Journal of Woman and Family Studies

Mediating role of emotional expressivness in the relationship between cognitive emotion regulation strategies and marital satisfaction

Document Type : Research/Original/Regular

Authors

1 Master of Family Counseling, Kharazmi University. Tehran. Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between cognitive emotion regulation strategies and marital satisfaction with the mediating role of emotional expression.The research method is descriptive-correlational. The statistical population of the study consisted of all married female teachers in Asadabad in the school year of 2019-2020. 300 were selected as the statistical sample of the study through available sampling method. Data were collected using the Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire 1989), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies Questionnaire (2001), and King and Emmons Emotional Expression Questionnaire 1990). In data analysis, in addition to using descriptive statistics Inferential statistics section was analyzed using AMOS software. The results indicated that there is a significant relationship between cognitive emotion regulation strategies and emotional expressiveness with marital satisfaction (P<0.01). On the other hand, emotional expression plays a mediating role in the relationship between cognitive emotion regulation strategies and marital satisfaction. The results also showed that cognitive emotion regulation strategies directly and indirectly influence marital satisfaction. And the effect of cognitive emotion regulation strategies on emotional arousal and emotional arousal on marital satisfaction is only direct. Therefore, considering the importance of marital satisfaction in married life and self-determination, cognitive strategies of emotion regulation and emotional expression are necessary to inform and inform people about cognitive strategies of emotional regulation and emotional adjustment.

Highlights

Background & Purpose

 Marital satisfaction can be defined as the compatibility between a person's expectations of married life and her experiences in life, or in other words, the compatibility between the current situation and the expected situation. the purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between cognitive emotion regulation strategies and marital satisfaction with the mediating role of emotional expression.

Method

The research method is descriptive-correlational. In this study, cognitive strategies of emotion regulation and emotional expression were considered as independent variables (predictors), and marital satisfaction was considered as a dependent variable (criteria). The population consisted of all married female teachers in Asadabad between 2018 to 2019. Three hundred people were selected as the sample by convenience sampling method, and 300 questionnaires were distributed. Finally, 282 questionnaires were received to analyze the data. Enrich Marital Satisfaction (1989), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies (Garnfsky et al. , 2001), Emotional Expression (King and Emmons, 1990) were used for data collection. This study used frequency, mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum score, and correlation coefficient to analyze the data. Also, the Shapiro-Wilk test was used for examining the normality of data. In the inferential statistics section, the structural equation modeling (path analysis) and fit indices were used, which gave us accurate and pure information by removing the relationship errors between the variables. Data analysis was performed using AMOS software. Direct and indirect effects have also been reported in this study.

Result

The results showed that on the one hand, a negative and significant correlation between maladaptive strategies and marital satisfaction (r=-0. 17, P<0. 05) and a positive and significant correlation between adaptive strategies and marital satisfaction (r=0. 80, P<0. 05) and There was a correlation between emotional expression and marital satisfaction (r=0. 67) (p <0. 01). On the other hand, emotional expression plays a mediating role in the relationship between cognitive emotion regulation strategies and marital satisfaction. Also, the results showed that cognitive emotion regulation strategies directly affect emotional expression and emotional expression has a similar effect on marital satisfaction. Adaptive strategies (r=0. 71, P<0. 05) and maladaptive strategies (r=-0. 46, P<0. 05) directly affect emotional expression; Emotional expression (r=0. 68, P<0. 05) has a direct effect on marital satisfaction, and Adaptive strategies (r=0. 41, P<0. 05) and maladaptive strategies (r=-0. 34, P<0. 05) directly affect marital satisfaction.

 

 Table1 - Mean, standard deviation and correlation of research variables

Variable

Mean

Standard
Deviation

1

2

3

4

Uncompromised Strategies

54. 13

17. 03

1

      

Compromised Strategies

46. 48

17. 74

* -0. 15

1

    

Emotional Expression

45. 32

21. 15

* -0. 28

* 0. 72

1

  

Marital Satisfaction

106. 12

36. 84

* -0. 16

* 0. 80

* 0. 67

1

Conclusion

 According to the findings of this study, there is a significant positive relationship between adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies and marital satisfaction in female teachers (r=. 80). That is, female teachers who are used to applying these strategies have higher marital satisfaction than other female teachers who use these strategies less. On the other hand, there is a significant negative relationship between maladaptive strategies of female teachers' cognitive emotion regulation and marital satisfaction (r=-. 17). This means that female teachers who are accustomed to using these strategies have less marital satisfaction in their lives than other female teachers who use these strategies less. Since the ability to regulate emotion can determine a person's relationship quality, those who are are capable of regulating their emotions understand their own and others' emotions better. As a result, they have more developed interpersonal and intrapersonal skills (Lopez et al. , 2004). Individuals who have difficulty regulating emotion are unable to regain their emotional state, less able to maintain their relationship. They feel they are stuck in negative communication patterns with others, they feel out of control, so they have low marital satisfaction. (Amato, 1996). This factor is a key and determining factor in psychological well-being and effective individual functioning that plays a crucial role in adapting to stressful life events. It should be said that it affects the overall quality of life (Garnefski et al. , 2002). ). The results also showed a positive and significant correlation between positive expression and intimacy with marital satisfaction and a negative and significant correlation between negative expression and marital satisfaction in female teachers. This result suggested that by increasing positive emotional expression and intimacy in female teachers, their marital satisfaction increases. On the other hand, by increasing negative emotional expression, their marital satisfaction decreases. Emotionally efficient people recognize their feelings in the face of disturbance, understand their implicit meaning, and express their emotional states to others more effectively. Compared to those who lack the skills and ability to express their emotions, they are more successful in coping with negative experiences and show more adaptation to the environment and others (Golelman, 1995; Veld et al. , 2012). Therefore, the expression of emotions plays a significant role in happiness and the continuation of married life. Furthermore, people with high emotional expressions are more likely to effectively resolve problems and differences through precise and subtle conversations, make situations better, and show more empathy toward others. This factor increases their marital satisfaction and reduces burnout (Kiani et al. , 2016). Finally, another finding was the mediating effect of emotional expression on the relationship between cognitive emotion regulation strategies and marital satisfaction in female teachers. Although to our knowledge, no research has been reported on the mediating role of emotional expression in the relationship between cognitive emotion regulation strategies and marital satisfaction, this finding is consistent with King and Ammons (1997) study, which showed that emotional expression as an essential mediating variable plays an influential role in reducing stress and illness (cited by Slavinskiene et al. , 2014). Adaptive strateg

Keywords

Main Subjects

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Journal of Woman and Family Studies
Volume 10, Issue 3 - Serial Number 26
November 2022
Pages 32-52