OVER-IDEALIZATION, RELATIONAL UNCERTAINTY AND AUTONOMY-CONNECTEDNESS AS PREDICTORS OF MARITAL SATISFACTION IN NEWLY MARRIED MEN AND WOMEN: A MODERATED-MEDIATION ANALYSIS

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of the current study was to explore the mediating effect of relational uncertainty and moderating effect of autonomy-connectedness between over-idealization and marital satisfaction.

Design of the study: Correlational research design was utilized for the current study.

Place and duration of the study: The current study was conducted in Lahore, Pakistan at Centre for Clinical Psychology, University of the Punjab Lahore, from October, 2016 to August, 2017.

Sample and Method: A sample of 150 newly married participants comprising of men (72) and women (78), having age of 20 to 36 years (M = 27.59, SD = 3.56) were included Data were collected from various community settings and workplaces of participants via Purposive Sampling. Moderated-mediation analysis was employed for this study.

Results and Conclusion: The findings revealed that relational uncertainty explains the moderating relation between over-idealization and marital satisfaction. In addition, it was evident that autonomy-connectedness moderating the association between relational uncertainty and marital satisfaction. The findings of the present research have important implications for couple counseling and marital therapy, suggesting that increasing autonomy-connectedness can protect relationships from idealization discrepancies and relational uncertainty.