伴侶情緒表達矛盾對關係滿意度之影響：行動者與伴侶相依模式之探討

Association between Ambivalence over Emotional Expression and Intimate Relationship Satisfaction: Analysis of the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model

伴侶在溝通時經常產生不滿，有的人為了避免與伴侶展開衝突，會採用情緒壓抑的策略，或是對於表達情緒感到害怕抗拒，進而影響到伴侶的關係滿意度，而此對情緒壓抑或反芻的型態被稱為情緒表達矛盾。本研究旨在探討國內婚前成人伴侶在情緒表達矛盾與關係滿意度之關聯，以行動者與伴侶相依模式（actor-partner interdependence model, APIM）（Kenny & Ledermann, 2010）與結構方程模式（structural equation modeling, SEM）作為統計方法。測量工具為「情緒表達矛盾量表」及「關係評估量表」。研究共獲得207對成對伴侶樣本，共414份有效問卷。本研究結果顯示：1.男性同時傾向有較高的情緒反芻與情緒壓抑；2.在伴侶關係中，不論是男性或女性，個人情緒反芻的確會使自身關係滿意度較低，然而不同於情緒反芻會對個人的關係滿意度造成負面影響，在婚前伴侶關係中，個人的情緒壓抑反而能夠預測自身有較高的關係滿意度，亦即對尚無承諾關係的婚前伴侶而言，儘管個人經驗到壓抑情緒不表達的狀態，這樣的狀態卻有助於個人對親密關係有更高的滿意度；3.在親密關係中的伴侶效果部分，不論男性或女性，目前尚無法證實自身的情緒反芻與情緒壓抑會影響伴侶的關係滿意度，這或也表示對尚無承諾關係的婚前伴侶而言，在解釋關係滿意度時，更傾向歸因於個人因素，而非伴侶因素。

Couples often experience disputes or dissatisfaction in their communication, and this can affect their relationship satisfaction. Some individuals use strategies such as emotional suppression to avoid conflicts with their partners. Others feel afraid and reluctant to express their emotions, which may adversely affect their intimate relationship satisfaction. King and Emmons (1990) described this conflict between the desire and reluctance to express emotions as ambivalence over emotional expression (AEE). According to many studies, AEE can influence marital satisfaction or relationship quality, with observed gender differences in this influence. In Taiwan, AEE is significantly higher among male college students than among their female counterparts. Statistical methods commonly used in the past may have contributed to differences in results, and therefore, the current study used the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) to analyze dyadic data. This approach enables comprehensive examination of associations between the latent variables of partners. Two factors of AEE were identified, namely emotional rumination and emotional suppression, and these factors were examined within different cultural contexts. The primary objectives of this study were twofold: to understand the differences in AEE (i.e., emotional rumination and emotional suppression) between adult partners of different genders and to explore how the individual AEE of these partners affects their perceived relationship satisfaction and their partners' evaluation of their relationship satisfaction. Additionally, the study identified potential reasons underlying variations in research results between cross-cultural studies. To achieve these objectives, this study proposed the following hypotheses. First, AEE is significantly higher among Taiwanese male individuals in premarital relationships than among their female counterparts (H_1). Second, in premarital partner relationships, individual AEE is a predictor of the individual's relationship satisfaction (H_2). Third, in premarital partner relationships, individual AEE can predict partner relationship satisfaction (H_3). An online questionnaire was distributed on relevant community platforms. Demographic and research data were collected using self-reported questionnaires. Each questionnaire included the Ambivalence Over Emotional Expressiveness questionnaire (Lee & Lin, 2006) and the Relationship Assessment Scale (Ho, 2004). The APIM (Kenny & Ledermann, 2010) and structural equation modeling were used as statistical methods to analyze dyadic data. A total of 207 premarital couples were included and completed a total of 414 valid questionnaires. The participants were heterosexual couples, were aged 20 years or older, were unmarried, and had been in a stable relationship for more than 3 months. The median age was 25 to 29 years (50.5%), with a median relationship duration of 25 to 36 months (14.5%). The following research conclusions were drawn. First, in premarital relationships in Taiwan, men exhibit higher levels of AEE than do women. This trend is observed even when AEE is separately analyzed as emotional rumination and emotional suppression, indicating a consistent pattern of higher ambivalence among male partners in Taiwan. Second, emotional rumination in romantic relationships may lead to a vicious cycle that negatively affects relationship satisfaction. For both men and women, personal emotional rumination reduces self-reported relationship satisfaction. In romantic relationships, individuals who frequently ruminate on their emotional expression behaviors, including worrying about expressing emotions, regretting emotional expression, or feeling indecisive regarding emotional expression, may experience low self-reported relationship satisfaction. Therefore, reducing emotional rumination in scenarios that require emotional expression may mitigate the negative effects of worrying and imagination. Alternatively, adopting different emotion regulation strategies, such as seeking social support, may aid in reducing personal emotional rumination, thereby enhancing relationship satisfaction. Third, at the individual level, for both men and women, personal emotional suppression positively predicts self-reported relationship satisfaction. Therefore, for premarital couples, although withholding emotions contributes to increased personal satisfaction with intimate relationships, emotional rumination has a negative effect on relationship satisfaction. Furthermore, emotional suppression has a positive effect on self-reported relationship satisfaction. At the dyadic level, neither male nor female emotional expression inconsistency can predict the degree of relationship satisfaction among partners. In other words, no partner effect is observed between male or female emotional expression inconsistency and partner relationship satisfaction. Therefore, emotional suppression may have both positive and negative effects on relationship satisfaction. These findings differ from those of other international studies, presumably because of the differences between Eastern and Western cultures and differences in study populations. Unlike Western populations, Taiwanese individuals may perceive temporary suppression of emotions as contributing to relational harmony, and therefore, such suppression may not affect their relationship satisfaction. Therefore, the present authors hypothesized that within Taiwanese culture, AEE includes the subconcepts of both emotional rumination and emotional suppression, with each subconcept having a unique effect on relationship satisfaction. Moreover, the participants in this study were unmarried. Unlike married couples, premarital couples are typically in the stage of emerging adulthood, aged 18 to 29 years old, which represents nearly 87% of the sample in this study. Arnett (2000) characterizes individuals in this stage as emphasizing commitment more in romantic relationships compared to adolescence. They often have longer and more stable relationships but aren't influenced by roles like spouses or parents. Additionally, for married couples, their longer time together usually leads to closer relationships. A longitudinal study concluded that emotional suppression has no significant effect on marital satisfaction in long-term relationships. Instead, higher levels of emotional contagion are the primary determinant of marital satisfaction. This phenomenon may be attributed to spouses naturally synchronizing each other's emotions, thereby moderating the association between initial emotional regulation strategies and marital satisfaction. However, when emotional contagion levels are low, emotional regulation strategies positively affect marital satisfaction (Mazzuca et al., 2019). This finding explains why the effect of emotional suppression on relationship satisfaction differs between premarital couples and married couples. Therefore, the present authors hypothesized that compared to married couples, premarital couples have lower degree of emotional contagion, and the effect of emotional suppression on relationship satisfaction is emphasized. Fourth, for both men and women, the effect of emotional rumination and emotional suppression on partner relationship satisfaction is nonsignificant, and the causation between AEE and partner relationship satisfaction has not been proven. Because this study primarily involved participants aged between 20 and 29 years, caution must be exercised in attempting to generalize the research findings. According to the findings of this study, for both men and women, individual AEE cannot predict partner relationship satisfaction. However, whether this phenomenon occurs because partners fail to perceive individual AEE or because they perceive it but fail to predict relationship satisfaction remains unclear. Therefore, further research is required to determine whether perceived partner AEE is a mediator in the association between individual AEE and partner relationship satisfaction. According to the current research findings, practitioners should consider gender differences when analyzing the effect of AEE on partner relationships. In addition, in the early stages of a relationship, men should remain aware of whether their emotional expressions are perceived to be contradictory by their partners. Furthermore, in couples counseling, promoting the expression of thoughts and feelings regarding the relationship and fostering active listening may mitigate AEE and thereby potentially enhance relationship satisfaction for both partners. In premarital counseling for relationship challenges, practitioners should help their clients explore their difficulties, hesitations, or fears associated with emotional expression in romantic relationships. They should also discuss patterns of emotional rumination or use cognitive therapy to help their clients understand the connections between emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. This approach can increase the levels of awareness toward individual emotional rumination and effectively limit its negative effect on relationship satisfaction. If clients choose to use emotional suppression as an "inflexible" emotion regulation strategy, practitioners should explore the timing, frequency, duration, and type of suppressed emotions. They should also help their clients understand both the interaction patterns and the positive contributions and compromises made by each partner in the relationship. Although individual emotional suppression may have a positive effect on personal relationship satisfaction, practitioners should be aware of whether their clients can communicate and discuss negative emotional events with their partners later. Doing so can improve relationship satisfaction over time. In summary, for unmarried couples in Taiwan, AEE can be divided into emotional rumination and emotional suppression, with each subconcept having a unique effect on relationship satisfaction. Further research is required to investigate the effect of emotional rumination and emotional suppression on relationship satisfaction among married couples.