ARTICLE

EXPLORING THE MEDIATING ROLE OF FEAR OF INTIMACY IN THE INTERPLAY OF PARTNER REJECTION AND MARITAL SATISFACTION AMONG MARRIED WOMEN

  1. HOME
  2. ARTICLE

01 Pages : 1-14

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-IV).01      10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-IV).01      Published : Dec 2023

Exploring the Mediating Role of Fear of Intimacy in the Interplay of Partner Rejection and Marital Satisfaction among Married Women

Abstract

    The study investigated the association between intimate partner rejection and marital satisfaction in a sample of 250 married women (M = 32.38, SD = 3.73; age range: 25-45). This research made use of the Intimate Adult Relationship Questionnaire (IARQ), the Couple Satisfaction Index (CSI), and the Fear of Intimacy Scale (FIS). A correlation between couple rejection, fear of intimacy, and marital satisfaction was hypothesized. Findings suggested a significant positive association between partner rejection and fear of intimacy and a significant negative correlation between partner rejection and marital satisfaction. The mediating effect of fear in intimate relationships, or the correlation between partner rejection and marital pleasure, has been shown via structural equation modelling (SEM). Findings emphasized the link between marital satisfaction, intimacy, and the partner’s rejection. The research points to the need for counsellors to address intimacy fears and strengthen relationships via the use of individualized strategies and focused communication treatments.

    (1) Sadia Qazi
    PhD Scholar, Department of Applied Psychology, Government College University, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Sara Najam
    PhD Scholar, Department of Psychology, Uludag Üniversitesi, Bursa, Türkiye
    (3) Imran Mahmood
    Associate Lecture, Department of Psychology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
Fulltext PDF

References

  • Abreu-Afonso, J., Ramos, M. M., Queiroz-Garcia, I., & Leal, I. (2021). How couple’s relationship lasts over time? A model for marital satisfaction. Psychological Reports, 0(0), 1-27. https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941211000651.
  • Ariyo, A. M., & Mgbeokwii, G. N. (2019). Perception of companionship in relation to marital satisfaction: A study of married men and women. Ife PsychologIA, 27(1), 1-8
  • Bachem, R., Levin, Y., Zhou, X., Zerach, G., & Solomon, Z. (2017). The Role of Parental Posttraumatic Stress, marital Adjustment, and Dyadic Self‐Disclosure in Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma: A Family System Approach. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 44(3), 543– 555. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12266
  • Bachem, R., Levin, Y., Zhou, X., Zerach, G., & Solomon, Z. (2018). The Role of Parental Posttraumatic Stress, Marital Adjustment, and Dyadic Self-Disclosure in Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma: A Family System Approach. Journal of marital and family therapy, 44(3), 543–555. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12266
  • Bagarozzi, D. A. (2001). Enhancing Intimacy in Marriage: A Clinician's Guide (1st ed.). New York: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315787053
  • Bartholomew, K. (1990). Avoidance of intimacy: An attachment perspective. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 7(2),147–178. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407590072001
  • Bean, R. C., Ledermann, T., Higginbotham, B. J., & Galliher, R. V. (2020). Associations between relationship maintenance behaviors and marital stability in remarriages. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 61(1), 62–82. https://doi.org/10.1080/10502556.2019.1619385
  • Boerner, Jopp, D. S., Carr, D., Sosinsky, L., & Kim, S.K. (2014). “His” and “her” marriage? The role of positive and negative marital characteristics in global marital satisfaction among older adults. Journals of Gerontology, 69(4), 579–589. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbu032
  • Boiman-Meshita, M. & Littman-Ovadia, H. (2021). The marital version of three good things: A mixed-method study. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 16(3), 367-378. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2020.1716046
  • Cassepp-Borges, V. (2021). Should I stay or should I go? Relationship satisfaction, love, love styles and religion compatibility predicting the fate of relationships. Sexuality & Culture, 25(1), 871-883. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-020-09798-2
  • Davoodvandi, M., Nejad, S. N., & Farzad, V. (2018). Examining the effectiveness of Gottman couple therapy on improving marital adjustment and couples’ intimacy. Iranian Journal of Psychiatry, 13(2), 136- 142.
  • Demerdjian, J. (2018). The effects of sexual intimacy on relationship satisfaction. Azusa Pacific University, ProQuest Number: 10814508.
  • Descutner, C. J., & Thelen, M. H. (1991). Development and validation of a Fear-of- Intimacy Scale. Psychological Assessment: A Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 3(2),218–225. https://doi.org/10.1037/1040-3590.3.2.218
  • Dillon, L., Nowak, N., Weisfeld, G., Weisfeld, C., Shattuck, K., Imamoglu, O., Butovskaya, M., & Shen, J. (2015). Sources of marital conflict in five cultures. Evolutionary Psychology, 13(1), 1 – 15. https://doi.org/10.1177/147470491501300101
  • Donnellan, M. B., Larsen-Rife, D., & Conger, R. D. (2005). Personality, Family History, and Competence in Early Adult Romantic Relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 88(3), 562–576. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.88.3.562
  • Epstein, R., Robertson, R. E., Smith, R., Vasconcellos, T., & Lao, M. (2016). Which relationship skills count most? A large-scale replication. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 15(4), 341-356. https://doi.10.1080/15332691.2016.1141136
  • Ferreira, L.C., Narciso, I. & Novo, R.F. (2012). Intimacy, sexual desire and differentiation in couplehood: a theoretical and methodological review. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 38(3), 263–80. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2011.606885
  • Firestone, R. W., & Firestone, L. (2004). Methods for overcoming the fear of intimacy. In D. J. Mashek & A. Aron (Eds.), Handbook of closeness and intimacy (pp. 375–396). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
  • Fraser, R. N., Dalton, J. H., Burkhart, J. W., & Collins, J. T. (2021). Shared Christian religious identity, religiousness, and marital satisfaction. Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling, 75(2), 126–132. https://doi.org/10.1177/1542305021996229
  • Funk, J. L., & Rogge, R. D. (2007). Testing the ruler with item response theory: Increasing precision of measurement for relationship satisfaction with the Couples Satisfaction Index. Journal of Family Psychology, 21(4), 572.
  • Goddard, H.W., Marshall, J.P., Olson, J.R., & Dennis, S.A. (2012). Character strengths and religiosity as predictors of marital satisfaction in a sample of highly religious and divorce-prone couples. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 11(1), 2-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332691.2011.613308
  • Hook, J. N., Washington, Jr., E. L., Hook, J. P., Miller, B. T., & Davies, D. E. (2011). Marriage matters: A description and initial examination of a church-based marital education program. Pastoral Psychology, 60(1), 869-875. https://doi.10.1007/s11089-011-398-8. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2020.1862004
  • Javadivala, Z., Allahverdipour, H., Kouzekanani, K., Merghati- Khoei, E., Asghari Jafarabadi, M., Mirghafourvand, M. (2019). A randomized trial of a relationship- enhancement approach in improving marital intimacy in middle-aged Iranian couples. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 45(3), 190-200 https://doi.org.10.1080/0092623X.2018.1501447
  • K. Adamczyk, Current Issues in Personality Psychology, 2019, 7, 298–312
  • Kardan-Souraki, M., Hamzehgardeshi, Z., Asadpour, I., Mohammadpour, R. A., & Khani, S. (2016). A Review of Marital Intimacy-Enhancing Interventions among Married Individuals. Global journal of health science, 8(8), 53109. https://doi.org/10.5539/gjhs.v8n8p74
  • Kayabol, N.B., & Sumer, Z.H. (2020). How to maintain a marriage: Maintenance behaviors, equity, and appreciation in understanding marital satisfaction. Current Psychology, 41(1), 5781-5794. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00905-y
  • Kline, P. (2000). Handbook of Psychological Testing. London, United Kingdom. Routledge.
  • Kuyumcu, B., & Rohner, R. P. (2016). The relation between remembered parental acceptance in childhood and self-acceptance among young Turkish adults. International Journal of Psychology, 53(2), 126–132. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.12277
  • Langeslag, S.J. & Surti, K. (2022). Increasing love feelings, marital satisfaction, and motivated attention to the spouse. Journal of Psychophysiology, 1(1), https://doi.org/10.1027/0269-8803/a000294
  • Li, Z. (2022). Family decision making power and women’s marital satisfaction. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 1(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-022-09866-9
  • Lyvers, M., Pickett, L., Needham, K., & Thorberg, F.A. (2021). Alexithymia, fear of intimacy, and relationship satisfaction. Journal of Family Issues, 43(4), 1068-1089. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513x211010206
  • Margelisch, K., Schneewind, K. A., Violette, J., & Perrig-Chiello, P. (2017). Marital stability, satisfaction and well-being in old age: Variability and continuity in long-term continuously married older persons. Aging and Mental Health, 21(4), 389-398. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2015.1102197
  • Masoumi, S.Z., Khani, S., Kazemi, F., Kalhori, F., Ebrahimi, R., & Roshanaei, G. (2017). Effect of marital relationship enrichment program on marital satisfaction, marital intimacy, and sexual satisfaction of infertile couples. International Journal of Fertility and Sterility, 11(3), 197-204. https://doi.org/10.22074/ijfs.2017.4885
  • Minnotte, K. L., Minnotte, M. C., & Pedersen, D. E. (2013). Marital satisfaction among dual- earner couples: Gender ideologies and family-to-work conflict. Family Relations, 62(4), 686-698. https://doi.org/10.1111.fare.12021
  • Mitchell, B. A. (2010). Midlife marital happiness and ethnic culture: A life course perspective. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 41(1), 167-183. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/41604343
  • Nik, S., Khani, F., Khanlari, F., & Mashmul, G. (2021). The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy in marital intimacy, anxiety, and life quality among the betrayed women in Isfahan. (2021). International Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 13(1), 6261-6266 . https://doi.org/10.31838/ijpr/2021.13.01.807
  • Phillips, T. M., Wilmoth, J. D., Wall, S. K., Peterson, D. J., Buckley, R., & Phillips, L. E. (2013). Recollected parental care and fear of intimacy in emerging adults. The Family Journal, 21(3), 335–341. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480713476848
  • Prause, N., Siegle, G. J., & Coan, J. (2021). Partner intimate touch is associated with increased interpersonal closeness, especially in non-romantic partners. PLoS ONE, 16(3), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0246065
  • reacher, K. J., & Hayes, A. F. (2008). Asymptotic and Resampling Strategies for Assessing and Comparing Indirect Effects in Multiple Mediator Models. Behavior Research Methods, 40, 879-891.. http://dx.doi.org/10.3758/BRM.40.3.879
  • Ramezani, E., Bougar, M. R., Alavi, P. S., Khodarahimi, S., Mazraeh, N., & Alimedhi, M. (2022). The effect of defense mechanisms and alexithymia on marital conflict and female sexual dysfunction. Current Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03937-8
  • Randles, J. & Avishai, O. (2018). Saving marriage culture “one marriage at a time”: Relationship education and the reinstitutionalization of marriage in an era of individualism, Qualitative Sociology, 41(1), 21-40. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11133-018-9375-1
  • Rohner, R. (2019). PAR Theory gets a new name: Interpersonal Acceptance-Rejection Theory (IPAR Theory).International Society for Interpersonal Acceptance and Rejection Newsletter, 8(3),6. https://doi.org/10.9707/2307-0919.1055
  • Rohner, R. P. (2004). The parental “Acceptance- Rejection syndrome”: universal correlates of perceived rejection. American Psychologist, 59(8), 830–840. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066x.59.8.830
  • Rohner, R. P. (2008). Introduction: Parental Acceptance-Rejection Theory Studies of Intimate Adult Relationships. Cross- Cultural Research, 42(1), 5-12. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069397107309749
  • Rohner, R. P. (2016). Introduction to interpersonal acceptance-rejection theory (IPARTheory) and evidence. Online Readings in Psychology and Culture, 6(1), 1–40. https://doi.org/10.9707/2307-0919.1055
  • Ruggles, S. (2015). Patriarchy, power, and pay: The transformation of American families, 1800-2015. Demography, 52(6), 1797- 1823. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13524-015-0440-z
  • Sarac, A. & Sanberk, I. (2021). Marital problem- solving interaction and satisfaction: A microanalytic study. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 50(1), 33-56.
  • Sobral, M. P., Matos, P. M., & Costa, M. E. (2015). Fear of intimacy among couples: Dyadic and mediating effects of parental inhibition of exploration and individuality and partner attachment. Family Science, 6(1), 380–388. https://doi.org/10.1080/19424620.2015.1106416
  • Timmerman, G. M. (1991). A concept analysis of intimacy. Issues in mental health nursing, 12(1), 19–30. https://doi.org/10.3109/01612849109058207
  • Tolstedt, B. E., & Stokes, J. P. (1983). Relation of verbal, affective, and physical intimacy to marital satisfaction. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 30(4), 573–580. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.30.4.573
  • Villa, M. B., & Del Prette, Z. a. P. (2013). Marital satisfaction: the role of social skills of husbands and wives. Paidéia, 23(56), 379–388. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-43272356201312
  • Worley, T. R. & Shelton, M. R. (2020) Work– family conflict, relational turbulence mechanisms, conflict tactics and marital satisfaction. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 48(2), 248-269. https://doi.org/10.1080/00909882.2020.1735647
  • Yoo, H., Bartle-Haring, S., Day, R.D., & Gangamma, R. (2014). Couple communication, emotional and sexual intimacy, and relationship satisfaction. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 40(4), 275-293. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2012.751072
  • Zhang, S. & Li, T. (2021). Attachment style moderates the relationship between solitude and marital satisfaction: The cross- partner effects. Family Relations, 70(1), 1399-1411. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12576

Cite this article

APA

    APA : Qazi, S., Najam, S., & Mahmood, I. (2023). Exploring the Mediating Role of Fear of Intimacy in the Interplay of Partner Rejection and Marital Satisfaction among Married Women. Global Social Sciences Review, VIII(IV), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-IV).01

CHICAGO

    CHICAGO : Qazi, Sadia, Sara Najam, and Imran Mahmood. 2023. "Exploring the Mediating Role of Fear of Intimacy in the Interplay of Partner Rejection and Marital Satisfaction among Married Women." Global Social Sciences Review, VIII (IV): 1-14 doi: 10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-IV).01

HARVARD

    HARVARD : QAZI, S., NAJAM, S. & MAHMOOD, I. 2023. Exploring the Mediating Role of Fear of Intimacy in the Interplay of Partner Rejection and Marital Satisfaction among Married Women. Global Social Sciences Review, VIII, 1-14.

MHRA

    MHRA : Qazi, Sadia, Sara Najam, and Imran Mahmood. 2023. "Exploring the Mediating Role of Fear of Intimacy in the Interplay of Partner Rejection and Marital Satisfaction among Married Women." Global Social Sciences Review, VIII: 1-14

MLA

    MLA : Qazi, Sadia, Sara Najam, and Imran Mahmood. "Exploring the Mediating Role of Fear of Intimacy in the Interplay of Partner Rejection and Marital Satisfaction among Married Women." Global Social Sciences Review, VIII.IV (2023): 1-14 Print.

OXFORD

    OXFORD : Qazi, Sadia, Najam, Sara, and Mahmood, Imran (2023), "Exploring the Mediating Role of Fear of Intimacy in the Interplay of Partner Rejection and Marital Satisfaction among Married Women", Global Social Sciences Review, VIII (IV), 1-14

TURABIAN

    TURABIAN : Qazi, Sadia, Sara Najam, and Imran Mahmood. "Exploring the Mediating Role of Fear of Intimacy in the Interplay of Partner Rejection and Marital Satisfaction among Married Women." Global Social Sciences Review VIII, no. IV (2023): 1-14. https://doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-IV).01