Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating effect of self-silencing between rejection sensitivity and adult romantic relationship satisfaction in pre-marital couples and to discuss the implications for counseling in order to provide more effective advice. Survey data from 129 Korean couples was collected. For data analysis, we used the Actor-Partner Interdependent Model analysis method through structural equation model verification. The results of this study are summarized as follows. For both men and women, rejection sensitivity had a positive effect on their self-silencing, but not on their partner’s self-silencing. Both the actor and partner effects of self-silencing on relationship satisfaction were significant in the negative direction across genders. Rejection sensitivity had a negative effect on their own and their partner’s relationship satisfaction through self-silencing. These results suggest that rejection sensitivity increases self-silencing of individuals and that self-silencing can explain the relationship satisfaction of adult couples.