본 연구는 원가족 경험과 이성관계 만족도와의 관계에서 정서조절 능력이 매개효과를 갖는지 분석하는데 그 목적이 있다. 위의 목적을 달성하기 위해 미혼남녀의 사회인구학적 특성, 이성관계 특성, 원가족 경험, 정서조절 능력 및 이성관계 만족도의 수준을 파악하고, 조사대상자의 특성에 따른 원가족 경험, 정서조절 능력 및 이성관계 만족도의 차이를 분석하였다. 그리고 각 변인들의 관계를 파악하기 위해 상관분석을 실시하였으며 마지막으로 원가족 경험과 이성관계 만족도의 관계에서 정서조절 능력이 매개효과를 갖는지 검증하였다.
연구를 위하여 20~30대 미혼남녀를 대상으로 2015년 10월 10일부터 10월 24일까지 2주에 걸쳐 구조화된 설문지를 사용하여 조사를 실시하였다. 최종 분석자료로 사용한 설문지는 총 381부이다.
자료의 분석은 SPSS 18.0을 이용하여 빈도, 백분율, 평균, 표준편차, 신뢰도계수(Cronbach''s α), t-test, 일원분산분석(ANOVA), 사후 검증법(Duncan''s Multiple Range Test), 상관분석, 다중회귀분석(Multiple Linear Regression), Sobel 검증 등을 실시하였다.
본 연구의 분석결과를 요약하자면 다음과 같다.
첫째, 미혼남녀는 원가족 경험을 긍정적으로 인식하고 있었으며, 경제적 수준이 높을 때 더 긍정적으로 인식하는 것으로 나타났다. 정서조절 능력 또한 3.67점(5점 만점)으로 높게 나타났으며 자기 정서를 조절하는 능력보다 타인의 정서를 조절하는 능력이 높았다. 이성관계 만족도도 3.69점(5점 만점)으로 높은 수준이며 하위요인 중 정서적 의사소통 만족이 가장 높았다.
둘째, 조사대상자의 특성에 따른 미혼남녀의 원가족 경험을 살펴보면, 원가족 경제수준이 높을수록 원가족 경험을 긍정적으로 인식하고 있었다. 하위요인에서 자유로운 의사표현, 정겨운 가족분위기, 가족 간 이해심이 경제수준이 높을수록 긍정적으로 나타났다.
셋째, 조사대상자의 특성에 따른 정서조절 능력은 모의 직업이 관리직인 경우에 높게 나타났다. 하위요인을 살펴보면, 자기 정서조절 능력은 모의 직업이 관리직인 경우에 높았으며 타인 정서조절 능력은 연령이 35~39세일 때 가장 낮게 나타났다.
넷째, 조사대상자의 특성에 따른 이성관계 만족도를 살펴보면, 남성일수록, 연령이 낮을수록, 데이트 횟수가 많을수록, 결혼을 고려하고 있을 경우에 높게 나타났다. 하위요인 별로 분석해보면, 전반적 만족의 경우, 연령이 35~39세 보다 낮을 경우, 데이트 횟수가 주 4~5회일 경우, 결혼을 고려하고 있을 경우에 높음을 알 수 있었다. 다음으로 정서적 의사소통 만족은 연령이 낮을수록, 데이트 횟수가 많을수록, 결혼을 고려하고 있을수록 만족도가 높게 나타났다. 문제해결 의사소통 만족의 경우, 남성일수록, 학력이 고등학교 졸업 이상일 경우, 데이트 횟수가 많을수록, 결혼을 고려할수록 높았다. 마지막으로 공유시간 만족은 남성일수록, 연령이 낮을수록, 학력이 고등학교 졸업 이상일 경우, 데이트 횟수가 주 4~5회인 경우, 결혼을 고려하고 있는 경우에 만족도가 높았다.
다섯째, 각 변인의 상관관계를 분석한 결과, 모두 유의미한 상관이 나타났다. 모의 학력은 원가족 경험과 정적상관을 보였으며, 연령은 타인 정서조절 능력과 공유시간 만족에서 부적상관을 나타냈다. 데이트 횟수는 이성관계 만족도와 정적상관을 보였다. 원가족 경험과 정서조절 능력의 모든 하위요인들은 높은 상관을 나타냈으며 정서조절 능력은 이성관계 만족도와 정적상관을 보였다.
여섯째, 정서조절 능력의 매개효과를 검증하기 위하여 1단계에서 미혼남녀의 원가족 경험을 독립변인으로, 이성관계 만족도를 종속변인으로 회귀분석을 실시하여 유의미한 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 2단계에서는 원가족 경험이 정서조절 능력에 유의미한 영향을 미치는 것으로 분석되었다. 마지막으로 3단계에서는 원가족 경험과 정서조절 능력을 동시에 투입한 결과, 이성관계 만족도에 유의미한 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타나 3개의 조건이 모두 충족되었다. 미혼남녀의 원가족 경험이 이성관계 만족도에 미치는 영향이 1단계보다 3단계에서 감소하였으며 Sobel 검증결과 Z=2.696(p<.01)으로 나타나 원가족 경험과 이성관계 만족도와의 관계에서 정서조절 능력이 부분매개효과를 갖는 것으로 검증되었다.
위의 결과를 종합해 보면, 미혼남녀는 원가족 경험을 긍정적으로 인식하고 있을 때 정서조절 능력이 높았으며, 정서조절 능력이 높을수록 이성관계에서 만족하고 있음을 알 수 있었다. 원가족 경험과 이성관계 만족도 관계에서 정서조절 능력의 부분매개효과를 검증할 수 있었으며 이성관계 만족도 향상을 위한 프로그램에서 정서조절 능력의 중요성을 제시하였다. 더 나아가 미혼남녀를 대상으로 하는 정서조절 능력에 관한 프로그램의 개발과 이성관계 만족도에 영향을 미치는 다양한 요인에 대한 후속연구 및 커플연구의 필요성을 시사한다.

The purpose of this study was to determine if emotional regulation ability had any moderating effect on the relationship between family of origin experience and satisfaction of romantic relationship. For this purpose, the socio-demographic characteristics, family of origin experience, emotional regulation ability, and satisfaction of romantic relationship for unmarried men and women were investigated and the differences in family of origin experience, emotional regulation ability, and satisfaction of romantic relationship by the respondents'' characteristics were analyzed. Correlation analysis was performed to determine the relationship among the variables and an attempt was made to determine if emotional regulation ability had any moderating effect on the relationship between family of origin experience and satisfaction of romantic relationship.
A survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire in unmarried men and women in their twenties or thirties for two weeks from October 10 to 24, 2015. A total of 381 questionnaires were finally analyzed.
For data processing, SPSS 18.0 was used to estimate frequency, percentage, the mean and standard deviation, and reliability coefficient (Cronbach''s α) and perform one-way ANOVA, Duncan''s multiple range test, correlation analysis, multiple linear regression analysis, and Sobel test.
The results of these analyses can be summarized as follows:
First, the unmarried men and women had positive awareness of family of origin experience; those at higher economic levels had more positive awareness. They also scored higher for emotional regulation ability (3.67 out of 5) and were better at regulating others'' emotions than at regulating their own emotions. They also scored higher for satisfaction of romantic relationship (3.69 out of 5) and scored highest for satisfaction with emotional communication among its sub-factors.
Second, as for family of origin experience for the unmarried men and women by their characteristics, those with family of origin at higher economic levels had more positive awareness of family of origin experience. Among its sub-factors, those at higher economic levels had more positive awareness of free idea expression, affectionate family atmosphere, and understanding among family members.
Third, as for emotional regulation ability by the respondents'' characteristics, those whose mother was a manager had better emotional regulation ability. Among its sub-factors, those whose mother was a manager were better at regulating their own emotions. Those aged between 35 and 39 were poorest at regulating others'' emotions.
Fourth, as for satisfaction of romantic relationship by the respondents'' characteristics, men who were younger, who had a date more frequently, and who considered getting married were more satisfied with their romantic relationship. Among its sub-factors, those whose age was less than 35, who had a date 4-5 times a week, and who considered getting married were more satisfied with their romantic relationship in general. Those who were younger, who had a date more frequently, and who considered getting married were more satisfied with emotional communication. Men who were high school graduates or at higher education levels, who had a date more frequently, and who considered getting married were more satisfied with problem-solving communication. Lastly, men who were high school graduates or at higher education levels, who had a date 4-5 times a week, and who considered getting married were more satisfied with shared time.
Fifth, significant correlation was found among all of the variables. Mother''s education was positively correlated with family of origin experience and age was negatively correlated with the ability to regulate others'' emotions and satisfaction with shared time. The frequency of dating was positively correlated with satisfaction of romantic relationship. Family of origin experience was strongly correlated with emotional regulation ability in terms of all the sub-factors and emotional regulation ability was positively correlated with satisfaction of romantic relationship.
Sixth, regression analysis was performed to determine the mediating effects of emotional regulation ability, with family of origin experience for unmarried men and women as an independent variable and satisfaction of romantic relationship as a dependent variable, at the first stage and found significant effects. At the second stage, family of origin experience significantly affected emotional regulation ability. At the third stage, both family of origin experience and emotional regulation ability were inputted and were found to significantly affect satisfaction of romantic relationship; thus, all of the three conditions were satisfied. The effects of family of origin experience on satisfaction of romantic relationship for unmarried men and women were more insignificant at the third stage than at the first stage, with Z=2.696 (p<.01), as found by Sobel test; thus, emotional regulation ability had partially mediating effects on the relationship between family of origin experience and satisfaction of romantic relationship.
To put the results together, unmarried men and women with more positive awareness of family of origin experience showed better emotional regulation ability and those with better emotional regulation ability were more satisfied with their romantic relationship. This study confirmed that emotional regulation ability had partially mediating effects on the relationship between family of origin experience and satisfaction of romantic relationship and suggested the importance of emotional regulation ability in the programs for improving romantic relationship. It is necessary to develop programs related to emotional regulation ability for unmarried men and women and conduct research in couples as well as further research on a diversity of factors affecting romantic relationship.