PERCEIVED PARENTAL ATTACHMENT STYLE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS AS PREDICTORS OF MARITAL SATISFACTION AMONG MARRIED PEOPLE

Abstract

The study investigated perceived parental attachment style and psychological symptoms as predictors of marital satisfaction among married people. A total of 271 participants were drawn from the population frame of married Staff of Post Primary School Management Board (PPSMB). They comprise of 105 male and 166 female with the age range between 28 and 64 years, mean age = 41.59 and standard deviation =10.76. Mixed sampling technique (Purposive, convenient) was used. The Experiences of Close Relationships – Relationship Structures (ECR-RS); Symptom Distress Checklist (SCL-90) and Index of Marital Satisfaction (IMS) were used as research instrument. Correlation design was adopted while Hierarchical Multiple Regression statistics result revealed that perceived parental attachment styles (Secure, ? = .45, t = 3.21, p<.05; Anxiety, ? = -.16, t = -2.13, at P < .05) significantly predicted marital satisfaction except for avoidance attachment. The contribution of perceived parental attachment style in explaining the variance in marital satisfaction was 16% (?R2 = .16). On the other hand, psychological symptoms (Anxiety, ? = -.27, t = -1.74 p<.05; Depression, ? = -1.10, t = -7.07, p<.01; Hostility, ? = -.28, t = -2.10, p<.05; Neuroticism, ? = -.46, t = -3.74, p<.01) was a significant predictor of marital satisfaction.  The contribution of psychological symptoms in explaining the variance in marital satisfaction was 15% (?R2 = .15). Finding of the study may help parents understand how their daily communications and interactions with their children can impact their children's emotional and social skills, and how this can impact relationships with future partners.   Key Words: Parental, Attachment, Psychological Symptoms, Marital, Satisfaction