The associations between perceived partner responsiveness, self compassion, interpersonal emotion regulation and relationship satisfaction in couple relations

Relationship satisfaction of couples is a complex process that occurs through interaction of many factors and relationship systems. Studies on the psychological constructs that affect both each other and relationship satisfaction at personal (internal) and interpersonal levels are still in the development stage. In the literatüre on romantic couple relationships, no study has been found that separately evaluates the direct relationships among self-compassion, which is an indicator of the relationship that individuals establish with themselves, and interpersonal emotion regulation levels, which is an indicator of the relationship established with "significant others", with the variables of perceived partner responsiveness and relationship satisfaction, which are the indicators of the relationship quality which individuals establish with their partners. This research aimed to contribute to the elimination of this deficiency in the literature on romantic couple relationships. In this research, heterosexual couples (n=257) who are above 18 years old and having a romantic relationship that last for more than six months were asked to fill demographic information form, perceived partner responsiveness scale, self-compassion scale, interpersonal emotion regulation scale and relationship satisfaction subscale of investment model scale was provided to participants with an internet link. Participants were contacted through announcements in internet media by convenience sampling method and asked to use the same identical nickname as a couple. In accordance with the interpersonal nature of the couple relationship, the direct relationships between the perceived partner responsiveness, self-compassion, interpersonal emotion regulation and relationship satisfaction variables of heterosexual couples (n=257) were examined within the framework of the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM). Then, predictive variables of the relationship satisfaction of men and women were analyzed within the framework of hierarchical regression analysis. Finally, the interaction effects between the predictive variables of the relationship satisfaction of men and women were analyzed in order to contribute for understanding the characteristic features regarding relation satisfaction of men and women. In the context of actor effects, it was determined that there were direct relationships between men and women's perceived partner sensitivity levels and their own relationship satisfaction levels (p<.001), between their self-compassion levels and their self-perceived partner sensitivity levels (p<.001 and p<.05, respectively). In the context of partner effects, it has been determined that there were direct relationships between men's self-compassion levels and women's interpersonal emotion regulation levels (p<.05), and between women's self-compassion levels and men's relationship satisfaction levels (p<.05). Independent variables accounted for 39% and % 41 of the variance in relation satisfaction levels of men and women, respectively. Predictive variables of women's relationship satisfaction were found as women's age, average income level and perceived partner responsiveness and men's relationship satisfaction whereas predictive variables of men's relationship satisfaction were found as women's age, self-compassion and relationship satisfaction, relationship length of the couple and men's perceived partner responsiveness. The best predicting variable of the relationship satisfaction was found as the own perceived partner responsiveness for both men and women. Moreover, interaction effects between men's own perceived partner responsivenss and women's relationship satisfaction (p<.001) and also interaction effects between men's own perceived partner responsivenss and length of the current relationship (p<.05) on men's relationship satisfaction was detected.