Cognitive Emotion Regulation as a Mediator Between Negative Opposite-Sex Parent Object Relations and Marital Conflict in Newlywed Couples

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effects of object relations and cognitive emotion regulation on marital conflict among newlywed couples. Methods: The participants were 471 childless individuals married for seven years or less. Data were analyzed using regression and mediation analysis. Results: Marital duration, age, religious affiliation, and dual-income status were identified as significant sociodemographic factors influencing marital conflict, with marital duration having the greatest impact. In addition, higher levels of negative object relations with the opposite-sex parent and lower levels of cognitive emotion regulation were also significantly associated with greater marital conflict. Cognitive emotion regulation mediated the relationship between negative object relations and marital conflict. Conclusions: This study analyzed the influence of negative object relations with the opposite-sex parent who shares the same gender as the spouse. Findings extend the study of marital conflict from an object relations perspective and provide empirical support for applying cognitive emotion regulation into counseling and educational interventions.