The mediating role of emotional intelligence in the relationship between attachment style and problem solving skills in marriage

The main purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not there is a mediator role of emotional intelligence on the relationship of attachment styles (secure attachment) with problem solving skills in marriage. The participants of this study are composed of volunteer married people who live in Kahramanmaraş. Total of 305 married individuals of whom 179 (58.7%) were women and 126 (41.3%) were men took place in the research. The instruments of the research were Individual Information Form; The Relationships Scales Questionnaire which was developed by Griffin and Bartholomew and Turkish adaptation study conducted by Sümer and Güngör; Marital Problem Solving Scale which was developed by Baugh, Avery and Sheets-Hawoth and, was done Turkish standardization by Hünler and Gençöz and Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory which was done validity and reliability by Acar were used. Results of the research indicated significant correlations between secure attachment style and problem solving skills in marriage. Another results of the present study show that there is significant correlation between emotional intelligence and problem solving in marriage and there is significant correlation between secure attachment style and emotional intelligence. Regression analyses carried out for answering research question of this study resulted in that the relationship of secure attachment style and problem solving skills in marriage were partially mediated by the total score of emotional intelligence. The study examined the relationship between attachment styles and emotional intelligence sub-dimensions. Results of the research indicated significant positive correlations between secure attachment style and emotional intelligence sub-dimensions and there is negative correlation between fearful, preoccupied and dismissing attachment styles and emotional intelligence sub-dimensions. The analysis of the problem solving skills in marriage results show that there is positive correlation between problem solving skills in marriage and all the dimensions of emotional intelligence. Married individuals' emotional intelligence level and sub-dimensions varies according to their gender, working status and income status. The problem solving skills in marriage and married individuals examined according to attachment styles: Securely attached individual's problem-solving skills in the marriages are significantly higher than the preoccupied attachment style. Also, securely attached married individual's emotional intelligence scores are significantly higher than the preoccupied and dismissing attachment. Results and suggestion for future studies were discussed in the light of the literature.