Marital Harmony as Predicted by Affective Attunement and Emotional Containment

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the predictive roles of affective attunement and emotional containment in marital harmony among married individuals in Pakistan. Using a correlational descriptive design, 425 married participants from urban regions of Pakistan were selected based on Krejcie and Morgan’s sample size table through stratified random sampling. Standardized questionnaires were used to assess the three variables: marital harmony, affective attunement, and emotional containment. Data were analyzed using SPSS-27, applying descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression. All parametric assumptions—including normality, linearity, homoscedasticity, and multicollinearity—were verified prior to inferential analysis. The results showed that both affective attunement (r = .61, p < .01) and emotional containment (r = .53, p < .01) were significantly and positively correlated with marital harmony. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the two predictors jointly accounted for 46% of the variance in marital harmony (R² = .46, F(2, 422) = 179.24, p < .001). Affective attunement (β = .49, t = 8.87, p < .001) and emotional containment (β = .36, t = 7.43, p < .001) were both statistically significant predictors, with affective attunement showing a slightly stronger effect. The findings emphasize the crucial roles of emotional alignment and self-regulation in sustaining marital harmony. Specifically, affective attunement and emotional containment contribute significantly to relational satisfaction and stability. These insights have important implications for marital counseling and psychoeducational interventions focused on enhancing emotional competencies in couples.