Levels Of Marital Satisfaction Research Articles

Does the marital pay gap matter? Women’s family-work experiences by earning pattern and ethnic community

ABSTRACT This study explored variations in women’s experiences within the family-work system by different earning patterns: where men outearn women, both spouses earn equally, or women outearn men. This examination was conducted in three major ethnic communities in Israel: Jews in the general population, ultra-Orthodox Jews, and Arabs. The analysis focused on three dimensions of the family-work system: behavioral (perceived family and work time), cognitive (assessment of family-work conflict), and affective (marital satisfaction). In all three communities, women who outearned their spouses tended to dedicate more hours to paid work and less to family and household responsibilities. However, based on women’s perceptions, men allocated the same number of hours to family responsibilities, irrespective of their ethnicity or earning patterns. In the Arab community, women earning the same or more than their spouses experienced heightened work-family conflict compared to those with different earning patterns in their community. Finally, ultra-Orthodox women reported the highest levels of marital satisfaction, regardless of earning pattern. Based on these findings, organizations should be encouraged to implement family-friendly policies to support women, especially in traditional communities.

The consequences of spousal infidelity for long-term chronic health: A two-wave longitudinal analysis

Objective: Research links low marital quality to poor mental and physical health, but the impact of spousal infidelity on long-term chronic health, especially using longitudinal data, is understudied. The present work investigates whether infidelity predicted long-term chronic health, and whether demographic factors and support or strain from friends or family moderated this relationship. Methods: Using longitudinal data from 2579 adults from the United States (1093 males, 1486 females; Mage = 57.17, Medianage = 56, SDage = 12.26, age range: 33–84 years), we examined associations between partner infidelity and chronic health conditions across two timepoints (T1: 2004–2006, T2: 2013–2014). We analyzed participants’ history of partner infidelity at T1 and its relationship with chronic health through mixed models as well as latent variable structural equation modelling. We also examined whether supportive relationships and demographic variables moderated these associations. Results: Controlling for demographic covariates (age, gender, education, ethnicity, employment, marital status, marital satisfaction and income level), infidelity was linked to poorer chronic health in mixed model analyses ( p < .001), and this finding was also supported in latent variable analyses that controlled for baseline chronic health ( p = .003). Additionally, moderation analyses found that the impact of infidelity on chronic health was larger among low-income individuals and ethnic minorities. Conclusion: Partner infidelity has lasting detrimental associations with chronic health that are not mitigated by positive relationships. The research highlights the potential long-term health implications of partner infidelity and suggests the need for interventions to mitigate such negative effects.

Religiosity and the Marital Satisfaction of Malaysian Christians: A Pilot Study

Amid the challenges experienced by married couples and families, the need to examine the factors associated with marital satisfaction is recognised across various communities and backgrounds. Nevertheless, research on Malaysian Christians remains limited, especially concerning religiosity and marital satisfaction. Therefore, this study provides a deeper understanding of marital satisfaction among Malaysian Christians, focusing on its association with the factor of religiosity. 62 participants responded to self-report scales – including the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale and the Religious Commitment Inventory-10 – and open-ended questions on marital satisfaction experience and marital views, values, and attitudes development. A one-sample t-test analysed the marital satisfaction level of Malaysian Christians and some amount of marital distress was indicated. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis established that religiosity significantly predicted marital satisfaction. The open-ended responses were analysed thematically and the identified themes pertaining to how married Malaysian Christians experience marital satisfaction and religiosity complemented the quantitative findings. These findings could inform the development of programmes on marriage and family life and assist marriage counsellors, family therapists and other mental health professionals to work more effectively with the Malaysian community. Couples and families may also gain awareness, insights and inspiration towards enriching their experiences within marriage and family life.

Antecedents and Outcomes of Intimate Partner Violence Against Married Afghan Women Living in Iran

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is one of the most frequent forms of violence observed by one member of the family, particularly the dominant member, to control the other member of the relationship. This study aimed to investigate the antecedents and consequences of IPV in couples’ relationships from the perspective of married Afghan immigrant women living in Iran. The participants included 253 married Afghan women living in Iran between 18 and 57 years old who participated in the study via an online survey and answered questions about the four forms of IPV experienced measured by Conflict Tactic Scales-Revised (CTS-2), Symptoms of Depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder Scale, Relationship Assessment Scale, and the Social Support Scale. According to the findings, Afghan immigrant women experienced psychological, physical, sexual, and controlling behaviors and any kind of IPV of 54%, 41%, 23%, 61%, and 71% prevalence, respectively, in the last 12 months. Age, self-education and partner education, economic status, type of marriage (love or traditional), and the number of children also have a significant association with IPV (p< .01). The results showed that women who experienced IPV significantly reported lower levels of social support and marital satisfaction and higher symptoms of depression and PTSD than women who did not experience IPV (p< .01). Considering the prevalence of violent behavior in Afghan immigrant women who have less access to the support network in the country of origin, empowering them and creating supportive conditions for them can control the negative consequences of violence and provide a basis for psychological interventions by specialists.

A couple-based dyadic coping intervention for colorectal cancer patient-spousal caregiver dyads: A randomized controlled study

PurposeTo evaluate the clinical effects of a couple-focused dyadic coping intervention in colorectal cancer (CRC) couples. MethodsThe study was a single-blinded randomized controlled study which 226 CRC couples were recruited and randomized to either the intervention (N = 113) or the control (N = 113) group. All couples received usual care while the six-week dyadic coping intervention was provided to the intervened couples in psycho-education and skill training methods through face-to-face combined with telephone formats. Measurement data, including dyadic coping, marital satisfaction, quality of life and psychological well-being were collected at pre- and post-intervention periods. And multilevel model (MLM) was applied to analyze the effects of the intervention and the role tendency. ResultsA total of 173 couples completed the program and post-intervention evaluation. The retention rate was 76.5%. Results from MLM showed that the dyadic coping intervention is effective in promoting levels of dyadic coping (P < 0.001), marital satisfaction (P = 0.042), mental health (P = 0.006), and positive psychological well-being (P < 0.001), and alleviating depression (P = 0.015) in CRC couples. For role tendency, the intervention found to be more effective in CRC spousal caregivers’ positive psychological well-being compared to the patients (P = 0.037). ConclusionThe couple-based dyadic coping intervention is effective in promoting dyadic coping and improving psychological adjustment in CRC couples. More studies were needed to further evaluate the program and its long-term efficacy in the future. In addition, given the positive effects of the intervention, clinical nursing stuffs may consider implementing such intervention in their routine work while caring for CRC couples.

Marital Beliefs, Marital Virtues, and Neighborhood Cohesion as Predictors of Marital Satisfaction in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Multilevel Analysis

This study examines the role of marital beliefs, marital virtues, and neighborhood cohesion in marital satisfaction among 386 participants in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The study used a descriptive correlational study design. Participants were selected using multistage random sampling techniques, and data were collected using a questionnaire. Multilevel modeling was employed to analyze the data. Findings indicated that all marital beliefs, marital virtues, and neighborhood cohesion were positively and significantly associated with marital satisfaction. The findings from multilevel modeling showed that marital virtues and neighborhood cohesion significantly predicted marital satisfaction at both individual and neighborhood levels, whereas marital beliefs predicted marital satisfaction only at the individual level. Besides, marital virtues moderated the association between shared neighborhood cohesion and marital satisfaction, such that participants who reported lower marital virtues had a lower level of marital satisfaction when their neighbors experienced lower shared neighborhood cohesion. The interactive effect of shared marital virtues and marital beliefs can also influence marital satisfaction when participants reported low levels of marital belief and from a neighbor of fewer marital virtues; they tend to report low levels of marital satisfaction. The study concludes that the participants' positive beliefs about marriage, marital virtues, and cohesive relationships with their neighbors positively influence their marital satisfaction. Marriage practitioners, policymakers, and community workers might benefit from this study. Limitations and future directions are also discussed.

Literature Review: The Effects of Attachment Styles and Perfectionism on Life Satisfaction

Attachment and perfectionism are two important psychological factors that can significantly influence individual satisfaction in various aspects of life, including relationships, work, and personal achievement. This essay reviews four studies that explore the connection between perfectionism—whether it's positive or negative—and attachment type and their impact on life satisfaction or marital satisfaction. Results indicate that securely attached individuals tend to exhibit higher positive perfectionism and lower negative perfectionism, leading to greater life satisfaction. In contrast, people with insecure attachment tend to exhibit higher levels of negative perfectionism, thereby reducing their life satisfaction. Maladaptive forms of perfectionism are linked to insecure attachment styles, leading to lower levels of marital satisfaction. These findings have practical implications for counselling and interventions aimed at promoting positive mental health and improving relationship satisfaction. However, these studies have limitations that need to be considered, including the use of self-reports, limited generalizability of results, and lack of evidence of a causal relationship between attachment, perfectionism, and satisfaction. Future research could address these limitations and advance our understanding of the complex interactions between the three concepts.

The Role of Mindfulness and Assertiveness on Housewives’ Marital Satisfaction

Housewives are frequently burdened with numerous roles and responsibilities, occasionally contending with domestic conflicts that impact their level of marital satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to find out the role of mindfulness and assertiveness in the marital satisfaction of housewives who do not have a job. This research was a quantitative survey research on 262 unemployed housewives. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Three scales were used to collect data the Marital Satisfaction Scale, the Mindfulness Scale, and the Assertiveness Scale. Data for hypothesis testing were analyzed using multiple regression. The results revealed that mindfulness and assertiveness have a positive and significant role in affecting housewives’ marital satisfaction at 29.4 percent. The implication of this study is that improving mindfulness and assertiveness among housewives, particularly those who prioritize household responsibilities and do not work, can positively influence marital satisfaction.

Understanding When Diabetic Patients’ Psychological Burden affects their Marital Satisfaction

The study was conducted to investigate the impact of psychological burden on marital satisfaction. Correlation research design was used to complete the study. Survey was designed as a method of data collection. Sample of 150 diabetic patients were selected through purposive sampling technique. Findings reveal that marital satisfaction is negatively correlated with psychological burden. Moreover psychological burden is a significant negative predictor of marital satisfaction. In addition, female diabetic patients reported the greater level of psychological burden and lower level of marital satisfaction as compared to male. Statistically significant difference was examined on psychological burden with respect to education of patients, type of diabetes, number of children and working status but there was no mean score difference associated with socio-economic status. The results of comparison on marital satisfaction related to patient’s education, type of diabetes, number of children, working status and patient’s socio-economic status were not statistically significant.

Understanding the Interplay of Religion, Social Relationships, and Depressive Symptoms in Later Life: An Analysis of Dynamics in Individual and Dyadic Contexts.

This study examined how religious participation at the individual level and the dyadic religious similarity at the couple level influenced depressive symptoms via social relationships among older Korean couples aged 65 and above. The sample included 1,191 couples from the seventh assessment of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing. The findings indicated that older adults who participated in religious activities more frequently showed lower levels of depressive symptoms through increased social interactions and marital satisfaction. Additionally, older couples with similar religious backgrounds showed higher levels of marital satisfaction than those without similar religious backgrounds, subsequently leading to lower levels of depressive symptoms. Overall, the associations between religion and depressive symptoms were similar for both genders. The findings provided insights into potential mechanisms leading to later-life depressive symptoms at both the individual and couple levels in terms of religion and social relationships and informed practical implications for older couples' marital relationships.

Relationship between the Type of Retirement Transition and Marital Satisfaction in Kiambu County, Kenya

Retirement experience is unique for each individual and affects family dynamics, including spouses and children. It is critical to consider aspects with negative implications for retirement transition, particularly intimacy and marital conflict resolution. The primary aim of this study was to describe the potential association between different types of retirement transitions and marital satisfaction levels among individuals residing in Kiambu County, Kenya, with a view to provide insights into the impact of retirement on marital relationships within a non-western context. A descriptive-correlational study investigated the relationship between retirement transition types and marital satisfaction among 400 married individuals who had been gainfully employed. Participants were selected using stratified random sampling to ensure gender balance and represent various age groups. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire featuring predetermined questions and Likert scales, assessing retirement transition types and marital satisfaction using the Couple Satisfaction Index (CSI). Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS Version 25 to perform cross-tabulation and descriptive statistics. Results showed that gradual transitions, especially full-time employment with a different employer, showed the highest percentage of respondents reporting high marital satisfaction. Conversely, abrupt transitions due to health issues had the lowest proportion of satisfied respondents. However, overall marital satisfaction remained consistently high regardless of post-retirement occupation, with some observable variations, underscoring the diverse pathways through which individuals navigate retirement and its implications for marital relationships. These findings underscore the complexity of retirement transitions and stress the importance of considering individual preferences and circumstances. Policymakers and therapists can utilize this understanding to make informed decisions regarding retirement planning and post-retirement engagements, aiming to enhance marital well-being in later life.Top of Form

The Big Five Personality Traits and Marital Satisfaction Among Couples in Kilungu Deanary in Catholic Diocese of Machakos in Makueni County, Kenya

Marital satisfaction is a key indicator of happiness and stability in marriage, yet modern family life faces significant challenges, including rising divorce rates, declining marriage prevalence, increased cohabitation, and the complexities introduced by same-sex marriage legalization. This study examines the Big Five personality traits and their relationship with marital satisfaction among couples in Kilungu Deanery, Catholic Diocese of Machakos, Makueni County, Kenya. The research objectives included assessing the prevalence of these traits, evaluating marital satisfaction levels, identifying factors affecting satisfaction, and exploring ways to enhance it. Grounded in the Five-Factor model of personality and Bowenian family systems theory, the study utilized a correlational research design with a sample of 178 married individuals (90 males and 88 females) aged 30 to 67, each married for at least five years. Data were collected using the Big Five Inventory and the ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale, and analyzed with SPSS version 25. Findings revealed that Extraversion correlated positively with the Idealistic Distortion scale but showed no significant correlation with marital satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Agreeableness and Conscientiousness were positively associated with marital satisfaction and negatively with dissatisfaction. Conversely, Neuroticism was negatively correlated with marital satisfaction and positively with dissatisfaction. Openness correlated positively with marital satisfaction but not significantly with dissatisfaction. The study recommends that government and religious organizations offer family life counseling and premarital education to improve partner compatibility and reduce failed marriages.

A Study on The Sandwich Generation Differences in Level of Work-Family Conflict and Marital Satisfaction among Working Couple

Dual-earner couples in the sandwich generation are overcoming unique challenges to their marital satisfaction. Therefore, this study aimed to explore gender differences in work-family conflict and marital satisfaction in dual-earner couples among the sandwich generation. To achieve this, a quantitative mathod comprising 105 participants (Mage = 39.10; SD = 9.842) from Greater Jakarta, was used. The results showed that there was no significant differences between working men and women in the sandwich generation concerning marital satisfaction and work-family conflict. Based on observations, there was no correlation between work-family conflict and marital satisfaction in women. Conversely, a negative correlation existed between marital satisfaction and the number of children, a trend discovered exclusively in men. In conclusion, this study provided information to improve the marriage quality for dual-earner couples and contributed novel perspective to the discourse on marital satisfaction and work-family conflict.

Challenges Associated with Marriages in Ghana: Implications for Counselling on Marital Satisfaction

The purpose of this study was to explore the challenges related to inter-ethnic and intra-ethnic marriages and how the challenges affect the level of marital satisfaction. The study employed the qualitative phenomenological design and sampled 10 inter and inter-ethnic married couples in the Kumasi metropolis using to convenience sampling procedure. Data was collected with the aid of researcher designed semi-structured interview guide. Data collected were analysed using the six-step thematic analysis approach suggested by Braun and Clarke (2006). The findings revealed that the challenges experienced by spouses in inter-and intra-ethnic marriages were not the same. The findings also, revealed that children’s upbringing was a challenge due to the gender-stereotypic nature of spouse. It was concluded that most spouses in intra-ethnic marriages faced challenges with regard to children upbringing, decision-making and household production. It is recommended that married couples: both inter and intra-ethic couples should seek marital counselling services during their marriage in order to help them deal effectively with the various challenges such as children up-bringing, decision-making and household production that have the capacity of negatively affecting their marriage and marital satisfaction.

Examining trajectories of marital satisfaction to represent the resilience process among Indonesian married individuals

AbstractMarriage is an important milestone for many adults, and notably in Indonesia, where marriage is also considered a personal accomplishment and social obligation. Research has found being married is associated with greater well‐being, but marriages also face challenges. Resilience, defined as successfully adapting to challenges, is a potential concept to help married individuals maintain or regain adaptation despite challenges in marriages. This is the first relationship study in Indonesia to examine resilience trajectories as represented by marital satisfaction. A weekly repeated measure design was conducted among 135 Indonesian married individuals. Participants reported their experiences of intradyadic and extradyadic stress, and marital satisfaction over 6 weeks. Growth mixture modeling and multinomial logistic regression were used to examine unobserved marital satisfaction trajectories and to estimate the impact of intradyadic and extradyadic stress on trajectory membership. Results suggested three unobserved trajectories: high, moderate, and low levels of marital satisfaction. Higher levels of intradyadic and extradyadic stress increased the probability of belonging to lower satisfaction trajectories. This evidence could be invaluable in helping Indonesian married individuals to better adapt to challenges they face. Future studies can explore protective factors associated with a high satisfaction trajectory to assist married Indonesians in successfully adapting to stress.

Predictors of Marital Satisfaction in Married Teachers: Tendency to Cheat and Interpersonal Cognitive Distortions

This study aimed to examine whether the tendency to cheat and interpersonal cognitive distortions have a predictive effect on the marital satisfaction level of married teachers. The sample of the study consisted of 107 (28.1%) male and 271 (71.9%) female married teachers working in Gaziantep. In the study, a Personal Information Form was used to collect data on the demographic characteristics of married teachers, the Marriage Life Scale to measure marital satisfaction level, the Cheating Tendency Scale to measure the level of infidelity tendency, and the Interpersonal Cognitive Distortions Scale to measure interpersonal cognitive distortions. A survey model was used in this study. The Pearson Correlation Coefficient and Multiple Regression analysis methods were used in the analysis process of the obtained data. As a result of the research, it was concluded that the tendency to cheat and interpersonal cognitive distortions were significant predictors of marital satisfaction. As a result of the analysis, it was concluded that the tendency to cheat and interpersonal cognitive distortions explained 30% of married teachers' marital satisfaction. At the same time, there is a negative and significant relationship between marital satisfaction and the tendency to cheat; a positive and significant relationship exists between the tendency to cheat and interpersonal cognitive distortions. It has been determined that there is a negative and significant relationship between interpersonal cognitive distortions and marital satisfaction.

Transactional Analysis and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy on Marital Satisfaction: Implications for Christian Couples’ Counselling

Marital satisfaction may be the sole key to a couple’s happiness. Thus, this study explores the application of Transactional Analysis and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy in relation to the improvement of marital satisfaction in Christian couples. The study adopted the non-randomised control group pretest-post-test quasi-experimental. The sample size of 400 was purposively drawn from a population of 34,518 for the study. Based on the analysis of the 400 inventories, 15 ‘dissatisfied couples’ (making a total of 30 respondents) were selected and placed into control and experimental groups. The research instrument used was the Marital Satisfaction Inventory (MSI) with a Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient (r) of .89. The finding showed a significant difference in marital satisfaction of couples before and after intervention with regard to transactional analysis theory and solution-focused brief therapy on all the scales of the MSI. Respondents reported improved marital satisfaction, a change from being dissatisfied before intervention and becoming satisfied after intervention. Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that counselling theories such as transactional analysis and solution-focused brief therapy are effective in improving the marital satisfaction levels of couples. To this, it was recommended that marriage counselling practitioners should learn more about the two theories and apply them in helping their clients out of their relationship challenges

업무 부하와 소진, 그리고 직무 만족

The aim of the present study is to explore how and when daily workload is related to next-day exhaustion and job satisfaction. Prior research has been primarily interested in identifying the conditions that mitigate the negative impacts of heightened job demands. However, the potential buffering role of resources accrued within the home domain, where employees spend most of their post-work hours, has not been given adequate attention. Building upon the work-home resources model, we propose that the general levels of marital satisfaction of both employees and their spouses act as cross-level moderators that alleviate the negative consequences engendered by an increased workload. We tested our hypotheses using experience sampling data from a sample of 95 married employees across 15 consecutive workdays. Our results indicate that daily workload had a positive relationship with next-day exhaustion and a negative relationship with next-day job satisfaction through an increase in morning negative affect. Furthermore, these relationships were found to be moderated by the employees’ general marital satisfaction but not by their spouses’ marital satisfaction. Specifically, the detrimental effects of increased daily workload were more salient for employees with lower levels of marital satisfaction compared to those with higher levels. Our findings underscore the critical role of contextual home resources as potential buffers against job stress. In light of these findings, theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Levels of Marital Satisfaction of Protestant Clergy and Their Spouses in Dagoretti South Sub-County Nairobi, Kenya

Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine the levels of marital satisfaction among protestant clergy in Dagoretti South Sub-County&#x0D; Methodology: This study employed an explanatory sequential mixed method design. The study used a sample size of 273 protestant clergy and their spouses, chosen using a simple random sampling technique for quantitative, and 12 participants who were purposefully selected for qualitative, low and high performance on levels of marital satisfaction. The ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale (EMSS) and the Scales of Perceived Social Support were used to collect quantitative data, with the former having a reliability coefficient of 0.834 and the latter of 0.954, respectively. The researcher used both standardized questionnaires and an in-depth interview guide questionnaire to obtain data. Descriptive analysis and thematic analysis were used to examine the data. The data was presented in form of tables. SPSS version 23 for the social sciences was for inferential analysis.&#x0D; Findings: The results of this study show that most protestant clergy and their spouses have optimistic views and feelings about their relationships. However, marital contentment is a multifaceted and intricate phenomenon. This is due to the fact that stress is present in every marriage and that clergy and their wives face additional stresses from ministry work. According to the results, a moderate level of marital happiness was reported by 47.6% of the protestant clergy and their spouses in Dagoretti South Sub- County, Nairobi County, Kenya.&#x0D; Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study was anchored on the dynamic goal theory of marital satisfaction. The study also recommends that the policymaker’s plan and strategize to engage counselling psychologists with the intent to deal with specific issues that married couples present. It is high time for the government to stop being reactive to issues pertaining marital and family and engage the mental health professionals on the best prevention intervention for marriage and family in general.

Appraisal Support Dynamics for Protestant Clergy and Their Spouses on Marital Satisfaction in Dagoretti South Sub-County Nairobi, Kenya

Purpose: The aim of the study was to examine appraisal support dynamics for protestant clergy and their spouses on marital satisfaction in Dagoretti South Sub-County Nairobi, Kenya.&#x0D; Methodology: This study employed an explanatory sequential mixed method design. The study used a sample size of 273 protestant clergy and their spouses, chosen using a simple random sampling technique for quantitative, and 12 participants who were purposefully selected for qualitative, low and high performance on levels of marital satisfaction. The ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale (EMSS) and the Scales of Perceived Social Support were used to collect quantitative data, with the former having a reliability coefficient of 0.834 and the latter of 0.954, respectively. The researcher used both standardized questionnaires and an in-depth interview guide questionnaire to obtain data. Descriptive analysis and thematic analysis were used to examine the data. The data was presented in form of tables. SPSS version 23 for the social sciences was for inferential analysis.&#x0D; Findings: The results of this study showed a small but statistically significant negative correlation between appraisal support dynamics and marital happiness. The dynamics of appraisal support had little effect on marital happiness. Couples whose feedback-giving styles are more combative tend to report lower levels of happiness in their marriages. On the other hand, this could mean that accessing appraisal support is difficult for protestant clerics and their spouses because of their positions in society as religious authorities who are expected to showed highest standards of moral values, which could further strain their relationships.&#x0D; Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study was anchored on The Family Stress Theory which was propounded by McCubbin &amp; Patterson in 1983. The study recommends that the protestant clergy and their spouses set up peer to peer support groups that will enable them to overload their marital challenges. This study recommends that the counselling psychologists board should develop a clergy centered psychotherapy that elevates appraisal support in areas of marital relationship.