Decreases In Marital Satisfaction Research Articles

Satisfaction with marriage, personality traits of the spouses and the choice of strategies for overcoming family conflicts.

The paper considers satisfaction with marriage as a basic characteristic that forms the stability of marital relations. An overview of approaches to the study of this phenomenon from the perspective of external and internal, social and personal, variable and stable factors is presented. The subject of the study is strategies for overcoming conflict and personality characteristics of spouses with varying satisfaction with marriage. The novelty of the study is associated with an attempt to consider the sphere of matrimony from the point of view of the behavioral, affective and motivational component, to give a pilot characterization of the overall picture of how personality accentuations and non-constructive ways of resolving conflict situations are expressed in a group of subjects with low satisfaction with marriage. To suggest possible directions for further work and deepening the study of factors affecting marital satisfaction. This approach is useful for forming the principles of accompanying married couples. The test - questionnaire of satisfaction with marriage, developed by V.V. Stolin, T.L. Romanova, G.P. Butenko. The methodology for diagnosing tactics of behavior in conflict by K. N. Thomas. In our country, the test was adapted by N.V. Grishina. Assessment of character accentuation according to the Shmishek method. The main conclusions of the study found differences in the severity of the types of accentuations, in the group of subjects with high satisfaction with marriage, the severity of accentuations is lower, it was also found that the degree of personality accentuation in affective indicators is higher in the group with low satisfaction with marriage. The differences are also related to the type of conflict resolution strategy, in the group with high satisfaction with marriage, cooperation and compromise are more often chosen, this group has a wide variety of conflict resolution strategies, in the group with a low level of satisfaction with marriage, non-constructive strategies are more often chosen - avoidance, rivalry, adaptation, which leads to an even greater decrease in marital satisfaction among the subjects. The novelty of the approach in this work is associated with an attempt to study behavioral and personal characteristics, identify opportunities for comprehensive research

Family Cohesion and Relationship Quality in Defence Force Families: Rapid Review

Objective: Retention of serving members in the military may be increased through targeted psycho-social support of their families and dependents. This Defence funded study aimed to provide updated evidence on associations between current military service and the well-being of the member’s couple and relationships, to inform policy and practice. We conducted a rapid review of family and couple relationship qualities, comparing current serving samples with civilian, never-serving families. Method: We followed the Cochrane Rapid Review Method, searching publications from 2000. Outcomes were limited to modifiable factors of importance for policy related decision-making. Results: Four search strategies were constructed in Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Cochrane CENTRAL. The review, in two parts, identified over 15,000 articles, of which only seven met the review criteria. The dearth of research identified reflected predominant focus on veteran rather than currently serving samples, and absence of comparison to a civilian group. We therefore also examined individual studies that closely approximated the inclusion criteria. Conclusions: The collated evidence offered four main findings: 1) A significant decrease in marital satisfaction for men and women with progressing stages of deployment; 2) Consistently higher prevalence of intimate partner violence for military versus civilian samples, growing with length of deployment, and mediated by histories childhood abuse or neglect; 3) Increased risk of psychological distress and problematic alcohol use by spouses of serving members, and 4) Barriers to engagement in therapeutic programs for military couples. Practice implications for screening and policy implications for targeted prevention efforts are discussed.

Transition to Parenthood and Marital Satisfaction: A Meta-Analysis.

The transition to parenthood is a major life event characterized by profound changes for a considerable number of people. Previous meta-analyses summarized the results obtained by various researchers in the first year and, respectively, in the first 2 years postpartum, globally. The current studyadds to the literature by testing the changes from 12 to 24 months, the cross-partner associations and the analysis of different moderators. The aims of thispresent meta-analysis are to investigate the decrease in marital satisfaction during the first and second year postpartum, to examine cross-partner associations of the decline in postpartum marital satisfaction, and to investigate the potential moderating variables of this decrease. Forty-nine studies (97 samples of parents and 9 samples of non-parents) that fit our criteria are included in the meta-analysis. The data analysis was performed using meta-analytic techniques. Marital satisfaction has a medium decrease between pregnancy and 12 months postpartum, and a small decline between 12 and 24 months postpartum for both genders. In a similar period with first year postpartum, non-parents present a small decline in marital satisfaction. Moreover, the analysis of the dyadic studies data shows cross-partner associations, confirming that one partner’s satisfaction has a steeper decline when the other partner’s satisfaction presents a steep decrease. The decrease in marital satisfaction does not stop after the first postpartum year, and the coss-partners associations are present. Theoretical and therapeutic implications are also discussed.

Mothers' parenting stress, depression, marital conflict, and marital satisfaction: The moderating effect of fathers' empathy tendency

BackgroundThe decreased marriage satisfaction has become one of the main reasons for the rising divorce rate. However, few studies have focused on the relationship between mother's parenting stress, mental health, and marriage satisfaction. This study addressed this research gap by examining the direct influence of mothers’ parental stress on their marital satisfaction, and the indirect influence of depression and marital conflict. Additionally, we explored the moderating effect of fathers’ empathy tendency. MethodsUsing a sample of parenting couples in Southwest China (n = 2,979) to conduct a questionnaire survey, a moderated mediation analysis was performed to simultaneously analyze the chain mediation of depression and marital conflict, and the moderating role of fathers’’ empathy. ResultsThe mother's childcare pressure was negatively correlated with marital satisfaction (β = -0.478, p < 0.001). Depression and marital conflict have a chain mediating effect in explaining the relationship between mothers’’ parenting stress and marital satisfaction (b = -0.064, 95% CI [-0.075, -0.053]). It is important to note that fathers with cognitive empathy can alleviate depression and marital conflict caused by the mothers’ parental stress and a decrease in marital satisfaction, while fathers with high empathy can exacerbate these negative effects. ConclusionThe study's findings identify the serious impact of contemporary female parenting pressure on marital satisfaction and confirm the important role of husbands’ empathy. LimitationsThe scope of the survey is single, the parenting period is not staged, and there may be limitations such as overlapping stressors, which can be corrected in future research.

Gender role conflict: Is it a predictor of marital dissatisfaction? A cross sectional study in Tehran.

Background: Gender role, sex-oriented attitudes, behaviors, cognitions, and emotions play an essential role in interpersonal relationships. Along with other factors, marital relationships and satisfaction can also be affected by a person’s gender role. The increased rate of divorce is related to a decrease in marital satisfaction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictor power of gender role conflict on marital satisfaction considering the role of demographic variables (age, income, number of children, and number of family members), marriage-related factors (duration of the marriage, family functioning), and mental health disorder. Methods: This was a cross sectional study. Participants were selected from couples who were attending West of Tehran health center. A total of 123 married couples aged 18 to 60 years who did not have mental or other medical disorders were recruited. Data gathering tools were McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD), ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale, Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI), a sociodemographic questionnaire, and Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). Pearson correlation, chi-square, t test, ANOVA, Scheffe post hoc, and linear regression tests were used to analyze the data. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16, and in all statistical tests, significance level was set at p<0.05. Results: No significant correlations were observed between marital satisfaction and age, number of family members, duration of the marriage, number of children, and income (p>0.05). The presence of gender role conflict was correlated with lower marital satisfaction. Family functioning, gender role conflict, and presence of psychotic problems were predictors of marital satisfaction (p<0.001, R2=0.419). Conclusion: Screening couples who applied for divorce due to psychiatric problems and gender role conflict and evaluating their family functioning may have a positive effect on reduction of divorce rate.

The relationship between quality of life, perceived stress, marital satisfaction in women conceived through ART

ABSTRACT Background The stress experienced during pregnancy and the decrease in marital satisfaction affects the quality of life of the woman negatively. Objective This study conducted to determine the quality of life and the relationship with perceived stress and marital satisfaction in pregnant women with ART. Methods This study is a descriptive and corelational study. The study sample consisted of 120 pregnant women with ART. The patient descriptive form, the Married Life Scale (SWML), The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and The Fertility Quality of Life (FertiQoL) were used for data collection in this study. Results The mean of the total score of PSS was 16.38 ± 4,721, the mean score of SWML was 23.03 ± 4.42 and the mean of the total score of FertiQoL was 81,25 ± 17,56. There was a moderate negative correlation (r = −0,551, p = 0,001) between the total score of the FertiQol and the total score of PSS and there was a moderate positive correlation (r = 0,452, p = 0,001) between FertiQol total score and SWML. Conclusion This study found that the rate of perceived stress affected the quality of life negatively and marital satisfaction affected the quality of life positively in pregnant women with ART.

Bidirectional Associations Between Newlyweds' Marital Satisfaction and Marital Problems over Time.

Prevailing views of marital functioning generally adopt the view that marital problems predict decreases in marital satisfaction, but alternative theoretical perspectives raise the possibility that lowered satisfaction can also predict increases in problems. The current study sought to integrate and compare these perspectives by examining the bidirectional cross-lagged associations between newlyweds' reports of their marital satisfaction and marital problems over the first 4years of marriage. Using annual assessments from 483 heterosexual newlywed couples, we find evidence for problem-to-satisfaction linkages as well as satisfaction-to-problem linkages. Satisfaction was a stronger predictor of marital problems early in marriage but not as time passed; by Year 4 only problem-to-satisfaction linkages remained significant. These findings are consistent with the idea that couples with more problems go on to report lower levels of satisfaction and couples with lower levels of satisfaction go on to report more marital problems. This dynamic interplay between global judgments about relationship satisfaction and ongoing specific relationship difficulties highlights the value of examining bidirectional effects to better understand marital functioning over time.

Transactional relations between marital functioning and depressive symptoms.

The present study investigated dynamic, longitudinal associations between depressive symptoms and marital processes. Two hundred and ninety-six couples reported on marital satisfaction, marital conflict, and depressive symptoms annually for 3 years. Observational measures of marital conflict were also collected. Results suggested that different domains of marital functioning related to husbands' versus wives' symptoms. For husbands, transactional relations between marital satisfaction and depressive symptoms were identified: High levels of depressive symptoms predicted subsequent decreases in marital satisfaction, and decreased marital satisfaction predicted subsequent elevations in depressive symptoms over time. For wives, high levels of marital conflict predicted subsequent elevations in depressive symptoms over time. Cross-partner results indicated that husbands' depressive symptoms were also related to subsequent declines in wives' marital satisfaction. Results are discussed with regard to theoretical perspectives on the marital functioning-depression link and directions for future research are outlined.

The longitudinal association between multiple substance use discrepancies and marital satisfaction

The objective of this work was to examine the relation between patterns of substance use among newly married couples and marital satisfaction over time. In particular, this work examined if differences between husbands' and wives' heavy alcohol use and cigarette smoking, rather than simply use per se, predicted decreases in marital satisfaction over the first 7 years of marriage. Married couples (n = 634 couples) were assessed on a variety of substance use and relationship variables at the time of marriage and again at the first, second, fourth and seventh years of marriage. After controlling for key socio-demographic variables, discrepancies in husband and wife cigarette smoking and heavy alcohol use were related to significant reductions in marital satisfaction. Importantly, couples who were discrepant on both substances experienced the greatest declines in marital satisfaction over time. Patterns of substance use among newly married couples are important predictors of changes in marital functioning over time. It was not simply the heavy alcohol use or cigarette smoking that predicted dissatisfaction but, rather, differences between husbands' and wives' substance use that impacted the relationship.

Perceptions of marital interaction and change during pregnancy: A typological approach

AbstractMuch of the literature on the transition to parenthood suggests that pregnancy and childbirth arc associated with decreases in marital satisfaction. Recent developments, however, demonstrate that this decrease in couples' satisfaction may be complicated by a number of factors. Among other things, the way couples interact may play a central role in their adjustment to the changes typically associated with pregnancy and childbirth. The purpose of this study was to examine whether couples who espouse varying patterns of interaction also have differing experiences of changes in marital needs and concerns during pregnancy. Couples (N= 190) enrolled in childbirth classes completed a series of questionnaires including Fitzpatrick's Relational Dimensions Instrument and a measure assessing perceived changes in their marital needs and concerns. Results indicated that husbands and wives differed in terms of the amount of nurturance they felt they gave and received, their tendency to worry since pregnancy, and their views concerning their sexual relationship. When changes in needs and concerns were compared across the various couple types, a number of patterns emerged. Wives in Traditional, Separate/Traditional, and Separate/Independent marriages felt they received significantly more nurturance since pregnancy than did wives in Independent marriages. Husbands in Separate/Traditional relationships noted greater increases in worrying than did other husbands. Finally, although couples varied in the frequency of conflict reported, they did not differ with regard to changes in conflict or the influence of such changes on their marriages.

The Effect of the First Child on the Marital Relationship

Couples expecting their first child completed the LockeWallace Marital Adjustment Scale and the Bem Sex Role Inventory during the last trimester of the wife's pregnancy, and again after the birth of the baby. In partial replication of previous research, it was found that wives' marital adjustment scores were significantly lower following the birth. Item analysis showed that the wives' overall ratings of happiness and their relative dominance in disagreements were important items in accounting for the decrease. No relationship was found between parental sex role characteristics and decrease in marital satisfaction.

Couples treatment of agoraphobia: changes in marital satisfaction

Six agoraphobic women and their husbands participated in a group therapy program consisting of exposure and cognitive restructuring. The husbands acted as co-therapists. Ratings of marital satisfaction as well as severity of phobia were filled out independently by both clients and their husbands throughout the course of therapy and at follow-up. Two patterns of relationships among marital satisfaction and severity of phobia emerged. For four couples a parallel relationship was observed in that as phobia improved marital satisfaction increased. For two couples the inverse relationship was noted where improvements in phobia were correlated with decreases in marital satisfaction. The importance of the interpersonal context of agoraphobia and implications for treatment are suggested.

The Adjustment of Fathers to their First Baby: The Roles of Parenting Groups and Marital Relationship

ABSTRACT: Forty‐seven first‐time fathers from Lamaze classes were studied by means of self‐reports of their feelings of well‐being, sense of competence as parents, views of their babies’temperaments, marital relationships and social support systems. These self‐reports were recorded at 2–3 months, 5–6 months and 9–10 months after childbirth. Twenty of the fathers were attending parenting groups during this period, while 27 fathers expressed interest but did not attend. Fathers participated more in baby care and felt more comfortable as parents as their babies become older, but they reported a slight decrease in marital satisfaction. Although fathers who attended parenting groups showed the same pattern of adjustment as did fathers who did not participate in the groups, they reported significantly lower feelings of relaxation and health for themselves, and more fussy moods in their babies at each of the three points during the first year. The quality of the marital relationship and attendance at parenting groups were associated with positive over‐all adjustment to the baby at 9–10 months.

A social learning analysis of couples during the second postnatal month

Abstract This study examined the marital satisfaction and behaviors of 32 couples at one and two months following the births of their first children. Self-report measures of daily satisfaction and daily spouse-observed behaviors were analyzed for patterns approximating those associated with distressed marital interaction identified through earlier social learning studies. Over the time period from 30 to 60 days postnatally, increases were found in spouses' tendency to reciprocate one another's behavior. Except for helpful behaviors involved with care of the infant, spouses at two months postnatally were more likely to reciprocate both irritating and rewarding behaviors than at one month. Nonsignificant decreases in marital satisfaction were accompanied by a mixed pattern of change for spouse-observed behaviors. Predicted changes over time in the proportions of pleasing and displeasing behaviors were evident in only half the comparisons. Increases over time were found for the predictability from spouse-rep...