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The influence of primary and secondary control on perceived marital satisfaction and emotional intimacy
Author
Chew, Joy Celestine Cheng Lian
Supervisor
Lim, Kam Ming
Abstract
The definitive purpose of marriage has evolved from one of survival of the species to the current one with a more broadened view of alternatives, for example, step-families and same sex couples. In the past decades, marriage has been widely researched in the western world due to its far reaching effects on individuals and the society as a whole.
Research has shown the negative impact poor marriages have on individuals - from poor psychological to physical health. The impact has also repercussions on their relationships with extended family and friends, their careers, life-satisfaction and self-esteem. In marital research, intimacy is often regarded as an important factor for marital satisfaction.
Locus of control (LOC ) is the perception which individuals have regarding the degree of control on events or conditions that happened in their lives. Locus of control has been seen as a possible influencing factor in marital satisfaction. The concept of locus of control has appeared in various literatures under different names, for example, mastery, personal autonomy and efficacy. However, the study of control has also changed over time, from focus on internal versus external to one of primary and secondary control. Primary control refers to managing existing reality to receive reinforcements, for example directly dealing with their behaviour problems while secondary control refers to individuals fitting themselves into the existing reality to cope with challenges. Numerous studies conducted have also shown the relationship between control orientation of an individual and marital quality.
This study aimed to understand the relationship between primary and secondary control and marital satisfaction and emotional intimacy. A convenience sample of 80 participants completed questionnaires on background information such like age, gender, ethnicity and education level. The set of questionnaires also included the Primary-Secondary Control Scale (PSCS), the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale and the Emotional Intimacy Scale (EIS). The results of the study found significant correlations between marital satisfaction and both primary and the overall secondary control scales as well as the secondary subscales of cognitive and behaviour. With regards to control and emotional intimacy, significant correlations were also found between utilisation of both secondary as well as primary control and emotional intimacy. Similar to marital satisfaction, there were significant correlations between emotional intimacy and both primary and the overall secondary control scale as well as the secondary subscale of cognitive and behaviour. However, with regards to age and use of control, it was found that younger individuals tend to utilize higher degree of secondary control in terms of religious subscale as compared to older individuals. No gender differences were found in terms of utilization of secondary or primary control.
These findings may imply the possibility of using both preventive and remedial counseling services to pre-marital and married couples. As control is neither stable nor pervasive, couples can also be taught alternatives to their previously learned responses to improve their marital relationship. For example, preventive measures could be first undertaken to pre-empt issues from surfacing. This could be done through pre-marital preparation workshops and therapy. Alternatively, remedial corrections could be done in the form of marital counselling to couples to address dissatisfaction in light of control orientation through couple therapy, marriage workshops or marriage enrichment classes. All these underscore the need for current marital counsellors to be aware of the possible effects of control on individuals and marriage and thus be more intentional in counselling their clients and teaching them about having alternatives adaptations to their marital issues.
Research has shown the negative impact poor marriages have on individuals - from poor psychological to physical health. The impact has also repercussions on their relationships with extended family and friends, their careers, life-satisfaction and self-esteem. In marital research, intimacy is often regarded as an important factor for marital satisfaction.
Locus of control (LOC ) is the perception which individuals have regarding the degree of control on events or conditions that happened in their lives. Locus of control has been seen as a possible influencing factor in marital satisfaction. The concept of locus of control has appeared in various literatures under different names, for example, mastery, personal autonomy and efficacy. However, the study of control has also changed over time, from focus on internal versus external to one of primary and secondary control. Primary control refers to managing existing reality to receive reinforcements, for example directly dealing with their behaviour problems while secondary control refers to individuals fitting themselves into the existing reality to cope with challenges. Numerous studies conducted have also shown the relationship between control orientation of an individual and marital quality.
This study aimed to understand the relationship between primary and secondary control and marital satisfaction and emotional intimacy. A convenience sample of 80 participants completed questionnaires on background information such like age, gender, ethnicity and education level. The set of questionnaires also included the Primary-Secondary Control Scale (PSCS), the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale and the Emotional Intimacy Scale (EIS). The results of the study found significant correlations between marital satisfaction and both primary and the overall secondary control scales as well as the secondary subscales of cognitive and behaviour. With regards to control and emotional intimacy, significant correlations were also found between utilisation of both secondary as well as primary control and emotional intimacy. Similar to marital satisfaction, there were significant correlations between emotional intimacy and both primary and the overall secondary control scale as well as the secondary subscale of cognitive and behaviour. However, with regards to age and use of control, it was found that younger individuals tend to utilize higher degree of secondary control in terms of religious subscale as compared to older individuals. No gender differences were found in terms of utilization of secondary or primary control.
These findings may imply the possibility of using both preventive and remedial counseling services to pre-marital and married couples. As control is neither stable nor pervasive, couples can also be taught alternatives to their previously learned responses to improve their marital relationship. For example, preventive measures could be first undertaken to pre-empt issues from surfacing. This could be done through pre-marital preparation workshops and therapy. Alternatively, remedial corrections could be done in the form of marital counselling to couples to address dissatisfaction in light of control orientation through couple therapy, marriage workshops or marriage enrichment classes. All these underscore the need for current marital counsellors to be aware of the possible effects of control on individuals and marriage and thus be more intentional in counselling their clients and teaching them about having alternatives adaptations to their marital issues.
Date Issued
2011
Call Number
HQ734 Che
Date Submitted
2011