Presenting an Actor-Partner Interdependence Model in Examining the Role of Self- Compassion on Dyadic Conflict Resolution Styles for Couples

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of self-compassion on couples’ dyadic conflict resolution strategies. This study involved multivariate correlation and an actor-partner interdependence model. In 2020, the statistical population consisted of all Tehran-dwelling couples. The research sample consisted of 167 couples (334 individuals) selected using the available sampling method. Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventory-II (ROCI-II) and Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) were utilized. The collected data were initially analyzed using the SPSS-23 software. Then, in order to study the dyadic effects of couples’ characteristics, the actor-partner interdependence model and the R programming language were utilized. The actor effect of the first model demonstrated that a man’s self-compassion can directly and significantly predict his constructive conflict resolution manner, whereas this is not the case for women. In addition, due to the actor effect of the second model, self-compassion was unable to predict the couples’ manner of avoiding conflict resolution. Self-compassion can significantly predict the dominant conflict resolution style of couples, as demonstrated by the third model's actor effect. By promoting self-compassion skills in even one spouse, it is likely that couples’ conflict resolution will be more productive and their relationship will improve, as suggested by these encouraging results.

Keywords

• actor-partner interdependence model
• conflict resolution styles
• couple
• self-compassion