The effects of similarities and differences in conflict resolution styles on individual psychological health in marriage

The aim of this study is to examine the impact of conflict resolution styles (positive, negative, subordination, retreat) used in marriage on individuals' anxiety and psychological well-being levels. In this regard, the study investigates to what extent conflict resolution styles predict psychological disorder symptom levels (anxiety, depression, negative self-concept, somatization, hostility) and anxiety. The research sample consists of married individuals between the ages of 18 and 65. The data collection tools used in the study include the Socio-demographic Information Form, Conflict Resolution Styles Scale (CRSS), Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The research data were analyzed using One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Independent Samples T-Test, Pearson Correlation Analysis, and Hierarchical Regression Analysis. As a result of the analyses, it was observed that psychological disorder symptom and anxiety levels were positively correlated with negative conflict resolution style. In addition, psychological disorder symptom level was found to be related with gender, age, and duration of marriage; anxiety level was found to be related with gender and age sociodemographic variables. As a result of the hierarchical regression analysis, it was found that the level of psychological symptoms of men was predicted by the negative and withdrawal conflict resolution styles used by themselves, and the level of psychological symptoms of women was predicted by the positive, negative, subordination and retreat conflict resolution styles used by themselves, and the negative conflict resolution style used by their spouses. When the effect of the similarity of the conflict resolution styles used by the spouses on the level of psychological symptoms was analyzed, it was found that the similarity of the retreat conflict resolution style predicted the level of hostility in men, the similarity of the negative conflict resolution style predicted the level of hostility in women, and the similarity of the retreat conflict resolution style predicted the level of anxiety in women. The findings of the study were discussed in the light of the relevant literature and the contributions of the study to the literature, limitations and suggestions for future studies were stated. KEYWORDS: conflict resolution styles, level of psychological disorder symptoms, level of anxiety