The role of family-of-origin function and neuroticism in relationship beliefs of divorce applicant couples

The importance of relationship beliefs and patterns in shaping and determining the quality of couple’s relationships is undeniable. This beliefs like any other variables derived from many factors such as internal processes and personality characteristics as well as environmental factors and social texture. The purpose of the present study is investigation the role of family-of-origin function and neuroticism in relationship beliefs of divorce applicant couples. In this research that is a correlation study, from the divorce applicant couples in Ardebil city, 200 person were selected using the purposive sampling method. The instruments used in this study were neuroticism subscale of the Personality Inventory (NEO-FFI) (McCrae and Costa, 1985), Family of origin Scale (Hovestadt and et al, 1985) and relationship Beliefs inventory (Eidelson and Epstein, 1982). Data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficients and stepwise regression method. The results showed that there is a positive and significant relationship between couple’s beliefs and neuroticism. Among the components of the family-of-origin function, the components of expressiveness, respect and conflict resolution have a negative and significant relationship with couples' relationship beliefs. The results of regression analysis also showed that neuroticism and explicit expression and trust components were the best predictors of the relationship beliefs of couples. Of course, neuroticism has a greater role in explaining of that beliefs. The results of present study showed that low levels of neuroticism and family-of-origin’s normal function can predict effective relationship beliefs that the result of this issue is reduction of marital conflicts.