A study of inter-cultural marital conflict and satisfaction in Taiwan

Abstract

Research indicates that culture affects an individual's choice of conflict management strategies. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of culture on conflict management styles and marital satisfaction in inter-ethnic marriages in Taiwan. Data for analysis were provided by 201 couples consisting of Taiwanese husbands and their foreign spouses from Southeast Southeastern Asia and China. Snowball and purposive sampling were chosen to recruit participants nation-wide in Taiwan. Self-report questionnaires were used. This study has examined the validity of Rahim's five styles of conflict management strategies in the context of inter-ethnic marital relations. The effect of culture on marital conflicts and satisfaction proved significant. Results suggest that cultural expectations of sex-appropriate behaviors influence men and women to socialize differently to conform to prevailing gender ideologies in marriage. The theoretical and practical implications of the effect of culture on conflict management strategies and marital satisfaction are discussed.