Relationship Between Personality Traits and Conflict Resolution Skills in Couples

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between personality traits, including extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism, and conflict resolution skills among married couples studying at the University of Tabriz. This study employed a descriptive-correlational design. The statistical population included all married students of the University of Tabriz in 2026, from whom 225 participants were selected using multistage cluster random sampling. Data collection instruments included the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire and Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventory-II (ROCI-II). Data were analyzed using path analysis techniques. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test confirmed the normal distribution of the data, and Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine relationships among variables. The findings of path analysis demonstrated that extraversion had a positive and significant relationship with conflict resolution skills among couples (β=0.339, p<0.05). In contrast, neuroticism (β=-0.237, p<0.05) and psychoticism (β=-0.494, p<0.01) showed negative and significant relationships with conflict resolution skills. The results indicated that higher levels of extraversion were associated with better conflict management abilities, whereas increased neuroticism and psychoticism were associated with poorer conflict resolution performance in marital relationships. The study findings highlighted the important role of personality traits in determining the quality of couples’ conflict resolution skills. Extraversion may facilitate constructive communication and effective interpersonal interaction between spouses, whereas neuroticism and psychoticism may intensify emotional instability and reduce empathy, thereby impairing the conflict resolution process. These findings suggest that attention to personality characteristics in counseling and educational interventions may contribute to improving marital relationships and reducing interpersonal conflicts among couples.