DO EMOTION RECOGNITION AND EMOTION REGULATION PREDICT DYADIC ADJUSTMENT? THE MODERATING ROLE OF RELATIONSHIP LENGTH

Emotion recognition and emotion regulation, measured on a questionnaire of emotional intelligence, were related to several dimensions of dyadic adjustment. In a sample of 181 college students (54% females) recognition of their own and their partner's emotions along with regulation of their own and their partner's emotions were used for predicting dyadic adjustment and its dimensions. Recognition of partner's emotions, regulation of one's own and partner's emotions positively predicted dyadic consensus and negatively dyadic satisfaction, while recognition and regulation of partner's emotions predicted dyadic cohesion. The research also explored the moderating role of gender and relationship length in predicting dyadic adjustment and its dimensions. The results revealed that only relationship length moderates the relationship between the recognition of partner's emotions and dyadic satisfaction, and the relationship between the regulation of partner's emotions and dyadic satisfaction.