Relation satisfaction and investment in romantic relations: The role of conflict resolution and self-compassion

In this study, the relationships between conflict resolution in romantic relationships, relationship satisfaction and investment and self-compassion were examined. The research was carried out on a total of 489 students (300 females and 189 males) who already have a romantic relationship and were studying at Cukurova University in the 2017-2018 academic year. The researcher used the "Conflict Resolution Styles in Romantic Relationships Scale" (Özen, Salman-Engin ve Sakallı-Uğurlu, 2016) to collect the data related to university students' conflict resolution styles in romantic relationship. The "Relationship Stability Scale" (Büyükşahin, Hasta ve Hovardaoğlu, 2005) was used to measure relationship satisfaction and investment. The data related to the self-compassion was collected through using the "Self-Compassion Scale" (Akın, Akın ve Abacı, 2007). The researcher developed "Personal Information Form" to elicit personal information of participants. The data was analyzed through Multiple Regression Analysis. According to the research findings, while relationship satisfaction is positively related to relationship investment, subordination, positive conflict resolution which are two of the dimensions of conflict resolution styles in romantic relationships, self-kindness, common humanity, mindfulness which are the dimensions of self-compassion and self-compassion (total score), it is negatively related to negative conflict resolution which is one of the dimensions of conflict resolution styles in romantic relationships. Relationship investment is positively related to the variables of subordination, positive conflict resolution which are two of the dimensions of conflict resolution styles in romantic relationships, self-judgment, isolation, over-identification which are the dimensions of self-compassion, and negatively related to the total score of self-compassion. In addition, the total score of self-compassion was found to be positively related to positive conflict resolution style and negatively related to negative conflict resolution style. According to the results of the regression analysis, positive conflict resolution style which is one of the dimensions of conflict resolution styles in romantic relationships was determined as the variable which had significant effect on predicting relationship satisfaction. In addition, positive conflict resolution style and over-identification were found to be positively predictive of relationship satisfaction in women, while negative conflict resolution was predicted negatively relationship satisfaction in women. In men, it was found that positive conflict resolution style and subordination which are two of the conflict resolution styles dimensions in romantic relationships predicted positively relationship satisfaction. Negative conflict resolution style, subordination and positive conflict resolution style positively predicted relationship investment while retreat which is one of the dimensions of conflict resolution styles in romantic relationships predicted relationship investment negatively. Also, according to the regression results, over-identification which is one of the dimensions of self-compassion positively predicted the relationship investment. It was found that subordination, positive conflict resolution style and over-identification were predicted positively relationship satisfaction in women, while retreat sub-dimension predicted negatively. In men, negative conflict resolution style and subordination which are two of the conflict resolution styles dimensions in romantic relationships predicted positively relationship investment. Keywords: Conflict resolution in romantic relationships, relationship satisfaction, relationship investment, self-compassion