Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Marital Adjustment

Within the scope of the project, investigating the relationship between COVID-19-related stress and couples' subjective well-being (life satisfaction, psychological well-being, depressive symptoms, anxiety and stress) and marital quality (marital adjustment, relationship satisfaction and romantic intimacy) and dyadic coping in this relationship. It was aimed to examine the role of skills. Within the scope of the project, a cross-sectional and longitudinal study was conducted with married couples and it was observed that in the presence of COVID-19 stress, the individual well-being of both women and men was affected by this stress source, but only in men, there was a transition that exceeded the individual stress and reflected on the relationship. It has been found that the stress of COVID-19 directly negatively affects only men's marital adjustment and relationship satisfaction. It was observed that when the COVID-19 stress of men increased, the marital adjustment and intimacy felt by women decreased. The individual's use of coping skills did not have a positive effect on his partner's individual well-being; however, it was found to be associated with increased romantic intimacy, marital adjustment and relationship satisfaction of the partner. It was found that using emotion-focused and positive coping skills was associated with increased marital adjustment. With daily work, it has been revealed that both external and internal stress factors negatively affect the daily relationship satisfaction of couples during the pandemic process, and the stress of COVID-19 has the effect of spreading to internal stress. It has been observed that opening up to the partner during the day and perceived partner sensitivity increase romantic intimacy. Considering the negative impact of the COVID-10 pandemic on relationships, it is thought that dyadic coping may have a protective function against stress. In our country, in order to ensure the continuity of marital relations and protect the quality of the couple's relationship, in the presence of an external stress such as COVID-19, individual or group couples are offered to develop sensitivity, expressing emotions and organizing skills in individual stress management, ability to cope as a couple, mutual empathy and validation. It has been evaluated that developing trainings may be beneficial. Project findings indicate that the trainings that can be developed may focus primarily on emotion-focused skills rather than problem-oriented skills.