Appraisals of Spouse Affiliation and Control during Marital Conflict: Common and Specific Cognitive Correlates Among Facets of Negative Affectivity

Analyses were also performed using self reports of trait negative affect from the NEO-PI-R. When measured as a composite, participants’ self-reported trait negative affect predicted the discrepancy of the IMI-SASB on the dimensions of Control (B = .228, t(569) = 3.56, P = .0004), Friendliness (B = −.137, t(572) = −2.25, P = .0251), and Hostility (B = .194, t(572) = 3.71, P = .0002), above and beyond age and gender. When considered separately, self reports of anxiety predicted the discrepancy of the IMI-SASB on the dimensions of Control (B = .280, t(568) = 3.36, P = .0008), Friendliness (B = −.182, t(573) = −2.29, P = .0221), and Hostility (B = .156, t(573) = 1.99, P = .0472). Participant’s self-reported level of angry hostility predicted the discrepancy of the IMI-SASB on the dimension of Control (B = .177, t(576) = 2.01, P = .0452) and Hostility (B = .276, t(575) = 3.32, P = .0010). Additionally, participant’s level of depression predicted the discrepancy of the IMI-SASB on the dimensions of Control (B = .286, t(565) = 3.84, P = .0001), and Hostility (B = .220, t(568) = 3.17, P = .0016). Finally, when considered simultaneously, none of the self-reports independently predicted the discrepancy on the IMI-SASB on the any of the three dimensions. Hence, the findings for self-reports of negative affect are generally but not completely consistent with those obtained with spouse ratings.