Mexicans’ Emotion Regulation Strategies and Relationship Satisfaction by Gender

Authors

Sofía Rivera-Aragón, National Autonomous University of MexicoFollow
Rolando Díaz-Loving, National Autonomous University of Mexico
Claudia Ivethe Jaen-Cortés, National Autonomous University of Mexico
Gerardo Benjamín Tonatiuh Villanueva-Orozco, National Autonomous University of Mexico
Pedro Wolfgang Velasco-Matus, National Autonomous University of Mexico
Luz Maria Cruz-Martínez, National Autonomous University of Mexico
Angélica Romero-Palencia, Autonomous University of the State of Hidalgo

Publication Date

2018

Abstract

Vater and Schröder-Abé (2015) found that suppressing expression can potentially interrupt couple communication, therefore producing negative interpersonal behavior and diminishing satisfaction in the relationship. Considering that emotional regulation and relationship satisfaction have shown cultural variations, the object of the study was to assess the relationship of these two constructs in 166 male and 231 female Mexican young adults. Sánchez-Aragón’s (2012) Emotional Regulation Strategies Scale, adapted for couples, and Córtes, Reyes, Díaz-Loving, Rivera-Aragón, and Monjaraz’s (1994) Relationship Satisfaction Inventory were administered to the sample. Negative and significant correlations were found between both expressive suppression strategies and relationship satisfaction. Data is discussed in terms of the Mexican culture and in terms of gender differences, emphasizing the importance of acquiring skills and abilities to regulate emotions in close relationships. Emotion regulation becomes essential as it fulfills an important social function: it encourages the use of adequate strategies that allow couples’ better communication skills, better interpersonal resources and the possibility of solving and/or managing any conflict that may arise in a relationship. Therefore, the use of proper emotion regulation strategies becomes essential in promoting relationship satisfaction, diminishing the odds of deteriorated relationships, and promoting well-being and quality of the relationship.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.4087/BEUK6121

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by PROJECT PAPIIT IN303114

ScholarWorks Citation

Rivera-Aragón, S., Díaz-Loving, R., Jaen-Cortés, C. I., Villanueva-Orozco, G. B. T., Velasco-Matus, P. W., Cruz-Martínez, L. M., & Romero-Palencia, A. (2018). Mexicans’ emotion regulation strategies and relationship satisfaction by gender. In M. Karasawa, M. Yuki, K. Ishii, Y. Uchida, K. Sato, & W. Friedlmeier (Eds.), Venture into cross-cultural psychology: Proceedings from the 23rd Congress of the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology. https://doi.org/10.4087/BEUK6121

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.