Original scientific paper

Effect of Similarity of Personality Traits in Married Couples on Their Psychological Symptoms and Quality of Marriage

Tamara Martinac Dorčić orcid.org/0000-0002-3844-8500 ; Odsjek za psihologiju, Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Rijeci
Barbara Kelebić Maglica orcid.org/0000-0002-6278-5582 ; Odsjek za psihologiju, Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Rijeci

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore how similarity of personality traits in married couples can explain their quality of marriage and psychological symptoms above their individual personality traits.
The sample consisted of 90 married couples. Participants completed the Big Five Inventory, Quality of Marriage Index and Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R).
The results of hierarchical regression analysis show that predictors (individual personality traits, differences in personality traits between partners) can explain variance of psychological symptoms in married women better than in married man.
The results also show that married women are more sensitive to the effects of partner’s personality traits. For example, a significant negative predictor of general psychological symptoms, depression and anxiety in women, is partner’s agreebleness. Significant positive predictors of depression and anxiety in women are differences in openness and extraversion.
There are differences in patterns of relationships among predictors and quality of marriage between partners. One’s own personality traits are more important for quality of marriage in men than in women. Although contributions of variable groups (individual personality traits and differences in personality traits between partners) are not significant, in explaining the quality of marriage there are some significant predictors. For example, neuroticism of women and difference in conscientiousness are important in the quality of marriage for men. In women, this is in accordance with their partner.

Keywords

quality of marriage; psychological symptoms; personality traits; personality traits similarity

Hrčak ID:

39918

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/39918

Publication date:

30.6.2009.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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