Importance of the differentiation of self and dyadic adjustment in the explanation of marital stability

Abstract

The objective of this research project was to explain marital stability on the basis of differentiation of self and dyadic adjustment. Participants were 262 Colombian men and women with civil or religious marriage, who were informed of the ethical aspects of the study. Differentiation of Self Inventory and the Dyadic Adjustment and Marital Instability Scale were applied. aNOva tests were run, as well as correlation analyses and two multiple linear regression models. Results indicated that men show a greater emotional reactivity than women, and that persons who had a civil marriage bonded more and presented a lower level of consensus than those with religious marriages. According to the results regarding correlations related to sex and type of union, a greater dyadic adjustment led to greater marital stability. Cohesion is the dimension that best explains marital stability, followed by dyadic satisfaction. © 2019 Universidad Nacional de Colombia. All rights reserved.