org/10.1080/10510970209388588
• Kurdek, L. A. (1994). Conflict resolution styles in gay, lesbian, heterosexual nonparent, and heterosexual parent couples. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 56(3), 705-722. https://doi.org/10.2307/352880
• Kurdek, L.A. (1995). Predicting change in marital satisfaction from husbands’ and wives’ conflict resolution styles. Journal Of Marriage and Family, 57(1), 153-161. https://doi.org/10.2307/353824
• Marshall, T. C., Bejanyan, K., Di Castro, G., & Lee, R. A. (2013). Attachment styles as predictors of Facebook-related jealousy and surveillance in romantic relationships. Personal Relationships, 20(1), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6811.2011.01393.x
• Miller, I. W., Ryan, C. E., Keitner, G. I., Bishop, D. S., & Epstein, N. B. (2000). The McMaster approach to families: Theory, assessment, treatment, and research. Journal of Family Therapy, 22(2), 168-189. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6427.00145
• Murray, S. L., Holmes, J. G., & Griffin, D. W. (1996a). The benefits of positive illusions: Idealization and the construction of satisfaction in close relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70, 79–98. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.70.1.79
• Murray, S. L., Holmes, J. G., & Griffin, D. W. (1996b). The self-fulfilling nature of positive illusions in romantic relationships: Love is not blind, but prescient. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 71, 1155-1180. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.71.6.1155
• Oliveira, S.C., Paverini, S.C., Orlandi, F.S., Mendiondo, M. S. Z. (2014). Family functionality: a study of brazilian institutionalized elderly individuals. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 58, 170-176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2013.07.003
• Özen, A. (2006). Value similarities of wives and husbands and conflict resolution styles of spouses as predictors of marital adjustment (Unpublished master’s thesis). Institute of Social Sciences, The Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey.
• Özen, A., Salman-Engin, S., & Sakallı-Uğurlu, N. (2016). Conflict Resolution Styles Scale in Romantic Relationship: The validity and reliability study. Nesne Journal of Psychology, 4(7), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.7816/nesne-04-07-01
• Pancaroğlu, S. (2007). The relationships of attachment styles and conflict behaviors among male and female university students (Unpublished master’s thesis). Institute of Social Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey.
• Pistole, M., & Arricale, F. (2003). Understanding attachment: Beliefs about conflict. Journal of Counseling & Development, 81(3), 318–328. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6678.2003.tb00259.x
• Reese-Weber, M., & Bartle-Haring, S. (1998). Conflict resolution styles in family subsystems and adolescent romantic relationships. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 27(6), 735-752. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022861832406
• Salvatore, J., Kuo, S., Steele, R., Simpson, J., & Collins, W. (2011). Recovering from conflict in romantic relationships: A developmental perspective. Psychological Science, 22(3), 376–383. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797610397055
• Satir, V. (1989). The new people making. Science & Behavior Books Inc.
• Schellenberg, J. A. (1996). Conflict resolution: Theory, research, and practice. State University of New York Press.
• Shi, L. (2003). The association between adult attachment styles and conflict resolution in romantic relationships. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 31(3), 143-157. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926180301120
• Selçuk, E., Günaydın, G., Sümer, N., & Uysal, A. (2005). A new scale developed to measure adult attachment dimensions: Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) - psychometric evaluation in a Turkish sample. Turkish Psychological Articles, 8(16), 1-11.
• Soylu, Y., & Kağnıcı, D. Y. (2015). Predicting marital adjustment according to empathic tendency, communication, and conflict resolution styles. Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Journal, 5(43), 44-54.
• Staccini, L., Tomba, E., Grandi, S., & Keitner, G. I. (2015). The evaluation of family functioning by the family assessment device: A systematic review of studies in adult clinical populations. Family Process, 54(1), 94-115. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12098
• Ülker, G. (2011). Prediction of frequency and prevalence of marital conflict according to some variables (Unpublished master’s thesis). Institute of Social Sciences, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey.
• Walsh, F. (2012). Normal family processes: Growing diversity and complexity (4th ed.). The Guilford Press.
• Zeytinoğlu, E. (2013). The relationships among self- esteem, jealousy, marital conflict, and marital satisfaction, in married people (Unpublished master’s thesis). Institute of Educational Sciences, Dokuz Eylul University, İzmir, Turkey.