The role of family-of-origin environment and discrepancy in conflict behavior on newlywed marital quality

Abstract

How partners handle conflict may be transmitted across generations and contribute to relationship quality. Using a sample of 220 newlywed couples (N = 440) we examined the associations between destructive family-of-origin conflict patterns and discrepancies in current conflict behaviors (e.g., conflict engagement, withdrawal, negative problem solving) with marital quality. Destructive conflict mediated the relationship between destructive family-of-origin conflict and subsequent marital quality. We found actor and partner effects for the association between destructive conflict behavior and marital quality. Moreover, discrepancies in spousal use of negative problem solving was associated with lower marital quality for husbands, although we found limited evidence of partner discrepancy overall.