Nuclear Family Emotional Functioning and Marital Satisfaction: The Cultural Lens of Self-Construal

Abstract The purpose was to investigate the mediating role of interrelational and self-developmental orientations (self-construals) in the relationships between nuclear family emotional functioning and marital satisfaction. Six hundred and eighteen married individuals completed Family Genogram Interview, Balanced Integration Differentiation Scale, Relationship Assessment Scale, and Demographic Information Form. Findings indicated that nuclear family emotional processes and self-construals explained 84% of the variance in marital satisfaction. Emotional contact was the strongest predictor, and the interrelational orientation partially mediated the relationships between emotional contact, symptoms in spouses, and marital satisfaction. Self-developmental orientation fully mediated the relationship between the focus on child and marital satisfaction.