Emotion Skills and Marital Health: The Association Between Observed and Self–Reported Emotion Skills, Intimacy, and Marital Satisfaction

The relationship between observed and self–reported emotion skills, intimacy, and relationship satisfaction was examined. Results showed that emotion skills can be reliably observed in couples' interactions. Results also supported a model in which emotion skills influence marital satisfaction through their influence on intimacy. Results further showed that observed emotion skills added to self–report in the prediction of marital health. Finally, where there were gender differences, women were more emotionally skillful than men.