Author: Sadaf Saleem
Supervisor: Aisha Sitwat PhD
Degree: MS
Year: 2015-2017
University: Centre for Clinical Psychology, Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan
Abstract
The current research aimed to find out the relationship between
Over-Idealization, Relational Uncertainty, Connectedness and
Marital Satisfaction. It was hypothesized that marital satisfaction
will be predicted by over-Idealization, relational un-certainty and
connectedness of participants; there is likely to be a mediating
role of relational uncertainty between over-idealization and
marital satisfaction; and moderating role of connectedness
between relational uncertainty and marital satisfaction.
Correlational Research Design was used and data were collected
through Purposive Sampling. The data was comprised of N = 150
(72 men, 78 women) newly married men and women, of agerange of 20-36 years (M = 27.59, SD = 3.56), and duration of their marriage was 3 months to 3 years (M = 22.57, SD = 10.83).
Interpersonal Qualities Scale (Murray et al., 1996) was used to
measure over-idealization. Relational Uncertainty Scale
(Knobloch & Solomon, 1999) was used to measure the relational
un-certainty of participants. Autonomy-Connectedness Scale
(Bekker & Assen, 2006) to determine the connectedness of newly
married participants. Marital Satisfaction Scale (Ayub, 2010) was
used to measure Marital Satisfaction. Results of the study showed
that perception about partner, idealization discrepancy, relational
uncertainty and connectedness were correlated significantly with
marital satisfaction, and were the significant predictors of marital
satisfaction. Relational uncertainty significantly mediated the
relationship between Perception about partner and marital
satisfaction, and between idealization discrepancy and marital
satisfaction. Connectedness was the significant moderator
between relational uncertainty and marital satisfaction. It was also
revealed by the analysis of moderated-mediation that
connectedness of newly married men and women tend to have
significant conditional effects on the indirect pathway of over idealization (Perception about partner and idealization discrepancy) to marital satisfaction through relational uncertainty .The study has significant implications for couple counseling and
marital therapy, it can be used to increase the understating and
connectedness of married partners in the initial years of their
marriage, and to protect their relationship from the harmful
effects of idealization discrepancy and relational uncertainty.
Keywords: Over-Idealization, Relational Uncertainty, Connectedness, Marital Satisfaction.
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