Predicting marital satisfaction through early maladaptive schemas and communication styles of couples

Marital satisfaction is one of the most important factors in making progress in one’s life and achieving life’s goals. The role of communication in maintaining healthy and prolonged marital relationships is important. One of the internal psychological factors that play a role in marital satisfaction and the relationships of couples is early maladaptive schemas. Hence, this study investigated the effects of early maladaptive schemas and the communication styles of couples in predicting marital satisfaction among married students of Zanjan Azad University. A sample of 93 individuals was selected by convenience sampling method and evaluated by Enrich marital satisfaction scale questionnaire (EMS) (Fowers Olson, 1989), Young early maladaptive schemas short-form (YSQ-SF) (Young Brown 1998), and couple’s communication styles questionnaire (CPQ) (Christensen Sullaway, 1984). The information obtained from the samples was analysed by SPSS 22 software. Independent T test, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis were also used. The results showed a significant and negative correlation between subjugation schema (r= -.68), failure schema (r= -.52), and the total score of early maladaptive schema with marital satisfaction (r= -.55). There was a significant and positive correlation between the mutual constructivist pattern (r= .91), negative and significant correlation between avoidance pattern (r= -.78), and demand/withdraw pattern with marital satisfaction (r= -.66). The total score of maladaptive schemas (p .05) and constructive communication pattern (p .05) can predict marital satisfaction. The results also showed no significant difference between couples’ communication styles and marital satisfaction in women and men. However, the difference in the emotional deprivation schema is significant (p .01). The present findings suggest that marital satisfaction is predictable through early maladaptive schemas and the communication styles of couples.