From marital conflict to life satisfaction: How basic psychological need satisfaction operates-A dyadic analysis study

Abstract

Although attempts have been made to untangle the possible mechanisms underlying the relationship between marital conflict and life satisfaction, the number of studies examining the possible intervening mechanisms is still limited. Therefore, guided by the self-determination theory, this study aimed to examine the mediating role of basic psychological need satisfaction in the relationship between marital conflict and life satisfaction using a dyadic analysis method. The sample consisted of 235 female (Mage = 44.58, SD = 5.69) and male (Mage = 47.90, SD = 5.77) pairs. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Model Extended to Mediation (APIMeM) was used to examine the within and between pathways in the stated relations. Findings demonstrated actor and partner effects between need satisfaction and life satisfaction; however, females' need satisfaction was only marginally associated positively with their male partners' life satisfaction. Moreover, while males' need satisfaction was negatively related to both their own and their partners' marital conflict, females' need satisfaction was only negatively related to their marital conflict. Finally, for all pathways in the model, males' need satisfaction was supported as a full mediator between marital conflict and life satisfaction. Females' need satisfaction, on the other hand, significantly mediated the relationship between their own marital conflict and life satisfaction. The findings provide insights by elucidating the interplay between these variables in dyadic relationships and highlighting the critical importance of need satisfaction in overcoming marital challenges and enhancing partners' overall life satisfaction.