Five factor personality traits as predictors of relationship satisfaction in married individuals

This study examined the relationship between sociodemographic factors, five-factor personality traits and the subcomponents of these traits and relationship satisfaction in married individuals. The participants consisted of 917 married individuals selected through convenience sampling. Married individuals answered a data collection tool consisting of the Personal Information Form, Relationship Assessment Scale, and Five-Factor Personality Scale-2. Data were analyzed using independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson product-moment correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. The research findings showed that there was no significant difference in relationship satisfaction according to gender, and individuals who married by agreement had significantly higher relationship satisfaction than those who married through arranged marriages. It was determined that relationship satisfaction tended to decrease as the duration of marriage and the number of children increased, but relationship satisfaction did not show a significant difference according to perceived financial status. It was also determined that individuals with a higher level of education tended to have higher relationship satisfaction. While self-control, one of the five-factor personality traits, positively predicted relationship satisfaction, negative emotionality (neuroticism) was found to negatively predict it. As a result of the subcomponent analyses of the five-factor personality traits, it was found that socialization, negative affectivity, and emotional lability, subcomponents of extraversion, were negatively related to relationship satisfaction in married individuals, and energy level, subcomponents of extraversion, compassion and respect, and openness to new experiences, were positively related to relationship satisfaction in married individuals. Suggestions were made based on the results and limitations of this research.