HomeAbstract of 7th-icrpconfThe Cost of Winning: Serial Mediation of Relational Rumination and Emotion Regulation Difficulties in the Association Between Dominance and Relationship

The Cost of Winning: Serial Mediation of Relational Rumination and Emotion Regulation Difficulties in the Association Between Dominance and Relationship

  • Jun 3, 2026
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Abstract Book of the 7th International Conference on Research in Psychology

Year: 2026

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The Cost of Winning: Serial Mediation of Relational Rumination and Emotion Regulation Difficulties in the Association Between Dominance and Relationship

Dr. Dilaram Billur Çelik Örnek

ABSTRACT:

Extant literature suggests that a high “need to win” during interpersonal conflicts often undermines the stability and satisfaction of romantic bonds. What remains less clear is why — what is actually happening psychologically between that dominance drive and the relationship falling apart. This study examines a mediation model to investigate whether relational rumination and emotion regulation difficulties explain the link between the “need to win” and perceived relationship quality. Data were collected from 320 participants (Mean{age} = 37.8, SD = 10.44), comprising a diverse sample of single and married individuals who is in an ongoing relationship of at least one year. Serial mediation via PROCESS Macro (Model 6) revealed that dominance predicted greater relational rumination (B = 0.63, p < .001), which in turn predicted more emotion regulation difficulties (B = 0.21, p < .001). Both mediators independently predicted lower relationship quality. The total indirect effect was significant (B = −0.14, 95% CI [−0.20, −0.09]), including the full serial path: Dominance → Relational Rumination → Emotion Regulation Difficulties → Relationship Quality (B = −0.03, 95% CI [−0.06, −0.01]). A significant direct effect of dominance was also retained (B = −0.31, p < .001), indicating partial mediation.
Needing to win does not only damage relationships directly — a cycle of rumination is also set in motion, one that impairs emotion regulation and compounds relational harm. For clinicians working with couples, repetitive thinking patterns and emotional regulation skills are identified as specific intervention targets, alongside conflict behavior itself.

Keywords: Romantic Conflict; Interpersonal Power; Cognitive Load Theory; Couple Therapy; Cognitive Repetitive Thinking