J Korean Acad Nurs.  2010 Jun;40(3):336-348. 10.4040/jkan.2010.40.3.336.

Relationships between Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Psychological Type and Marital Satisfaction, Divorce Proneness, Positive Affect, and Conflict Regulation in Clinic Couples

• Kong SS

• KMID: 987581
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2010.40.3.336

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationships between the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) psychological type and marital satisfaction, divorce proneness, positive affect, and conflict regulation in couple visiting a clinic.
METHODS
Couples (n=62) who visited "M" couple clinic participated in the study. Data were collected from March to June 2009 using the Marital Satisfaction Scale, Marital Status Inventory, Positive Affect Inventory, and Conflict Regulation Inventory.
RESULTS
The couples showed no significant differences in marital satisfaction, positive affect, and conflict regulation according to similarities between spouses in MBTI types. However, they showed significant differences in divorce proneness of husband according to a similarity in the Sensing/Intuition indicator. They also showed significant differences in divorce proneness, positive affect, and conflict regulation between the couples for ISTJ (Introversion, Sensing, Thinking, Judging) or ESTJ (Extraversion, Sensing, Thinking, Judging) types compared to other couples.
CONCLUSION
When nurses counsel couples, they should understand that differences in psychological type between spouses affects their marital relationship. In addition, nurses should educate couples on the characteristics of each type according to the couple's types and help them to understand each other, especially for couples where one spouse is the ISTJ/ESTJ type. These interventions will improve marital satisfaction and prevent the divorce in these couples.

Keyword

Myers-briggs type indicator; Marital relationship; Divorce; Affect; Marital conflict

MeSH Terms

Adult
*Conflict (Psychology)
*Divorce
Extraversion (Psychology)
Female
Humans
Introversion (Psychology)
Judgment
Male
*Marriage
Middle Aged
*Personality Inventory
Spouses/psychology
Thinking

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