Journal of Families and Better Life (가정과삶의질연구)

Korean Home Management Association (가정과삶의질학회)
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Effects of Surface and Core Problems in Marriage on Dysfunctional Communication Behaviors in Marital Arguments : Focusing on Married Women

결혼생활의 표면적 문제와 핵심 문제가 부부싸움에서 사용하는 역기능적 의사소통 행동에 미치는 영향 : 기혼여성을 중심으로

  • Kwon, Yoona (Dept. of Child Development and Family Studies.Research Institute of Ecology for the Elderly, Pusan National Univ.) ;
  • Kim, Deuksung (Dept. of Child Development and Family Studies.Research Institute of Ecology for the Elderly, Pusan National Univ.)
  • 권윤아 (부산대학교 아동가족학과.노인생활환경연구소) ;
  • 김득성 (부산대학교 아동가족학과.노인생활환경연구소)
  • Received : 2013.03.15
  • Accepted : 2013.05.14
  • Published : 2013.08.30
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Abstract

The current study examined the ability to predict Gottman's four dysfunctional communication behaviors during marital arguments based on the level of surface and core problems in marriage. Core problems were composed of three factors: caring, power, and commitment problems. A self-report questionnaire was administered to 182 married women residing in Busan. The results of multiple regression analyses revealed that a woman's degree of criticism was predicted by surface and caring problems when controlling for the other variables. The degree of contempt was predicted by a commitment problem as well as surface and caring problems. Defensiveness was determined only by a commitment problem, while stonewalling was determined only by a power problem. Overall, these results showed the importance of core problems in understanding the causes of the four dysfunctional communication behaviors - especially contempt - and suggested that additional attention should be given to a commitment problem as a contributor to the expression of contempt and defensiveness.

Keywords

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