Openness and Communication Effects on Relationship Satisfaction in Women Experiencing Infertility or Miscarriage: A Dyadic Approach

Ewa Kiełek-Rataj, Anna Wendołowska, Alicja Kalus and Dorota Czyżowska
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Ewa Kiełek-Rataj: Institute of Psychology, University of Opole, 45-052 Opole, Poland
Anna Wendołowska: Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, 30-060 Krakow, Poland
Alicja Kalus: Institute of Psychology, University of Opole, 45-052 Opole, Poland
Dorota Czyżowska: Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, 30-060 Krakow, Poland

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-20

Abstract: Openness and communication between partners are key elements of dyadic coping with stress. Our main research question is: what is the impact of these factors on relational satisfaction in spouses struggling with infertility or miscarriage? In the current study, by applying the actor–partner interdependence model to 90 heterosexual couples ( N = 180), we examined the link between the spouses’ openness (the Giessen Test), communication (Flexibility and Cohesion Evaluation Scales) and relationship satisfaction (the Marriage Success Scale). Controlling for relevant covariates (communication, own openness and type of stress experienced by the spouses: infertility or miscarriage), a dyadic analysis revealed significant actor (−0.24; p < 0.001) and partner effects (−0.20; p < 0.001). We conclude that the relationship between the perception of the partner’s openness and the relationship satisfaction in women is strong, in the context of the analyzed potential confounding variables. We also observe that the relationship satisfaction in women from the group of infertile spouses is 6.06 points lower compared to women from the group of marriages after miscarriage ( p = 0.034).

Keywords: infertility; miscarriage; communication; openness; relationship satisfaction; actor–partner interdependence model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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