Emotional Suppression in Early Marriage: Actor, Partner and Similarity Effects on Marital Quality

摘要

Although habitual use of suppression has been consistently linked to adverse consequences for overall social functioning, little is known about the implications of using this emotion regulation strategy in the context of\udromantic relationships. The current longitudinal study tests whether husbands’ and wives’ habitual use of suppression, as well as couple similarity in the use of this strategy, influence marital quality over the first\udcouple years of marriage. A total of 229 newlywed couples reported their habitual use of suppression and perceived marital quality at two time points: five months and two years after marriage. Results showed that\udhusbands’ habitual use of suppression was the most consistent predictor of (lower) marital quality over time. Couples showed significant levels of\udsimilarity in suppression at the initial assessment, consistent with positive\udassortment, and this similarity was a significant predictor of higher marital\udquality as reported by wives regardless of overall levels of suppression use.\udThese findings suggest that husbands’ use of suppression is more harmful\udfor marital satisfaction than wives’ use and wives are more sensitive to\udtheir partners’ use of suppression, as well as to couple similarity.