The longitudinal association between attributions and marital satisfaction: Direction of effects and role of efficacy expectations

This study investigated the direction of possible causal effects between at tributions for negative partner behavior and marital satisfaction and teste d whether any effects are mediated by efficacy expectations regarding marit al conflict. Couples married for 15-20 months completed measures of attribu tion and satisfaction at Time 1 and at Time 3 (18 months later). At Time 2 (6 months after Time 1) they completed a measure of efficacy expectations. For both husbands and wives, a cross-lagged effects model showed that the p aths from causal attributions to later satisfaction and from satisfaction t o later causal attributions were significant. Efficacy expectations mediate d the temporal relation between attributions and satisfaction. These findin gs support the assumption that there is a reciprocal causal influence betwe en attributions and satisfaction but suggest important modifications to mod els of close relationships and marital therapy.