The relationship between five factor traits, the dark triad and dyadic adjustment: A cross-sectional study on married couples

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of Five Factor Personality Traits (agreeableness, openness to experience, conscientiousness, neuroticisim and extraversion) and the Dark Triad (Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy) with dyadic adjustment in married couples. Method: The current research comprised of 226 married couples selected from Adana and Istanbul. The participants of the research completed the informed consent form, sociodemographic data and information form, Dark Triad Dirt Dozen Scale, Adjective-Based Personality Test, and Marital Adjustment Scale. Results: The results indicated that Dark Triad predict dyadic adjustment negatively while agreeableness and conscientiousness positively predict dyadic adjustment. It is observed that women's Machiavellianism, narcissism, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and neuroticisim predicted mens' dyadic adjustment and mens' psychopathy, narcissism, neuroticism, and agreeableness women's dyadic adjustment. Results also showed similar personality traits, calculated by the difference between spousal results is correlated with dyadic adjustment of couples. Conclusion: Findings indicate that Big Five personality traits and Dark Triad personality traits have a significant relationship with dyadic adjustment. Furthermore, participants with different sociodemographic characteristics showed significant differences in personality traits and dyadic adjustment. The results and limitations of the study are discussed regarding past research.