• 대한가정학회지
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• 제44권2호
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• pp.137-152
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• 2006

The major purpose of this study was to investigate the causal effect of the primary triad experiences on dating relationship satisfaction through self-esteem among college students. The primary triad experiences were composed of the parents' differentiation level of couple relationship and the parent-child relationship including family rule, triangulation and communication. Dating relationship satisfaction included such subscales as problem-solving communication, global satisfaction, affection communication and time together. The study data were collected from 382 college students by using self-administered questionnaire method. The results showed that parents' differentiation was positively correlated with self-esteem and all components of dating relationship satisfaction and that family rule was negatively associated only with problem-solving communication. Triangulation was negatively related with most components of dating relationship satisfaction and self-esteem, while parent-child communication showed positive correlations with the same variables. Path analysis results showed that self-esteem mediated the effect of most variables of primary triad experiences on dating relationship satisfaction. In addition, variables of the primary triad experience had direct influences on most components of dating relationship satisfaction. Self-esteem was found to be the most powerful variable influencing dating relationship satisfaction. The findings of the study were discussed in terms of pre-marital education and counseling.