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Parent Personality and Change in Couple Relationship Satisfaction in Families with Infants

Bower, Daniel Joseph
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1250287436

Abstract Details

2009, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Human Development and Family Science.
To further our understanding of patterns of change in couple relationship satisfaction for parents of infants, this study examined personality characteristics as predictors of change in couple relationship satisfaction over time. Data were collected from 64 families during the third trimester of pregnancy, at 3.5 months postpartum, and at 13 months postpartum. The relationship satisfaction of each partner was assessed through a subset of items from the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. At the third trimester assessment, information was also collected regarding personality characteristics, which were assessed using the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire and the Self-Concept Clarity scale. Hierarchical Linear Modeling was used to determine which factors predicted the change that men and women experienced in their levels of couple relationship satisfaction over time. Results indicated that certain personality characteristics had a significant effect on couple relationship satisfaction over the transition to parenthood. Specifically, results indicated that higher levels of negative emotionality in both mothers and fathers forecasted lower average levels of and greater decreases in couple relationship satisfaction for themselves and their partners. Conversely, higher levels of mother self-concept clarity predicted higher levels of couple relationship satisfaction and less dramatic decreases for both partners. Interesting results were found with respect to communion, as higher levels of communion in mothers were associated with higher levels of couple relationship satisfaction for fathers, whereas higher levels of communion in fathers were associated with lower levels of couple relationship satisfaction for both themselves and their partners. Moreover, when couples were more similar in communion, mothers experienced lower average levels of couple relationship satisfaction.
Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan, PhD (Advisor)
Claire Kamp Dush, PhD (Committee Member)
Families and Family Life; Psychology
personality similarity; transition to parenthood; personality

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Bower, D. J. (2009). Parent Personality and Change in Couple Relationship Satisfaction in Families with Infants [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1250287436

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Bower, Daniel. Parent Personality and Change in Couple Relationship Satisfaction in Families with Infants. 2009. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1250287436.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Bower, Daniel. "Parent Personality and Change in Couple Relationship Satisfaction in Families with Infants." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1250287436

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1250287436
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© 2009, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.