A comparison of distressed and non distressed married couples on marital quality emotional intelligence and conflict resolution styles

Abstract

Aim: To compare and study the marital quality, emotional intelligence newlineand conflict resolution styles of distressed and non-distressed married couples; and to examine the interrelationships between these variables. Method: The study utilized a cross sectional, between group, mixed method research design. The sample consisted of 43 heterosexual married couples (N=86) in non-clinical settings, in the age range of 20-60 years, living in Bangalore, who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, were newlinerecruited through purposive/ snowball sampling. The participants were administered a demographic data sheet, the Marital Quality Scale (Shah, 1995), the Emotional Intelligence Scale (Schutte, Malouff, Hall, newlineHaggerty, Cooper, and Golden, 1998), the Conflict Resolution Scale (Kurdek, 1994) and a Semi-structured Interview Schedule for qualitative data (prepared by the researcher). Quantitative and Qualitative analysis was carried out. The MQS cutoff score of 80 was used to divide the sample into distressed and nondistressed couples. newlineResults: The two groups significantly differed on the conflict resolution styles. A significant relationship was found between marital quality and conflict resolution styles of distressed as well as non distressed group. There was a significant positive relationship between withdrawal as a newlineconflict resolution style and marital quality among distressed wives. Correlations between marital quality and conflict resolution styles among non-distressed couples showed that withdrawal had a significant positive newlinerelationship with the marital quality of the husband. From the correlation between the emotional intelligence and conflict resolution styles of distressed couples, compliance had a significant positive relationship with the wife s emotional intelligence. Among non-distressed wives conflict engagement was negatively correlated and positive problem solving was positively correlated with their emotional intelligence.