The Impacts Of Romantic Attachments And Emotion Regulations On Partner Relationship Satisfaction

This study tested the romantic attachments, self and partner emotion regulations and partner and relationship satisfaction between the couples in China and Malaysia. The participants of this study were composed of 199 couples from China (69 married couples and 130 unmarried couples) and 170 couples from Malaysia (78 married couple and 92 unmarried couples). Each of them completed a self-report questionnaire of romantic attachments, emotion regulations and satisfaction regulation. For each questionnaire, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted. The factor analysis revealed that: (a) the ECR Questionnaire included four factors, i.e. dismissal, security, preoccupation and fear; (b) the ERQ Questionnaire included two factors, i.e. cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression; (c) the PFQ Questionnaire included two factors, i.e. physical attraction and positive feelings.The present research found that: (1) For the romantic attachments of the Chinese couples, there were significant differences in marital status on scores of dismissal and security; for Malaysian Chinese couples, there were significant differences in marital status on scores of dismissal and fear. Besides, gender differences were found in dismissal and preoccupation in both cultures. (2) For self-emotion regulations, there were marital status differences in expressive suppression for Malaysian couples. The same results were found in the Chinese couples of their perceptions on partner's emotion regulations. In both cultures, gender differences were found in self-expressive suppression and perception towards partner's cognitive reappraisal. (3) Married couples in China were reported having lower relationship satisfaction than unmarried couples. On the other hand, for Malaysian couples, there were no significant differences in marital status and gender on relationship satisfaction. (4) Cultures differences in security attachments and dismissal attachment were found. (5) Perceptions of partner's cognitive reappraisal between two cultures were different. (6) The constructed equation model indicated that emotion regulations mediated the romantic attachments and relationship satisfaction. For male and female in China, cognitive reappraisal partially mediated the romantic attachments and relationship satisfaction. For male in Malaysia, the association between romantic attachment and relationship satisfaction was partially mediated through self and perception towards partner's cognitive reappraisal. Besides, perception towards partner's cognitive reappraisal partially mediated the romantic attachments and relationship satisfaction in the model of female in Malaysia. (7) Partner effects were examined. In China, the romantic attachments of male predicted their partner's relationship satisfaction. Meanwhile, in Malaysia, the romantic attachments of female predicted the relationship satisfaction of male. Interpretations and limitations were discussed in the final chapter.