The Big Five Personality Dimensions (OCEAN) and Adult Attachment Styles as the Predictors of Emotional Divorce Download PDF

In the current study, the contribution of the Big Five Personality Dimensions (OCEAN) and Adult Attachment Styles (AAS), in the prediction of Emotional Divorce (ED) has been investigated. Material and Methods: This research is descriptive research (correlation) is placed. The participants consist of 300 people (141 male, and 159 female) from among all married adults personnel in Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (hospitals & faculties) to work who have been chosen by Multiple-Stage Cluster sampling method. To evaluate Big Five Personality Dimensions (OCEAN), Neo Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) (Costa & McCrae, 1992), for evaluate Adult Attachment Styles (AAS), The Adult Attachment Scale (AAS) (Hazen & Shaver, 1987), and for evaluate Emotional Divorce, Gottman’s Emotional Divorce Questionnaire (GEDQ) (Gottman, 1995) has been used. To analyze data, Pearson Correlation and Regression Analysis have been run. Results: According to Guttman (1995) earned higher scores 8 can be considered a criterion for the identification of individuals at risk of emotional divorce. Accordingly, 70 persons (23% of the research sample, including 29 female and 41 male) participating in the study were eligible for an emotional divorce and are at risk of separation and divorce. The results showed that there was a significant relationship between the Big Five Personality Dimensions (OCEAN) and Adult Attachment Styles (AAS), with Emotional Divorce (ED). Emotional Divorce (ED) has been predicted significantly by subfields of the Big Five Personality Dimensions (OCEAN) and Adult Attachment Styles (AAS). The results show Secure & Ambivalent Style are negative predictors, and Avoidant Style is a positive predictor of Emotional Divorce (ED). Moreover, other results show that that the personality trait of “Conscientiousness” is negative predictors, and “Neuroticism” is positive predictor of Emotional Divorce (ED). Other Personality Dimensions could not predict significantly the phenomena Emotional Divorce (ED). Discussion: The results show that two most important factors for achieving satisfaction in marital life, and prevent of getting on the way of Emotional Divorce (and probably formal divorce), are Personality Dimensions and Attachment Styles of the couples. So in order to promote healthy relations between couples and promote the quality of marital lives, it’s necessary to educate the couples to rear constructive Personality Dimensions (like Conscientiousness) in themselves, and matched their Attachment Styles together.