Emotional Expression and Spousal Support as Predictors of Marital Satisfaction: The Case of Turkey

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between spousal support and the ability to express feelings of marital satisfaction, and the extent to which spousal support and the ability to express feelings can predict marital satisfaction. Research was conducted in accordance with general survey models. The study group comprised 195 married couples (N = 390) residing in one of the biggest cities in central Anatolia. The Marital Life Scale, Spousal Support Scale, and Emotional Expression Scale were applied to the married couples and a Personal Information Form was provided. The data analysis used the Pearson moment correlation coefficient, multiple regression analysis, and the Kendall correlation coefficient. The results indicated that there was a relationship between all the sub-dimensions of spousal support and marital satisfaction; moreover, spousal support was found to be a significant predictor of marital satisfaction. While a significant correlation was found between marital satisfaction and the expression of proximity emotion, one of the sub-dimensions of the Emotional Expression Scale, no significant correlation was found between the expression of negative and positive emotions. In addition, according to the results of the multiple regression analysis, the expression of feelings did not predict marital satisfaction.