Does Internet Connectedness Disconnect Marriage? A Micro Empirical Analysis

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between internet use during non-working hours and marriage well-being and channels through which internet use operates on marital satisfaction. With a 2-year nationwide micro panel data, our main results reveal negative effects of internet experience on overall marriage satisfaction, satisfaction towards spousal contribution in housework and marital stability. Empirically, we adopt linear as well as nonlinear models, use propensity score matching approach, and implement parametric as well as semiparametric analyses. Evidence further show that active internet users can use the internet to chat with strangers and easily access potential romantic partners. Its social function leads to a substantial reduction in search cost and raised reservation value of partner contribute to a lower level of spousal satisfaction. Moreover, it was also found that internet use partially weakens traditional Chinese views of family gender roles. And gender ideology changes through internet’s educational function has increased spousal dissatisfaction in China. In addition, it is found that internet use crowds out time spent on housework as well as other investment in current marriage, and hence increases spousal dissatisfaction.