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Relação conjugal ao longo do ciclo de vida: satisfação, comunicação, motivação, coesão e adaptabilidade
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Abstract(s)
O estudo das relações conjugais tem mostrado que sujeitos casados são, regra geral, mais
saudáveis e felizes (Gottman, 1994, Orbuch & Custer, 1995, Vanassche, Swicegood, &
Matthijs, 2013). No entanto, a maior parte das uniões terminam em divórcio, principalmente
devido a níveis baixos de satisfação. Os terapeutas familiares compreenderam que é essencial
contextualizar as crises conjugais no seu ciclo vital, caracterizado por diferentes autores (Carter
& McGoldric, 1982, Neighbourgh, 1985, Relvas, 2004), percebendo também que as fases de
transição são as de maior vulnerabilidade (Haley, 1984). Por outro lado, a investigação sobre
conjugalidade tem demonstrado que o género é uma variável incontornável quando se quer
compreender a dinâmica das relações amorosas. A partir do estudo de casais que superam
saudavelmente os períodos de crise que marcam a transição entre as etapas da vida conjugal
pretende-se perceber os factores que funcionam como promotores dessa resiliência bem como
os de maior fragilidade. Assim, em casais que apresentavam elevados índices de Satisfação
Conjugal (amor e funcionamento), fomos estudar as características da relação, a sua Coesão e
Adaptabilidade, a Comunicação dos afectos e das divergências, bem como a Motivação para a
conjugalidade. Realizou-se um estudo transversal, comparativo e correlacional, adaptando e validando
instrumentos, e conduzindo cinco estudos empíricos. As amostras cujos participantes, deram o
consentimento informado, variaram entre os 436 e os 464 (nos artigos de validação), e os 370
(nos artigos empíricos). Os resultados, por género, mostram uma variação semelhante da Satisfação Global, padrões
Comunicacionais e padrões de Coesão e Adaptabilidade conjugal. Os resultados mostram que a dimensão Amor exerce uma influência maior que a do Funcionamento na Satisfação Global dos casais. Ao longo do casamento, na dimensão Amor,
as mulheres apresentam flutuações num maior número de áreas que os homens. Em todas os
períodos as mulheres atribuem a satisfação mais a si próprias que aos seus parceiros. Na
motivação, aumenta a motivação extrínseca dos homens, especialmente nos primeiros três
estádios do casamento. Considerando o ciclo de vida, a Satisfação Global revela valores semelhantes entre géneros e
mais elevados antes da parentalidade, sendo esta a única fase da vida onde as mulheres
apresentam valores mais altos de satisfação que os homens. Há também um menor uso de
estratégias de comunicação positiva nos casais com filhos. Considerando cada uma das sete etapas do ciclo conjugal, pelo menos em quatro, uma estratégia de comunicação ou gestão de conflito apresenta diferenças significativas entre homens e
mulheres. Naquelas em que se verificam mudanças, as mulheres apresentam alterações a partir
de fases mais precoces. A estratégia de comunicação nos casais impacta a sua satisfação e
felicidade. Coesão e Adaptabilidade não apresentaram diferenças significativas. Casais em
união de facto tendem a utilizar mais vezes estratégias que envolvem a expressão de afectos e
emoções do que os casados. Não se verificam diferenças significativas entre o primeiro e o
segundo casamento. Ao identificar a fase de vida com maior instabilidade e as diferenças de percepção da vida
conjugal entre homens e mulheres, esta investigação pode dar pistas interessantes para o
trabalho clínico com casais.
The study of marital relationships has shown that married people are, in general, healthier and happier (Gottman, 1994, Orbuch & Custer, 1995, Vanassche, Swicegood, & Matthijs, 2013). However, most marriages end in divorce, mainly due to low levels of satisfaction. Family therapists have understood that it is essential to contextualize marital crises in the couple's life cycle, defined by different authors (Carter & McGoldric, 1982, Neighbourgh, 1985, Relvas, 2004). They also verified that the transition phases are the most vulnerable (Haley, 1984). On the other hand, research on conjugality has shown that gender is an inescapable variable when one wants to understand the dynamics of romantic relationships. By studying couples who healthily overcome the periods of crisis that characterize the transition between the stages of married life, we wanted to understand the factors that promote this resilience as well those of fragility. Thus, in couples with high levels of Satisfaction (love and functioning), we studied the characteristics of the relationship, its Cohesion and Adaptability, the Communication of affection and divergences between partners, as well as their Motivation for conjugality. A cross-sectional, comparative and correlational study was carried out, first adapting and validating measuring instruments and then conducting five empirical studies. Samples, whose participants gave their informed consent, varied between 436 and 464 (in the validation studies), and 370 (in the empirical studies). We have confirmed that the dimension Love exerts a greater influence than the Functioning dimension in the Global Satisfaction of couples. The results, by gender, show a similar variation in Global Satisfaction, Communication, Cohesion and Adaptability patterns. Throughout marriage, in the Love dimension, women have variations in more areas than men. In all periods, women attribute satisfaction more to themselves than to their partners. In Motivation, men's extrinsic motivation increases, especially in the first three stages of marriage Considering the life cycle, Global Satisfaction, has higher rates before parenthood, and this is the only period of life where women present higher rateses of satisfaction than men. There is also less use of positive Communication strategies in couples with children. Considering each of the seven stages of the conjugal cycle, in four of them, at least one communication or conflict management strategy presents significant differences between men and women. In those that change, women presented variations from earlier stages. The communication strategies in couples impacts their satisfaction and happiness. Cohesion and Adaptability did not present significant differences. Unmarried couples tend to use strategies that involve the expression of affect and emotions more often than married couples. There are no significant differences between first and second marriages. By identifying the life stage most susceptible to instability as well as differences in the perception of married life between men and women, this research may provide interesting clues to clinical work with couples.
The study of marital relationships has shown that married people are, in general, healthier and happier (Gottman, 1994, Orbuch & Custer, 1995, Vanassche, Swicegood, & Matthijs, 2013). However, most marriages end in divorce, mainly due to low levels of satisfaction. Family therapists have understood that it is essential to contextualize marital crises in the couple's life cycle, defined by different authors (Carter & McGoldric, 1982, Neighbourgh, 1985, Relvas, 2004). They also verified that the transition phases are the most vulnerable (Haley, 1984). On the other hand, research on conjugality has shown that gender is an inescapable variable when one wants to understand the dynamics of romantic relationships. By studying couples who healthily overcome the periods of crisis that characterize the transition between the stages of married life, we wanted to understand the factors that promote this resilience as well those of fragility. Thus, in couples with high levels of Satisfaction (love and functioning), we studied the characteristics of the relationship, its Cohesion and Adaptability, the Communication of affection and divergences between partners, as well as their Motivation for conjugality. A cross-sectional, comparative and correlational study was carried out, first adapting and validating measuring instruments and then conducting five empirical studies. Samples, whose participants gave their informed consent, varied between 436 and 464 (in the validation studies), and 370 (in the empirical studies). We have confirmed that the dimension Love exerts a greater influence than the Functioning dimension in the Global Satisfaction of couples. The results, by gender, show a similar variation in Global Satisfaction, Communication, Cohesion and Adaptability patterns. Throughout marriage, in the Love dimension, women have variations in more areas than men. In all periods, women attribute satisfaction more to themselves than to their partners. In Motivation, men's extrinsic motivation increases, especially in the first three stages of marriage Considering the life cycle, Global Satisfaction, has higher rates before parenthood, and this is the only period of life where women present higher rateses of satisfaction than men. There is also less use of positive Communication strategies in couples with children. Considering each of the seven stages of the conjugal cycle, in four of them, at least one communication or conflict management strategy presents significant differences between men and women. In those that change, women presented variations from earlier stages. The communication strategies in couples impacts their satisfaction and happiness. Cohesion and Adaptability did not present significant differences. Unmarried couples tend to use strategies that involve the expression of affect and emotions more often than married couples. There are no significant differences between first and second marriages. By identifying the life stage most susceptible to instability as well as differences in the perception of married life between men and women, this research may provide interesting clues to clinical work with couples.
Description
Tese de Doutoramento em Psicologia na área de especialização em Psicologia Clínica, apresentada no ISPA – Instituto Universitário
Keywords
Ciclo conjugal Género e casamento Satisfação conjugal Motivação para a conjugalidade Coesão e adaptabilidade no casal Comunicação conjugal Marital cycle Gender and marriage Couple satisfaction Motivation for conjugality Cohesion and adaptability in couples Couple communication