International Association of Educators   |  ISSN: 1949-4270   |  e-ISSN: 1949-4289

Original article | Educational Policy Analysis and Strategic Research 2022, Vol. 17(3) 164-181

A Structural Model of Marriage Adjustment for Married Individuals

Ahmet Kara & Erdi̇ Kulbaş

pp. 164 - 181   |  DOI: https://doi.org/10.29329/epasr.2022.461.8   |  Manu. Number: MANU-2204-13-0004.R1

Published online: September 01, 2022  |   Number of Views: 162  |  Number of Download: 300


Abstract

The aim of this research is to test a structural model for married individuals. 215 Turkish married individuals [Agerange = 24-56, AgeMean =35.24, AgeSd = 7.44] determined by using the maximum diversity sampling method, one of the purposeful sampling methods, participated in the research. Data were collected with Scale of Meaning of Marriage (SMM), Marital Satisfaction Scale (MSS) and Marital Adjustment Test (MAT). Data were analysed with Two-Stage Structural Equation Modeling. A bootstrap analysis was performed for the significance of indirect effects. As a result of the analyses, the tested structural model was confirmed and it was determined that marital satisfaction had a full mediator effect between the meaning attributed to marriage and marital adjustment of married individuals.

Keywords: Marriage, marital satisfaction, marital adjustment, meaning of marriage


How to Cite this Article?

APA 6th edition
Kara, A. & Kulbas, E. (2022). A Structural Model of Marriage Adjustment for Married Individuals . Educational Policy Analysis and Strategic Research, 17(3), 164-181. doi: 10.29329/epasr.2022.461.8

Harvard
Kara, A. and Kulbas, E. (2022). A Structural Model of Marriage Adjustment for Married Individuals . Educational Policy Analysis and Strategic Research, 17(3), pp. 164-181.

Chicago 16th edition
Kara, Ahmet and Erdi̇ Kulbas (2022). "A Structural Model of Marriage Adjustment for Married Individuals ". Educational Policy Analysis and Strategic Research 17 (3):164-181. doi:10.29329/epasr.2022.461.8.

References
  1. Akhani, P., Rathi, N., & Mishra, V. (1999). Marital adjustment and life satisfaction among the women of early and late marriage. Psycho-Lingua, 29(1), 63-67. [Google Scholar]
  2. Altun, G. (2015). Attachment styles in married individuals and the relationship between early discordant schemas and marriage satisfaction, Unpublished Master's Thesis, Üsküdar University, Istanbul. [Google Scholar]
  3. Anderson, J. C., & Gerbing, D. W. (1988). Structural equation modeling in practice: A review and recommended two-step approach. Psychological Bulletin, 103(3), 411–423. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.103.3.411 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  4. Bentler, P. M., & Bonett, D. G. (1980). Significance tests and goodness of fit in the analysis of covariance structures. Psychological Bulletin, 88(3), 588. 606. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.88.3.588 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  5. Burch, P. (2018). A socio-cultural perspective on daily life through marriage and family phenomena. Gazi University Journal of Social Sciences, 5(13), 135-141. Retrieved from https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/gusbd/issue/36957/345411 [Google Scholar]
  6. Blumer, H. (1969). Symbolic interactionism: Perspective and method. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. [Google Scholar]
  7. Canel, A. (2012). Family life-skills. Istanbul: Embroidery Publishing House. [Google Scholar]
  8. Çağ, P., & Yıldırım, İ. (2013). Relational and personal variables predicting marital satisfaction. Turkish Psychological Counseling & Guidance Journal, 4(39), 13-23. Retrieved from https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/tpdrd/issue/21459/229703 [Google Scholar]
  9. Çelik, M., & Tümkaya, S. (2012). Relationship between academic staff's marital adjustment and life satisfaction with job variables. Ahi Evran University Journal of Kirsehir Education Faculty (KEFAD), 13(1), 223-238. Retrieved from https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/1492228 [Google Scholar]
  10. Çelik, D. M. & Yazgan- İnanç, B. (2009). Marriage satisfaction scale: Validity and reliability studies. Çukurova University Journal of Social Sciences Institute, 18(2), 247-269. Retrieved from https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/cusosbil/issue/4382/60137 [Google Scholar]
  11. Çırakoğlu, O. C., & Tezer, E. (2010). The predictive role of locus of control and critical thinking on university students' responses to relationship dissatisfaction. Turkish Psychology Writings, 13(26), 29-41. Retrieved from https://antalya.psikolog.org.tr/tr/yayinlar/dergiler/1031828/tpy1301996120100000m000124.pdf [Google Scholar]
  12. Demoss, Y. (2004). Brief interventions and resiliency in couples. [Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation]. Northcentral Univesity. [Google Scholar]
  13. Duman, M. (2012). Examination of temperament and character traits in terms of marital adjustment and gender (Unpublished Master's Thesis). Mersin University. [Google Scholar]
  14. Eryılmaz, A. (2011). Investigating of the relationships between adults' subjective well-being and primary-secondary capabilities with respect to positive psychotherapy. Clinical Psychiatry, 14, 17-28. Retrieved from https://www.journalagent.com/z4/download_fulltext.asp?pdir=kpd&plng=tur&un=KPD-95777  [Google Scholar]
  15. Eryılmaz, A., & Atak, H. (2009). Ready or not? Markers of starting romantic intimacy at emerging adulthood: The Turkish experience. International Journal of Human and Social Sciences, 4(1), 31-38. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277021067 [Google Scholar]
  16. Eryılmaz, A., & Atak, H. (2011). Investigation of starting romantic ıntimacy in emerging adulthood in terms of self-esteem, gender and gender roles. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice, 11(2), 595-600. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ927367.pdf [Google Scholar]
  17. Eryılmaz, A., & Doğan, T. (2013). The mediator role of need satisfaction between  [Google Scholar]
  18. subjective well-being and romantic relationship quality. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, 53, 79-96. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1060384.pdf [Google Scholar]
  19. Fincham, F. D. & Bradbury, T. N. (1986). The assessment of marital quality a revaluation. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 49, 797-809. https://www.jstor.org/stable/351973 [Google Scholar]
  20. Gittins, D. (1985). The family is questioned (Trans. Y. Zihnioğlu). Window Publications, Istanbul. [Google Scholar]
  21. Goodman C, (1999). Intimacy and autonomy in long-term marriage. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 32(1), 83-97. https://doi.org/10.1300/J083v32n01_06 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  22. Guler (2021). Investigation of the relationship between the marriage anxiety of unmarried individuals and the meaning they attribute to marriage and their marriage expectations. Master's thesis, Istanbul Kent University. [Google Scholar]
  23. Güner, K. Z. (2014). The relationship between early maladaptive schemas, cognitive processes in relationships, attributions, ways of coping with marital problems and marital adjustment. Master's thesis, Istanbul Maltepe University [Google Scholar]
  24. Güngör, H.C. &İlhan T. (2008). Relationships between marital harmony and humor styles. Journal of Family and Society Education-Culture and Research, 13(4), 97-106. [Google Scholar]
  25. Hamamci, Z. (2005). Dysfunctional relationship beliefs in marital conflict. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 23(3), 245-261. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-005-0013-y [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  26. Hashmi, H. A. Khurshid, M., & Hassan, I. (2007). Marital adjustment, stress and depression among working and non-working married women. Internet Journal of Medical. 2(1), 19-26. Retrieved from https://akspublication.com/Paper03_Jan-Jun2007_.pdf [Google Scholar]
  27. Hawkins, D.N., & A. Booth. (2005). Unhappily ever after: effects of long-term, low-quality marriages on well-being. Social Forces, 84(1), 451-471.  https://doi.org/10.1353/sof.2005.0103 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  28. Heyman, R. E., Sayers, S. L., & Bellack, A. S. (1994). Global marital satisfaction versus marital adjustment: An empirical comparison of three measures. Journal of Family Psychology, 8(4), 432. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.8.4.432 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  29. Hovardaoğlu, S., & Binici-Azizoğlu, S. (1996). Marital comparison level index: Validity and reliability. Turkish Journal of Psychology, 11(38), 66-76. [Google Scholar]
  30. Jackson, D. L. (2003). Revisiting sample size and number of parameter estimates:  Some support for the n:q hypothesis. Structural Equation Modeling, 10(1), 128-141. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15328007SEM1001_6 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  31. Johnson, K. D. (2015). Marital expectation fulfillment and its relationship to height of marital expectations, optimism, and relationship self-efficacy among married individuals [Doctoral dissertation, Andrews University]. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/1573 [Google Scholar]
  32. Jones, G. D.ve Nelson, E. S. (1996). Expectations of marriage among college students from intact and non-intact homes. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 26, 171- 189. https://doi.org/10.1300/J087v26n01_09 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  33. Kalaycı. Ş. (2010). SPSS applied multivariate statistical techniques. Ankara: Asil Publication Distribution. [Google Scholar]
  34. Kendrick, H. M., & Drentea, P. (2016). Marital Adjustment. The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Family Studies, 1–2. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119085621.wbefs071 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  35. Kline, R. B. (2015). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling. Guilford  Publications. [Google Scholar]
  36. Kışlak, Ş. (1996). Relationships between gender, marital adjustment, depression and causal and responsibility attributions. Doctoral Thesis. Ankara University.  [Google Scholar]
  37. Kirby, J. S. (2005). A study of the marital satisfaction levels of participants ın a marriage education course. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. University of Louisiana.  [Google Scholar]
  38. Kublay, D. (2013). Marital adjustment: Investigation in terms of value preferences and subjective happiness. Unpublished Master's Thesis, Karadeniz Technical University. [Google Scholar]
  39. Kulaber Demirci, M. (2019). Evaluation of the relationships between the subjective well-being levels of married individuals and their humor styles, satisfaction of basic psychological needs and marital adjustment. Doctoral Thesis. Trabzon University. [Google Scholar]
  40. Locke, H. J., & Wallace, K. M. (1959). Short marital-adjustment and prediction tests: Their reliability and validity. Marriage and Family Living, 21(3), 251-255. https://doi.org/10.2307/348022 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  41. Mohammadi, B., & Soleymani, A. (2017). Early maladaptive schemas and marital satisfaction as predictors of marital commitment. International Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 11(1), 16-22. Retrieved from http://www.behavsci.ir/article_67967_ba4726de8fc997e286b0041758e7c1a3.pdf [Google Scholar]
  42. Özabacı, N. , Körük, S. & Kara, A. (2018). The development of the scale of meaning  of marriage (SMM): A study of validity and reliability. Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Journal, 8(50), 235-259. Retrieved from https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/tpdrd/issue/40299/481372 [Google Scholar]
  43. Özaydınlık,Ş.(2014).Examination of marital adjustment and personality traits of married couples and social interest in their romantic relationships. Unpublished Master Thesis. Marmara University. [Google Scholar]
  44. Özbek, C. (2018). Examination of the relationships between spouse evaluation, marital adjustment, marital satisfaction and sexual satisfaction in married individuals. Unpublished Master Thesis. Near East University. [Google Scholar]
  45. Peters, E. (2018). The influence of choice feminism on women’s and men’s attitudes towards name changing at marriage: An analysis of online comments on UK social media. Names, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1080/00277738.2017.1415540 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  46. Schermelleh-Engel, K., Moosbrugger, H., & Müller, H. (2003). Evaluating the fit of structural  equation models: Tests of significance and descriptive goodness-of fit measures. Methods of Psychological Research Online, 8(2), 23-74. http://www.mpr-online.de [Google Scholar]
  47. Shrout, P. E., & Bolger, N. (2002). Mediation in experimental and nonexperimental  studies: new procedures and recommendations. Psychological Methods, 7(4), 422–445. https://doi.org/10.1037//1082-989x.7.4.422 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  48. Sokolski, D.M. & Hendrick, S.S. (1999). Marital satisfaction. American Journal of Family Therapy, 26(1), 39-49. [Google Scholar]
  49. Soylu, Y. & Kabasakal, Z. (2016). Examination of the relationship between life satisfaction and marital satisfaction and employment status of married women. Journal of Education and Training Research, 5(4), 215-221. [Google Scholar]
  50. Spanier, G. B., (1976). Measuring dyadic adjustment: A new scale for assessing the quality of marriage and similar dyads. Journal of Marriage and Family, 38, 15-28. https://www.jstor.org/stable/350547 [Google Scholar]
  51. Spanier, Graham B., & Charles L. Cole. (1976). Toward clarification and investigation of marital adjustment. International Journal of Sociology of the Family, 6, 121–46. https://www.jstor.org/stable/23027977 [Google Scholar]
  52. Strenberg, R. J. (1987). Beyond IQ: A tiarchic theory of human Intelligence. New York: Cambridge University Press. [Google Scholar]
  53. Timmer, S.G., & Orbuch, T.L. (2001). The links between premarital parenthood, meaning of marriage, and marital outcomes. Family Relations, 50(2), 178 – 185. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2001.00178.x [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  54. Tutarel Kışlak, Ş. & Çabukça, F. (2002). The relationship of empathy and demographic variables with marital adjustment. Journal of Family and Society, 2(5), 35-42. Retrieved from https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/198046 [Google Scholar]
  55. Veldorale-Brogan, A., Bradford, K., & Vail, A. (2010). The missing link: Marital virtues and their relationship to individual functioning, communication, and relationship adjustment. Journal of Positive Psychology, 5(4), 281-293. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2010.498617 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  56. Yaşar, F. (2019). The relationship between the level of acceptance and rejection of the mother-child relationship of the students attending primary education and the level of marital satisfaction and marital adjustment of the mother. Master Thesis. Cukurova University. [Google Scholar]
  57. Yazıcı, B., & Demirli, C. (2020). Examination of premarital relations and the meaning attributed to marriage by individuals who decided to marry. Journal of Eurasian Social and Economic Studies, 7(7), 295-326. Retrieved from https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/asead/issue/56000/771653 [Google Scholar]
  58. Yılmaz, A. (2001) Matching between spouses: Theoretical approaches and empirical studies. Journal of Social Policy Studies, 4(4). Retrieved from https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/198222 [Google Scholar]
  59. Yılmaz, V. & İlhan-Dalbudak, Z. (2018). Examining the mediator variable effect: an application on high speed train management. International Journal of Management, Economics and Business, 14(2), 517-534. https://doi.org/10.17130/ijmeb.2018239946 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  60. Young, J. E., Klosko, J. S. & Weishaar, M.E., (2003). Schema Therapy: A practitioner‟s guide. New York: The Guilford Press. [Google Scholar]
  61. Zehir, T. (2016). Examining the relationship between marital adjustment and quality of life. Unpublished Master Thesis. Uskudar University [Google Scholar]
  62. Winemiller, D. R., & Mitchel, E. M. (1994). Development of a coding system for marital problem solving. Behavioral Research Theory, 32(1), 159-164. https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-7967(94)90098-1 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]