The examination of romantic jealousy levels in terms of interpersonal problems and responses to dissatisfaction in young adults

During young adulthood, romantic affairs enabling the individual to establish intimacy with others is a situation that needs to be experienced in the individual's developmental period. One of the problems faced by the individuals during romantic affairs period is jealousy. Intended to investigate romantic jealousy, this study has two essential objectives; first, is to statistically investigate the relationship of interpersonal problems, conflict solving responses and gender being precursor with jealousy triggers as a predictor variable and to what extent they would predict jealousy triggers. And the second one is to find out whether the degree of jealousy triggers differs according to relational variables. Sample of the research compromises 279 people of which 54.8% (n = 153) are female, 45.2% (n = 126) male participants. The ages of participants vary between 18-30 and their average is 23.08 (± 3.032). The average age of female participants is 22.56 (± 3.033) while male participants' is 23.7 (± 2.921). Research data has been gathered by utilizing Jealousy Triggers Sub-Scale, Responses to Dissatisfaction Scale-Accommodation Instrument and Interpersonal Problems Inventory of the Romantic Jealousy scale. According to the findings obtained with the research it has reached to a finding that men are more jealous than women and those engaged more than those flirting. The level of jealousy triggers did not differ significantly from other individual and relational variables. A statistically meaningful and positive directed relation was found between the jealousy triggers level and Domineering/Controlling (r = .21, p < .01), Vindictive-Self-centered (r = .83, p < .01), gender (r = .13, p < .05). Three models has been created as result of hierarchical regression analysis (Enter) and it was concluded that the variable best explaining jealousy triggers is the Vindictive-Self-centered and gender. Finally, the findings has been discussed in the light of the literature, syllogized, limitations and suggestions boundaries of the study emphasized and implications are presented. Key words: romantic jealousy, conflict solving responses, romantic affair, interpersonal problems, individual and relational variables