Is the House You Were Born in Your Destiny? Exploring the Dynamics of Family‐of‐Origin Experiences, Dysfunctional Relationship Beliefs, and Marital Satisfaction
Journal of Marital and Family Therapy
Published online on June 08, 2026
Abstract
["Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, Volume 52, Issue 3, July 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThis study focuses on marital satisfaction, a key concept often used to assess happiness and stability in a marriage. The main goal of this study was to explore the mediating processes linking experiences in the family of origin to marital satisfaction. A total of 357 married individuals participated in the research. Participants completed self‐report questionnaires assessing marital satisfaction, family‐of‐origin experiences, and dysfunctional relational beliefs. The study's model was analyzed using structural equation modeling. The mediation analysis suggests that experiences in the family of origin may play a role in shaping marital satisfaction through dysfunctional relationship beliefs. The results indicated that married individuals who experienced dysfunctional family‐of‐origin experiences reported lower marital satisfaction if they also held dysfunctional relationship beliefs. This highlights the importance of addressing dysfunctional relationship beliefs in married couples to minimize the influence of negative family experiences on their marital relationships.\n"]