The relations between gender role attitudes, relationship satisfaction and irrational romantic relationship beliefs

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between gender role attitudes, irrational relationship beliefs and relationship satisfaction. Also, mentioned variables which are considered to be related with gender, university, class, parents education level, income level and relationship duration were included to the analysis. The study sample is composed of students who are studying at Hacettepe University, Middle East Technical University and Gazi University. The sample consists of 225 students. 127 (56.4%) participants are female, 98 (43.6%) participants are male. 74 (32.9%) of the participants from Hacettepe University, 85 (37.8%) of the participants from Middle East Technical University and 66 (29.3%) of the participants from Gazi University. Gender Roles Attitude Scale, Irrational Romantic Relationship Beliefs Scale and Relationship Assessment Scale were used to collect data. Correlation analysis is used to determine the relations between basis variables of the study. The results of the study show that there are correlations between Gender Roles Attitude Scale subscales (egalitarian gender roles, female gender roles, marriage gender roles, traditional gender roles, male gender roles) and Irrational Romantic Relationship Beliefs Scale subscales (over expectations, use of social time, mind reading, different thinking, physical intimacy, gender differences). According to the results, when people have more egalitarian attitudes, have less irrational beliefs. Regression analysis was conducted to determine the predictor variables of relationship satisfaction. It was found that the male gender role and traditional gender role subscales of Gender Role Attitudes Scale and different thinking, physical intimacy, over expectations and gender differences subscales of Irrational Relationship Beliefs Scale are the predictors of relationship satisfaction. Cronbach's Alfa is calculated for all scales. Coefficient for Gender Roles Attitude Scale is .92, coefficient for Irrational Romantic Relationship Beliefs Scale is .87 and coefficient for Relationship Assessment Scale is .86. Key Words: Gender role attitudes, irrational romantic relationship beliefs, relationship satisfaction.