Differentiation of Self, Forgiveness, Jealousy, and Conflict Resolution Responses among Married Individuals: The Mediating Role of Relationship Satisfaction, Relationship Adjustment, and Emotional Dependency

Abstract

This study examines the mediating roles of relationship satisfaction, relationship adjustment, and emotional dependency among differentiation of self, forgiveness, jealousy, and conflict resolution responses (exit, voice, neglect, and loyalty) among married individuals. The study sample was non-dyadic and consisted of 240 married individuals (120 men, 120 women) from the general population. The study was conducted with a Turkish sample. The data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Differentiation of Self Inventory, the Multidimensional Jealousy Scale, the Emotional Dependency Scale, the Marital Adjustment Test, the Marital Offence-Specific Forgiveness Scale, The Responses to Dissatisfaction in Close Relationships-Accommodation Instrument, and the Relationship Assessment Scale. Differentiation of self was significantly positively correlated with satisfaction, relationship adjustment, forgiveness, and voice response and significantly negatively correlated with jealousy and exit and neglect responses. In addition, only relationship satisfaction had a significant partial mediating role among differentiation of self, forgiveness, and exit and neglect responses. However, relationship satisfaction, relationship adjustment, and emotional dependency had no mediating role among differentiation of self, jealousy, and voice and loyalty responses. Differentiation of self is a powerful variable that directly affects romantic relationship dynamics.