Dark personality, interpersonal rejection, and marital stability of Chinese couples: An actor-partner interdependence mediation model

Previous studies revealed the association between personality and relationship outcomes. Our research aimed to explore the concurrent relationship between dark personality traits and marital stability and further explore its mechanism in an actor-partner interdependence mediation model. The present study recruited 260 married couples using Mach-IV and the Levenson self-report psychopathy scale for both self- and partner-ratings of Machiavellianism and psychopathy and chose the interpersonal rejection subscale from the interpersonal cognitive distortions scale as the indicator of interpersonal cognition. Additionally, the marital instability scale (short form) was used to measure marital stability. Results showed that self- and partner-rating of Machiavellianism and psychopathy had both direct and indirect actor-partner effects on marital stability. Furthermore, dark personality by partner-rating is more likely to affect marital stability by the partial mediation of interpersonal rejection. In conclusion, interpersonal rejection plays a total or partial mediation role between dark personality and marital stability. The current study improves the theoretical framework of the relationship between personality and marital stability and provides practical significance for the maintenance of intimate relationships.