Finances and Fights: How Military Members’ Financial Attitudes and Behaviors Are Linked to Romantic Relationship Processes and Outcomes

Abstract

Grounded in the theory of planned behavior and family systems theory, this study examined the notion that financial attitudes are a driving force in financial management behaviors and healthy financial behaviors, in turn, have implications for couple relationship processes and outcomes. This study was based on the experiences of a sample of service members, who may be at elevated financial and relational risk given the transitional nature of military life (N= 255 U.S. service members). Evidence from a path model largely supported study hypotheses and suggested that financial attitudes were directly and indirectly associated with a range of relationship processes and outcomes via financial management behaviors. When service members reported positive attitudes toward financial management behaviors, they tended to engage in healthier financial behaviors, and healthier financial behaviors were related to salient relational factors, such as greater agreement on spending with partners, better relationship satisfaction, and greater relationship commitment.