The relationship between the dimensions of object relations and marital satisfaction

The purpose of this research was to identify the psychodynamic dimensions of object relations and determine its role in predicting marital satisfaction.

194 married men and women were purposefully selected in Tehran who had been married for at least 2 years and did not have an acute psychiatric disorder. Participants completed the Bell object relations Inventory (2003) and ENRICH marital satisfaction scale (1993).

The results of correlation analysis showed that there is a significant negative relationship between marital satisfaction and the dimensions of object relations (egocentricity, alienation, insecure attachment and social inadequacy). The results of stepwise regression analysis showed that different dimensions of object relations including egocentricity (R2=0.394, p < 0.001), insecure attachment (R2=0.054, p < 0.001) and social inadequacy (R2=0.016, p=0.05) are the most significant variables in predicting marital dissatisfaction. Moreover, results showed that egocentricity (R2=0.444, p < 0.001), and social inadequacy (R2=0.061, p < 0.001) in men and egocentricity (R2=0/323, p < 0/001) and insecure attachment (R2=0.061, p < 0.001) in women, respectively are predictors of marital dissatisfaction.

The findings of the research provide evidence for the model of psychodynamic explanation in marital satisfaction