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Examining the Relationship Between Financial Issues and Divorce
Abstract
Using longitudinal data from the National Survey of Families and Households and both wife- and husband-reported data (N = 4,574 couples), this study examined how financial well-being, financial disagreements, and perceptions of financial inequity were associated with the likelihood of divorce. When financial disagreements were in the model, financial well-being was not associated with divorce. Both wives' and husbands' financial disagreements were the strongest disagreement types to predict divorce. Mediators derived from systems theory (conflict tactics) and social exchange theory (marital satisfaction) fully mediated the association between financial disagreement and the hazard of divorce. Finally, financial disagreements fully mediated the association between perceptions of financial inequity and divorce. These findings suggest that financial disagreements are stronger predictors of divorce relative to other common marital disagreements. They further suggest that financial disagreements (e.g., "content") are associated with marital process.
... J. Sullivan et al., 2022) observed sexual-minority couples communicating about heterosexist discrimination and a "general life stressor" of the couple's choosing and found topic differences in observed support behavior (i.e., less negative support behavior when communicating about discrimination relative to a general stressor) but no differences in self-reported behavior. Other research has examined associations between self-reported communication patterns with frequencies of disagreements in different topics (Dew et al., 2012) or daily diary reports of the topic of naturally occurring conflict (Papp, 2018;Papp et al., 2009). This research has suggested that for a given person, disagreements about finances were associated with more negative communication relative to nonfinancial topics (Dew et al., 2012;Papp et al., 2009). ...
... Other research has examined associations between self-reported communication patterns with frequencies of disagreements in different topics (Dew et al., 2012) or daily diary reports of the topic of naturally occurring conflict (Papp, 2018;Papp et al., 2009). This research has suggested that for a given person, disagreements about finances were associated with more negative communication relative to nonfinancial topics (Dew et al., 2012;Papp et al., 2009). Moreover, conflict around children was associated with conflict strategies such as withdrawal and sadness (Papp, 2018). ...
... Our first aim was to examine (a) if there are within-person differences in communication quality between these topics and (b) if, across the entire sample, some topics are rated as higher in communication quality relative to others. Based on the aforementioned findings showing that communication difficulty and processes can vary by topic (e.g., Dew et al., 2012;Rauer et al., 2020;Williamson et al., 2013a), we hypothesized that there would likely be significant within-person variability in communication quality by topic (i.e., communication quality would differ across topics for a given person). We did not have hypotheses regarding whether communication quality for some topics would be rated higher than others (e.g., whether communication about finances would be lower quality than communication about kinfolk) given the lack of research on these topics and in this population to date. ...
Extensive research has demonstrated that couples' communication quality is related to many aspects of couples' lives, including relationship satisfaction. However, the possibility that the quality of couples' communication might vary as a function of the topic of communication and the implications of this variability have received relatively little attention. Accordingly, this study sought to examine (a) within-person variability in communication quality between topics, (b) associations with relationship satisfaction, and (c) associations with stressors focal to specific topics. Black coparenting couples (N = 344) reported on their communication quality around four topics: finances, children, racial discrimination, and kinfolk. Results indicated that communication quality significantly differed across topics. Communication quality was lowest for finances and kinfolk, significantly higher when discussing problems with children, and highest when discussing racial discrimination. Moreover, communication quality when discussing finances, kinfolk, and racial discrimination each uniquely predicted relationship satisfaction, even after controlling for each other and for general communication skills. Experiencing more stress around finances and children was associated with poorer communication quality in the focal area (and for financial stress, in some other communication topics as well), whereas the extent of racial discrimination was not significantly associated with communication quality for any topic. These findings reveal significant variability in couples' communication across topics and demonstrate that considering communication for different topics can offer unique information about couples' relationship satisfaction beyond general communication skills. Further research examining topic-specific communication quality may enhance understanding of and interventions for couples' communication. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
... In this, the theory is like previous studies. For example, a longitudinal analysis with 4574 couples suggested that a financial process (i.e., financial disagreements) predicted a marital outcome (i.e., divorce; Dew et al., 2012). Recent evidence, however, from a longitudinal analysis with 279 couples suggests that a marital process (i.e., marital satisfaction) predicted a financial process (i.e., financial behaviors; Dew et al., 2021). ...
... Similarly, scholars have also examined how poor financial communication (e.g., frequent financial disagreements) may impact romantic relationships. Dew et al. (2012) found that relative to other common types of marital disagreements (i.e., disagreements about chores, time spent together, sex, and in-laws), financial disagreements were the strongest predictor of divorce. Similarly, other scholars found that in contrast to nonfinancial issues, financial conflict was more pervasive, problematic, and recurrent (Papp et al., 2009). ...
... In sum, many couples struggle to talk about money in healthy and productive ways (Dew et al., 2012;Papp et al., 2009). If mixed-gender, newlywed clients are struggling to communicate with each other about money, our findings suggest that clinicians should address husbands' marital satisfaction and wives' financial behaviors. ...
Researchers have shown that if couples manage their money in sound ways, their marriages may benefit. Scholars have also shown that the quality of a marriage may precede positive financial behaviors. Previous studies have not determined the directionality of these processes, but researchers have assumed that it flows from financial variables to marital satisfaction. Utilizing a sample of U.S. mixed-gender, newlywed dyads (N = 1,220), we examined which is a stronger association: financial processes predicting marital processes or marital processes predicting financial processes. Specifically, we estimated three dyadic, structural equation models to examine cross-lagged associations between husbands’ and wives’ own financial behaviors and their own marital satisfaction, between husbands’ and wives’ own financial communication and their own marital satisfaction, and between husbands’ and wives’ own financial behaviors and their own financial communication across two waves of data. We found that husbands’ marital satisfaction predicted rank-order change in their reports of financial communication more strongly than the reverse. Furthermore, we found that wives’ financial behaviors predicted rank-order change in their reports of financial communication more strongly than the reverse. These results have implications for theory, future research, and improving the financial and marital wellbeing of U.S. mixed-gender, newlywed couples.
... We are not aware of any studies, however, that assess similarity of financial values and marital stability. Nonetheless, couples who have dissimilar financial values may experience more financial conflict (Rick et al., 2011), and financial conflict is associated with divorce and marital instability (Dew et al., 2012;LeBaron et al., 2019). Therefore, assessing marital stability as an outcome might give further insight into the importance of similarity of financial values. ...
... Therefore, assessing marital stability as an outcome might give further insight into the importance of similarity of financial values. In line with this previous literature (Dew et al., 2012;LeBaron et al., 2019;Rick et al., 2011), we suspect that perceptions of more similar financial values may be positively associated with marital stability. ...
... This incongruency can hinder efforts at discussing money, as one partner may feel more natural discussing finances, while the other partner may feel less comfortable with such financial discussions (Atwood, 2012;Romo, 2011). Perceived dissimilar and/or incongruent financial values may also lead to disagreements and conflict when discussing money, which can have a negative impact on the quality and stability of the relationship (Dew et al., 2012;Papp et al., 2009;Wheeler & Kerpelman, 2016). ...
Objective
We test whether perceived similarity of partners' financial values is associated with marital satisfaction and stability and whether financial communication mediates these associations.
Background
Although many studies have found links between finances and marital satisfaction, marital stability has been understudied. Additionally, many studies have examined the impact of couple financial behaviors on marital outcomes but have failed to account for the role of financial values in shaping those behaviors. Couple and finances theory motivated the study and guided our hypotheses.
Method
We used dyadic data from the Couple Relationships and Transition Experiences project, a nationally representative sample of newlyweds ( N = 1,700 different‐sex couples). We conducted an actor–partner interdependence model to test direct and indirect associations.
Results
Partners who perceived similar financial values are better able to communicate with their spouse about money, which in turn predicts marital satisfaction and stability. We found both actor and partner associations and evidence of both full and partial mediation.
Conclusion
Our results support previous research demonstrating the importance of shared financial values in understanding relationship outcomes. Additionally, financial communication is a mechanism linking these constructs.
Implications
Our findings may inform interventions for increasing marital satisfaction and stability and for improving couple financial communication.
... This study focuses on financial disagreements as a particular subtopic of this developing field. Considering the presence of the significant association between financial disagreements and the increasing rate of divorce [Amato, Rogers 1997; Polina Zhidkova Zagorsky 2003;Cubbins, Vannoy 2004;Britt, Huston, Durband 2010;Dew 2009;Dew, Britt, Huston 2012], the study aims to expand our understanding of the factors behind the alarming rate of divorce in Russia [Zakharov 2015]. ...
... Why, and how, do financial disagreements matter? Previous research has shown that partners assign the most negative evaluations to their financial conflicts in comparison to other types of marital arguments [Dew, Britt, Huston 2012;Mitchell, Bullard, Mudd 1962]. Financial topics are more acutely perceived as a source of disagreements [Papp, Cummings, Goeke-Morey 2009] and are frequently solved through negative tactics (e. g., enforcement or threats; [Dew, Dakin 2011]). ...
... The inevitable embeddedness of money in daily life and the fact that people cannot ignore disagreements over financial decisions, mean that these disagreements tend to get worse if not resolved. These problems occur in families at every economic level, regardless of whether couples are under economic pressure or not [Dew, Britt, Huston 2012]. ...
... This study focuses on financial disagreements as a particular subtopic of this developing field. Considering the presence of the significant association between financial disagreements and the increasing rate of divorce [Amato, Rogers 1997; Polina Zhidkova Zagorsky 2003;Cubbins, Vannoy 2004;Britt, Huston, Durband 2010;Dew 2009;Dew, Britt, Huston 2012], the study aims to expand our understanding of the factors behind the alarming rate of divorce in Russia [Zakharov 2015]. ...
... Why, and how, do financial disagreements matter? Previous research has shown that partners assign the most negative evaluations to their financial conflicts in comparison to other types of marital arguments [Dew, Britt, Huston 2012;Mitchell, Bullard, Mudd 1962]. Financial topics are more acutely perceived as a source of disagreements [Papp, Cummings, Goeke-Morey 2009] and are frequently solved through negative tactics (e. g., enforcement or threats; [Dew, Dakin 2011]). ...
... The inevitable embeddedness of money in daily life and the fact that people cannot ignore disagreements over financial decisions, mean that these disagreements tend to get worse if not resolved. These problems occur in families at every economic level, regardless of whether couples are under economic pressure or not [Dew, Britt, Huston 2012]. ...
... This study focuses on financial disagreements as a particular subtopic of this developing field. Considering the presence of the significant association between financial disagreements and the increasing rate of divorce [Amato, Rogers 1997; Polina Zhidkova Zagorsky 2003;Cubbins, Vannoy 2004;Britt, Huston, Durband 2010;Dew 2009;Dew, Britt, Huston 2012], the study aims to expand our understanding of the factors behind the alarming rate of divorce in Russia [Zakharov 2015]. ...
... Why, and how, do financial disagreements matter? Previous research has shown that partners assign the most negative evaluations to their financial conflicts in comparison to other types of marital arguments [Dew, Britt, Huston 2012;Mitchell, Bullard, Mudd 1962]. Financial topics are more acutely perceived as a source of disagreements [Papp, Cummings, Goeke-Morey 2009] and are frequently solved through negative tactics (e. g., enforcement or threats; [Dew, Dakin 2011]). ...
... The inevitable embeddedness of money in daily life and the fact that people cannot ignore disagreements over financial decisions, mean that these disagreements tend to get worse if not resolved. These problems occur in families at every economic level, regardless of whether couples are under economic pressure or not [Dew, Britt, Huston 2012]. ...
... This study focuses on financial disagreements as a particular subtopic of this developing field. Considering the presence of the significant association between financial disagreements and the increasing rate of divorce [Amato, Rogers 1997; Polina Zhidkova Zagorsky 2003;Cubbins, Vannoy 2004;Britt, Huston, Durband 2010;Dew 2009;Dew, Britt, Huston 2012], the study aims to expand our understanding of the factors behind the alarming rate of divorce in Russia [Zakharov 2015]. ...
... Why, and how, do financial disagreements matter? Previous research has shown that partners assign the most negative evaluations to their financial conflicts in comparison to other types of marital arguments [Dew, Britt, Huston 2012;Mitchell, Bullard, Mudd 1962]. Financial topics are more acutely perceived as a source of disagreements [Papp, Cummings, Goeke-Morey 2009] and are frequently solved through negative tactics (e. g., enforcement or threats; [Dew, Dakin 2011]). ...
... The inevitable embeddedness of money in daily life and the fact that people cannot ignore disagreements over financial decisions, mean that these disagreements tend to get worse if not resolved. These problems occur in families at every economic level, regardless of whether couples are under economic pressure or not [Dew, Britt, Huston 2012]. ...
Complaints, their forms, and their functions, as well as their institutionalization in various sectors of the economy, attract increasing interest among scientists around the world. According to O. S. Sukharev, ideas about the socio-psychological nature of complaints suggest a certain dysfunction of the relevant institution, which reduces its effectiveness but does not lead to its collapse. This article reflects the result of correspondence with a representative of the Novosibirsk economic and sociological school Prof. O. E. Bessonova, the author of a series of articles on the benefits of complaints as a signaling institution of a non-market type. The discussion concerned the controversy regarding the effectiveness and functionality of complaints in the field of housing and communal services in Russia. The author’s position is that the institution under
consideration is not fully effective due to various circumstances. The dysfunctionality of complaints is demonstrated in various cases of institutional abuse, with one of the results being the mimicry of the institution as defined by E. V. Balatsky (a complaint as a denunciation). Special attention is paid to the phenomenon of vacuous, perfunctory bureaucratic replies to complaints, considered an institutional trap by V. M. Polterovich. The problem of false signals of complaints and their consequences is analyzed. The advantages of a personal appeal as an informal way of solving a problem are compared to a formal written complaint. At the same time, the role of transaction costs in the choice of one or another method of filing a
complaint is noted. In conclusion, a forecast is given about the decrease in the functionality of the institution of complaints in modern Russian conditions in relation to the housing and communal services
... This study focuses on financial disagreements as a particular subtopic of this developing field. Considering the presence of the significant association between financial disagreements and the increasing rate of divorce [Amato, Rogers 1997; Polina Zhidkova Zagorsky 2003;Cubbins, Vannoy 2004;Britt, Huston, Durband 2010;Dew 2009;Dew, Britt, Huston 2012], the study aims to expand our understanding of the factors behind the alarming rate of divorce in Russia [Zakharov 2015]. ...
... Why, and how, do financial disagreements matter? Previous research has shown that partners assign the most negative evaluations to their financial conflicts in comparison to other types of marital arguments [Dew, Britt, Huston 2012;Mitchell, Bullard, Mudd 1962]. Financial topics are more acutely perceived as a source of disagreements [Papp, Cummings, Goeke-Morey 2009] and are frequently solved through negative tactics (e. g., enforcement or threats; [Dew, Dakin 2011]). ...
... The inevitable embeddedness of money in daily life and the fact that people cannot ignore disagreements over financial decisions, mean that these disagreements tend to get worse if not resolved. These problems occur in families at every economic level, regardless of whether couples are under economic pressure or not [Dew, Britt, Huston 2012]. ...
... This study focuses on financial disagreements as a particular subtopic of this developing field. Considering the presence of the significant association between financial disagreements and the increasing rate of divorce [Amato, Rogers 1997; Polina Zhidkova Zagorsky 2003;Cubbins, Vannoy 2004;Britt, Huston, Durband 2010;Dew 2009;Dew, Britt, Huston 2012], the study aims to expand our understanding of the factors behind the alarming rate of divorce in Russia [Zakharov 2015]. ...
... Why, and how, do financial disagreements matter? Previous research has shown that partners assign the most negative evaluations to their financial conflicts in comparison to other types of marital arguments [Dew, Britt, Huston 2012;Mitchell, Bullard, Mudd 1962]. Financial topics are more acutely perceived as a source of disagreements [Papp, Cummings, Goeke-Morey 2009] and are frequently solved through negative tactics (e. g., enforcement or threats; [Dew, Dakin 2011]). ...
... The inevitable embeddedness of money in daily life and the fact that people cannot ignore disagreements over financial decisions, mean that these disagreements tend to get worse if not resolved. These problems occur in families at every economic level, regardless of whether couples are under economic pressure or not [Dew, Britt, Huston 2012]. ...
... This study focuses on financial disagreements as a particular subtopic of this developing field. Considering the presence of the significant association between financial disagreements and the increasing rate of divorce [Amato, Rogers 1997; Polina Zhidkova Zagorsky 2003;Cubbins, Vannoy 2004;Britt, Huston, Durband 2010;Dew 2009;Dew, Britt, Huston 2012], the study aims to expand our understanding of the factors behind the alarming rate of divorce in Russia [Zakharov 2015]. ...
... Why, and how, do financial disagreements matter? Previous research has shown that partners assign the most negative evaluations to their financial conflicts in comparison to other types of marital arguments [Dew, Britt, Huston 2012;Mitchell, Bullard, Mudd 1962]. Financial topics are more acutely perceived as a source of disagreements [Papp, Cummings, Goeke-Morey 2009] and are frequently solved through negative tactics (e. g., enforcement or threats; [Dew, Dakin 2011]). ...
... The inevitable embeddedness of money in daily life and the fact that people cannot ignore disagreements over financial decisions, mean that these disagreements tend to get worse if not resolved. These problems occur in families at every economic level, regardless of whether couples are under economic pressure or not [Dew, Britt, Huston 2012]. ...
... When those with dissimilar spending tendencies form a marriage, there tends to be greater marital financial conflict (Rick et al., 2011). This financial conflict can be a barrier to healthy marital outcomes, due to financial conflict's cross-sectional association with diminished marital wellbeing (Rick et al., 2011) and longitudinal association with divorce (Dew et al., 2012). One couple process, forgiveness, may have the potential to buffer the negative relational impact that dissimilarity of financial values-and associated financial conflict-might have. ...
... Despite such associations potentially providing meaningful insight for therapists, we are aware of no studies that test forgiveness' potential interaction with financial variables that might impact marital outcomes. Yet, considering dissimilar financial values might lead to relationally problematic (Dew et al., 2012;Rick et al., 2011) financial conflict, dissimilarity of financial values may provide opportunities for forgiveness. In the current study, forgiveness refers to how frequently a partner forgives the other partner in general, not just with potential financial discrepancies. ...
Despite couples with similar financial values tending to experience higher relationship satisfaction, individuals with dissimilar spending tendencies often marry each other. Research has not yet established strategies for therapists to encourage for newlywed couples with dissimilar financial values. We examined associations between similarity of financial values and relationship flourishing among 1,486 different-sex newlywed couples. In these associations, we tested both husbands’ and wives’ forgiveness as moderators. Only wives’ forgiveness significantly moderated associations between similarity of financial values and husbands’ and wives’ relationship flourishing. Therapists may consider encouraging forgiveness—especially for wives—in different-sex newlywed couples with dissimilar financial values.
... People associate money with strong emotions and meanings. Individuals may associate money with important goals and needs like success, security, love, and esteem (Dew et al., 2012). Disagreement might emerge when partners are unable to reconcile disparate definitions of money or have competing goals for how they want to spend their money. ...
... Disagreement might emerge when partners are unable to reconcile disparate definitions of money or have competing goals for how they want to spend their money. Rather than the underlying meanings of money, most couples will focus on and dispute over practical financial difficulties (Dew et al., 2012). Even when other causes of conflict are taken into account, there is evidence that money disputes between spouses are linked to decreased marital satisfaction . ...
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented global morbidity and mortality which altered people's daily lives, as well as created multiple societal challenges. One significant problem posed by this unique stressor is maintaining healthy intimate relationships, which are linked to mental and physical health. The literature has shown that the pandemic has exacerbated issues for couples such as financial difficulties, a lack of privacy, medical issues, and family and professional concerns. The pandemic has also forced all healthcare systems, hospitals, and clinics to quickly incorporate telehealth services. The number of requests for mental health consultations has risen to the point where demand exceeds supply. This paper provides an overview of ways couples can stay emotionally connected during this time as well as provide future directions for therapists to help couples develop or improve adaptive relationship mechanisms.
... The negative influence of financial stress on marital relationships and wellbeing has been well documented. Across studies, various financial stressors, such as debt and ability to pay bills, as well as perceived financial stress have been found to predict lower levels of marital satisfaction and marital quality (Archuleta et al., 2011;Dew & Xiao, 2013;Gudmunson et al., 2007;Stewart et al., 2017), and higher rates of marital distress and divorce (Conger et al., 1990;Dew, 2011;Dew et al., 2012). This potential negative impact might be considered relational maladaptation. ...
... Specifically, our qualitative findings showed that financial stress increased relational stress for some, while others reported that their family relationships helped them better cope with the financial stress they were facing. While we cannot determine why relationships were an exacerbating influence for some and an alleviating influence for others, previous research suggests that communication may play an important role in this process and may decrease feelings of stress that come from ambiguity (Dew et al., 2012;Grobbelaar & Alsemgeest, 2016;LeBaron et al., 2018). Additionally, as financial practitioners help their clients improve both their Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. ...
Guided by the family adjustment and adaptation response (FAAR) model and using a panel survey of 1510 adults in the US administered during the summer of 2020 and a mixed methods approach, we explored associations between changes in financial stress related to COVID-19 and relational wellbeing. Regression analyses showed that, compared to those who maintained their levels of financial stress, those who reported increased financial stress reported increased conflict and those who reported decreased financial stress reported decreased conflict. However, decreased financial stress was also associated with decreases in emotional closeness and relationship happiness, suggesting that changes in financial stress can lead to both maladaptation and bonadaptation in families. Qualitative findings provide insights into factors that may exacerbate or help alleviate financial stress related to COVID-19.
... We decompose this effect and find that the marriage effect is mostly (80%) driven by women staying married (less divorce). This is consistent with literature on financial strain and relationship quality (Dew, Britt, and Huston 2012). We find that a 10-percentage point higher children's simulated Medicaid eligibility decreases the likelihood of mothers being in the labor force by 1.3 percentage points or 4%. ...
... See for example (Goodman-Bacon 2018;Cohodes et al. 2016;Wherry et al. 2018;Wherry and Meyer 2016;Miller and Wherry 2019;Finkelstein et al. 2012;Currie and Gruber 1996a;1996b). 3 Financial disagreements are a predictor of divorceDew, Britt, and Huston 2012).4 In 2000, expanding private insurance coverage from covering just the worker to covering a family increased the worker's premium contribution from $54.50 to $179.75 in nominal dollars (US Department of Labor 2003).Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4010516 ...
... The impact of financial stress on the quality of the couple's relationships and psychological well-being has already been pointed out in the past literature (Kelley et al., 2022). Several studies showed how objective financial stressors, such as unstable income and perceived financial stress, predicted lower levels of marital satisfaction (Gudmunson et al., 2007;Archuleta et al., 2011;Stewart et al., 2017) and an increase in marital conflicts and marital dissolution (Dew et al., 2012). To explain the association between external stress (such as economic difficulties) and marital satisfaction, literature introduced the notion of "spillover effect. ...
Introduction
The empirical study about the negative impact of economic difficulties due to Covid- 19 on the psychological well-being of Italian women by considering perceived stress and marital satisfaction is an area worthy of investigation. The study explored these variables by hypothesizing that marital satisfaction (DAS) could moderate or mediate the links between economic difficulties, perceived stress (PSS), and psychological maladjustment (PGWBI).
Methods
A total of 320 Italian women completed an online survey about the study’s variables during the lockdown period. Women’s perceptions of economic difficulties due to COVID- 19 restrictions were detected through an ad-hoc specific question. Perceived stress, marital satisfaction and psychological maladjustment were assessed by standardized questionnaires (Perceived Stress Scale 10, Dyadic Satisfaction Scale and Psychological General Well-being Inventory).
Results
39.7% of women who answered the online survey said that the Covid-19 significantly impacted their family income. Results indicated that marital satisfaction did not moderate the associations investigated. Conversely, data showed how economic difficulties (X) predicted lower psychological maladjustment through the mediation of perceived Stress (M1), which, in turn, was associated with higher levels of marital dissatisfaction (M2).
Conclusion
The results of the present study confirm the significant role of marital dissatisfaction in explaining the indirect effects of economic difficulties on psychological maladjustment in women. In particular, they indicated a significant spillover effect which transmitted strains experienced in one domain (economic difficulties) to another (the dissatisfaction of the couple), which in turn affected the psychological maladjustment.
... States that each individual's financial behavior leads to how their techniques in managing their finances [15]. Another statement from [16] states that financial behavior shows how each individual handle and regulates their income and financial condition, such as an orientation to everyday financial problems. ...
... Money management can lead to conflict in families when members have different ideas about how to use it, and studies show that conflicts over money are a leading cause of divorce (Dew, Britt, and Huston 2012). Conversely, the perception that one's spouse holds similar beliefs around money has been linked to positive feelings (Grable, Kruher, Bryam, and Kwak 2021). ...
• This paper explores the complexities involved in the estate planning process for blended families and offers guidance for financial planners based on the principles of financial psychology.
• Theoretical frameworks from the field of psychology offer insights into the formation and development of blended families and some of the unique challenges they face.
• It is important for financial planners to recognize how conflicting interests from current and former family members impact a client's emotions and financial decision-making.
• Financial planners could benefit from understanding how to take a more comprehensive approach to helping clients recognize their money beliefs and biases by integrating financial psychology into the estate planning process.
• Financial psychology tools can help financial planners better understand blended families' unique challenges.
... Two common marital problems confronting newlywed couples are financial problems and sexual problems (Dew, 2008;Rehman et al., 2011;Risch et al., 2003;Wikle et al., 2021). These financial and sexual problems matter because if they are not managed well early in marriage, the problems could remain stable (Lavner et al., 2014) and lead to marital instability (Allen & Atkins, 2012;Dew et al., 2012;LeBaron et al., 2019). ...
Scholars have established connections between how married couples navigate their finances and their sexual relationship. For example, financial management behaviors are associated with sexual satisfaction among newlywed couples. However, we know very little about the direction of the association between financial management behaviors and sexual satisfaction. Understanding which might predict the other, or if there might be a bidirectional association between the two, could provide information on where to intervene to help newlywed couples with financial or sexual obstacles in their marriage. With three waves of dyadic data (N = 1,205 U.S. newlywed couples), we used structural equation modeling to examine the bidirectional, indirect associations between husbands' and wives' financial management behaviors and their own sexual satisfaction through their own marital satisfaction. Overall, we found that financial management behaviors indirectly predicted changes in sexual satisfaction through marital satisfaction for both husbands and wives. We also found limited evidence that husbands' sexual satisfaction indirectly predicted changes in their own financial management behaviors through their own marital satisfaction. Additionally, these indirect associations differed by gender. Partner effects, however, were largely non-significant. Implications of these findings for those who help newlywed couples with their sexual relationships are discussed.
... In a recent survey on a sample representative for the US adult population, Ramsey Solutions [14] found that money is the number one issue couples argue about. Disagreements and arguments about money have been identified as strong predictors of deterioration in relationship satisfaction [15] divorce [16] and conflict tactics, including increased inclination to engage in heated arguments as opposed to calm discussions [17]. There is a great body of literature documenting how personal finance-related interactions between relationship partners (e.g., communication, disagreements) and their emotions (e.g., financial anxiety, financial strain) link to various aspects of relationship quality (satisfaction, stability, conflict) (see, for instance, [18] for a review). ...
The aim of the study was to investigate the factors affecting life satisfaction with reference to particular reports from both partners in the relationship. The study was conducted within a group of 500 heterosexual couples. The accuracy of the actor-partner interdependence models (APIM) which offer in-depth insights into the dyadic relationships between female and male partners were estimated. The results of the chi-square test enabled us to reject the hypothesis of actor indistinguishability, therefore the model proposing distinguishability with respect to gender was explored further. The results suggest that women’s credit management behavior patterns predict changes in her assessment of well-being. Moreover, the financial behavior patterns of women have an impact on the assessment of well-being as reported by their male partners. Moreover, shared goals and values turned out to be significant with regard to the assessment of quality of life for both women and men. The obtained results provide an insight into the difficulties experienced within relationships and indicate the importance of the roles assumed in various areas of financial management.
... In terms of financial issues, the most important dysfunctional belief of participating women is income segregation. Safaei Rad and Varastehfar (2013) in their research showed that the separation of financial affairs between couples is one of the factors affecting emotional divorce in the family; this is consistent with the results of research by Dew et al. (2012) and Rahimi et al. (2020). In the case of the main families, the conflicting women in the study also believed in dysfunctional beliefs such as "disconnecting from the husband's family brings comfort," which further fueled marital discord. ...
Background: Research has shown that many adverse reactions and problems in couples are caused by dysfunctional communication beliefs. However, despite the importance of this concept in identifying the components of dysfunctional communication beliefs of couples, there is a research gap in the study population.
Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the dysfunctional communication beliefs of women with conflicting couples.
Methods: The present study was conducted by qualitative method and descriptive phenomenology. The study population consisted of all women with marital conflict in Tehran who had been referred to counseling centers in1400 for their conflict problem, and Sampling was performed by purposive sampling method. Nineteen people were selected and studied through semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was performed using the Colaizzi seven-step method.
Results: In this study, 4 main themes, and 11 sub-themes. The first main theme is the interpersonal relationship of the couple (emotional relationship, destructive behavior, irrational expectations, differences of opinion and taste, sex and financial issues, and personality factors), and the second main theme is the relationship with the main family (spouse family, behavioral patterns of spouse and family), The third theme was gender issues (dual views on gender maps, gender labels, and gender stereotypes) and the last major theme was legal issues.
Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, in the fields of interpersonal relationships of couples, relationships with the main family, gender issues, and legal issues, ineffective communication assistants for women were identified.
... Moreover, common topics of disagreement in marriages, such as those about finances, power, intimacy, or children (Kurdek, 1994), can stem from the relative importance one places on those factors and create tension if this importance is not shared and/or is rather disproportionate between both members of the dyad. Past work has indeed found that inequalities and disagreements about these factors, particularly for issues regarding finances and power/status, predict relationship dissatisfaction and divorce (Dew et al., 2012;Kurdek, 1994). ...
Life goals guide one’s behavior and can impact their life outcomes, but may conflict with their partner’s goals. Using a longitudinal dataset, we examined whether one’s life goals prospectively predict health and career outcomes for themselves and their spouse (Ndyads = 6,198). Overall, there were more actor than partner effects, but partner effects were especially numerous for health outcomes. Generally, husbands and wives had a similar distribution of effects and actor and partner effects were in the same direction, but this was not always the case. Few actor-partner interactions emerged and partner similarity rarely moderated effects. These findings indicate a partner’s life goals meaningfully and independently impact one’s health and career outcomes, with associations emerging for both husbands and wives.
... Left unresolved, economic distress can lead to negative spousal interactions (Dew and Dakin, 2011), feelings of unfairness (Jenkins et al., 2002), and higher levels of family disorganization (Patterson, 2002). Research has also linked economic distress to sexual intimacy issues (Dew et al., 2012) and lower sexual satisfaction (Hill et al., 2017). Recent research on this topic (Saxey et al., 2021;Wikle et al., 2021) suggests that although perceived economic distress can have a detrimental impact on sexual satisfaction, these problems can possibly be alleviated by effective communication about finances and financial therapy interventions. ...
Introduction
Economic distress and the relationship stability of remarried couples has been subject to some exploration, but less emphasis has been placed on how economic distress among remarried couples impacts other relationship domains, particularly sexual intimacy.
Methods
Through the lens of multidimensional family development theory (MFDT), this study utilizes longitudinal data over a three-year period to examine the links between economic distress, couple engagement, relationship satisfaction, and perceptions of sexual intimacy among remarried couples ( n = 1,161 couples; 97% White).
Results
Through a dyadic structural equation model, results showed that wives’ report of economic distress was directly related to their self-rejection of a partner’s sexual advances. Findings also revealed gender differences in how both relationship satisfaction and couple engagement influenced one to accept or reject their partner’s sexual advances, with couple engagement acting as a significant predictor for wives. Relationship satisfaction was also found to explain (i.e., mediate) the relation between economic distress and sexual intimacy, but only for husbands.
Discussion
Implications for further research and interventions designed to strengthen the relationships of remarried couples dealing with economic distress and intimacy issues are offered.
... Moreover, common topics of disagreement in marriages, such as those about finances, power, intimacy, or children (Kurdek, 1994), can stem from the relative importance one places on those factors and create tension if this importance is not shared and/or is rather disproportionate between both members of the dyad. Past work has indeed found that inequalities and disagreements about these factors, particularly for issues regarding finances and power/status, predict relationship dissatisfaction and divorce (Dew et al., 2012;Kurdek, 1994). ...
Life goals guide one’s behavior and can impact their life outcomes, but may conflict with their partner’s goals. Using a longitudinal dataset, we examined whether one’s life goals prospectively predict health and career outcomes for themselves and their spouse (Ndyads = 6,198). Overall, there were more actor than partner effects, but partner effects were especially numerous for health outcomes. Generally, husbands and wives had a similar distribution of effects and actor and partner effects were in the same direction, but this was not always the case. Few actor- partner interactions emerged and partner similarity rarely moderated effects. These findings indicate a partner’s life goals meaningfully and independently impact one’s health and career outcomes, with associations emerging for both husbands and wives.
... Suggesting that financial management behaviors alone, the authors argued, might promote a quality marriage might be unrealistic [25]. That is, couples might first need to be conscientious in their marriage (e.g., develop trust) so that they can subsequently be conscientious in a difficult area for couples to navigate [8,26], such as their finances (e.g., develop trust with finances). This line of thinking is also supported by other research that suggests that couples who are nearing divorce tend to spend down their assets [27], suggesting that a lack of conscientiousness within a marriage might predict a lack of conscientiousness with finances. ...
Research from the American Psychological Association suggests that approximately 67% of U.S. adults are getting more or less sleep than desired, and over 80% of U.S. adults ages 18-43 are stressed about finances. Cross-sectional evidence suggests that there may be a connection between the two. That is, some cross-sectional research suggests a contemporaneous association between sleep quality and finances. Using two waves of newlywed dyadic data (N = 1497 couples), we estimated a longitudinal structural equation model to test actor-partner associations between husbands' and wives' sleep quality and financial management behaviors. In these associations, we examined husbands' and wives' marital satisfaction as potential mediating variables. We found that both husbands' and wives' sleep quality longitudinally predicted their own and their partner's financial management behaviors. Additionally, husbands' and wives' sleep quality-through wives' marital satisfaction-indirectly and longitudinally predicted wives' financial management behaviors. As financial practitioners encourage newlywed couples to consistently experience quality sleep, their financial management behaviors may benefit. We suggest that for newlywed couples, both partners' bedtime may be longitudinally connected to both partners' management of their budget.
... Эмпирические исследования демонстрируют, что семейные финансовые конфликты, независимо от проявлений, воспринимаются членами семьи как болезненные, значимые для взаимоотношений, затяжные. Однако в конфликтах из-за денег, затрагивающих глубинные ценности, часто применяются деструктивные бескомпромиссные стратегии, эмоциональнооценочные высказывания, повышается голос, присутствуют оскорбления [5]. По данным всероссийских исследований, ключевыми причинами, побуждающими к разводу, являются финансовые проблемы, бедность, невозможность кормить семью. ...
The article examines the role of the family in the formation of the attitude towards money. The circumstances of family financial conflicts are investigated. The cases of financial contradictions in the parental family are analyzed. (based on the memories of an adult about his childhood. Situations where either emotional or rational aspect prevailed in financial decision-making are investigated. Special aspects of financial behavior strategies, attitudes to spending and investments are clarified. The conclusions are made that the usual emotional schemes about money are passed from generation to generation. Getting into a conflict of loyalty between parents “there and then”, a person may experience conflicting feelings about money “here and now”. Money, difficulties in relationships, power struggles, recognition – can be the cause and the reason of conflicts, as well as the undifferentiated complex of feelings, emotions, expectations and interpretations.
... Also, delaying marriage means that the individuals leave hormones and strong sexual impulses behind and are therefore likely to find partners with similar sexual and long-term needs. Women who marry late tend to do so when they have completed schooling and can earn income [21], both of which are stabilizing factors. Also, according to the simple length of search thesis, the longer somebody searches for a partner and circulates in the marriage market, the higher the odds of finding a good match [5]. ...
Background
This study examines the relationship between women’s ages at their first marriages and the marital disruption among those who experienced child marriages and those who did not as well as identifies some compromises that women make in their remarriages after previous marital disruptions.
Methods
The data of 57,476 women from the 2019 Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey were analysed using multivariable logistic and linear regressions. Women’s compromises in their remarriages were examined by determining the age differences with their current husbands, whether the current husband has another wife and their attitudes toward the justification of intimate partner violence by husbands.
Results
Almost 65% of women experienced child marriage, and its prevalence is higher in rural (66.5%) than in urban areas (59.2%). The probability of marital disruptions decreases as the ages at the first marriages rise among women who experienced child marriages and increase among women who did not. Women living in rural areas are less likely than those living in urban areas to report marital dissolution (AOR 0.81, 95% CI 0.73–0.90). Also, women who completed relatively more years of education or have greater wealth are less likely to report marital disruptions and those who never gave birth are more likely to report these (AOR 3.54, 95% CI 3.14–3.99). Women who remarried after previous disruptions are more likely to report that their new husbands are, on average, almost 12 years older than they are, and have another wife. Also, those who experienced marital disruptions are more likely than others to believe that husbands are justified in beating their wives in certain circumstances.
Conclusion
The odd of marital disruption decreases with the ages at first marriage among women who experienced child marriage and increase among women who did not. There is a curvilinear relationship between women’s ages at their first marriages and the probability of marital disruptions. Making compromises in remarriages after disruptions is common. Because marital disruption is increasing, appropriate policies are needed to address the adverse outcomes of divorces that ensue.
... In general, our findings on the family distress brought on by debt reinforces the findings of previous researchers who have shown family discord increases with financial problems and are predictive of lower relationship quality. Dew et al. (2012) have shown that disagreements about financial issues have become the number one predictor of divorce among married couples. Britt et al. (2017) have shown how a couple's conflicts can be related to perceptions of their partner's financial habits. ...
During periods of economic instability, women may suffer uniquely from economic stress compared to men. We examine stress effects from financial debts by gender with monthly national-level household data starting in 2006, going through the Great Recession in the U.S and into the recovery period. We find that women on average in the sample exhibit approximately 30% overall greater debt stress scores than men after controlling for income, debt levels and other socioeconomic variables. Underlying factors for both genders are examined, including impacts on job performance, family life and health. Sources of disadvantage for women and implied policy needs are explored. Our findings and their consequences are examined relative to economic circumstances for women that have been documented as a result of the pandemic-induced recession.
... Couple fights, on the other hand, were the leading cause of divorce in 2020 and 2021, accounting for 51.34% and 53.11% of all divorces in each respective year. There was evidence of a cascading effect of economic pressure on the couples, which resulted in increased conflict and marital dissatisfaction (Dew et al., 2012;Masarik et al., 2016;Neppl et al., 2016). ...
The most common reason for divorce in West Java, Indonesia, shifted from financial difficulties prior to the Covid-19 pandemic to marital conflicts throughout the outbreak. A theoretical explanation of the rising percentage of couple fight was required to inform predictions about how the present pandemic might damage the couple's relationship and avert marital dissolution. The narrative study used a conceptual framework that combined the family stress model and the stress divorce model to postulate that couples who were already vulnerable prior to the pandemic were more likely to experience relationship instability and, eventually, marital dissolution after being exposed to inherent pandemic risks. Couple relationship stability during the pandemic could be achieved by the development of a positive dyadic coping strategy. A coordinated couple task allocation and high-quality communication among each other were crucial in fostering bonadaptation and resilience in a married relationship. Future research can use quantitative and qualitative methods to determine the underlying cause of the change in the primary reason for divorce during the pandemic.
Full text available from: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/10664807221124246
... Na przykładKelley, LeBaron i Hill (2018) wskazują, że stres w związku dotyczący finansów ma istotny wpływ na poziom odczuwanej satysfakcji z relacji. Czynniki ekonomiczne są także ważnym predyktorem konfliktów zarówno w przypadku par małżeńskich, jak i pozostających w konkubinacie(Hardie i Lucas, 2010), z kolei spory o pieniądze i postrzeganie nierówności na tym gruncie są znacząco powiązane z prawdopodobieństwem wystąpienia o rozwód(Dew, Britt & Huston, 2012). Istnieją również pewne doniesienia, że ludzie, którzy uważają, że mają stosunkowo więcej pieniędzy, mogą być bardziej zainteresowani atrakcyjnymi alternatywami, niż ci, którzy uważają, że mają mniej pieniędzy(Li, Li, Chan i Zhang, 2016).Nie bez wpływu pozostaje też status społeczny, który poza warunkowaniem doboru partnera (rozdział 3.1.), ...
Presented paper captures the issue of close relationships from the perspective of behaviorism, that is the philosophy of science on which behavior analysis is based. Therefore, it is a theoretical interpretation of the functioning and evolution of intimate relationships rather than a direct extrapolation of results from scientific research. The issues discussed relate to basic learning laws that govern human behavior and what results from them for close romantic relationships. The author makes a critical reinterpretation of the main theories explaining the genesis and functioning of romantic relationships, indicating that the core of dynamically occurring changes in the relationship, partner selection, as well as feelings and emotions occurring in close relationships are simple learning mechanisms that occur over time cumulatively.
... Furthermore, relationship quality factors, for example, loneliness, may be an imperative predictor of compulsive buying (Harnish et al., 2019). Studies that concentrated on relationship conflicts that focused on financial matters found that conflicts habitually hurt relationships, foreshadowed a deterioration of marital satisfaction, and projected surges of marital distress and at times subsequent divorce (Curran et al., 2018;Dew, 2007;Dew et al., 2012). Another study showed that investigating the effects of goals for financial success on satisfaction had the highest significance in two particular domains: family life and job, which were the strongest predictors of general life satisfaction (Nickerson et al., 2003). ...
Introduction: Materialism is a value that reflects the principle that possessions are imperative in people’s lives. Relational satisfaction is a partner’s subjective assessment of a relationship. Prior literature has documented the negative relationship between materialism and life satisfaction.
Method: The research question asks, if there an impact between living a materialistic lifestyle and relational satisfaction?
Results: A hierarchical multiple regression found that materialist values are a statistically significant predictor of relational satisfaction.
Discussion: MFTs can address materialistic tendencies within the couples that may be negatively influencing their relationship. Limitations, implications for clinical practice, and future directions are discussed.
... The Covid pandemic came with the invisible stressor of unemployment, cost-cutting leading to terminating services of their employees. 46 The Covid pandemic social restrictions norms led to, a circumstance that is likely to unfavorable impact on intimate relationships and sexuality of couples due to an increase in spousal interference. 47 A German study observes that families have been suffered badly from the Covid-19 pandemic and its associated lockdown. ...
The Covid pandemic brought a hard time for sexual and reproductive health. Lockdown and covid restrictions made it difficult to maintain healthy sexual life and relationship. Although Covid is not a sexually transmitted disease and but can get a transfer into others by close contact with suspected or confirmed positive partners. Sexual health is essential for couples to maintain trust, intimacy, and love in their relationships. Reportedly sexual practices of couples changed accordingly to avoid any possible risk of transfer of deadly Covid infection. This paper is a review of studies published during past two years of pandemic. Even when people showing high levels of resilience, the negative aspects of pandemic and lockdown could affect their quality of sexual life. We are witnessing a century’s crisis where the whole world is under threat of rapidly spreading the new infection COVID -19 and the overall global impact of this new pandemic is yet uncertain.
... Various research topics have been studied in the financial well-being domain. Recent literature on financial well-being includes, for example, the research of Chavali et al. (2021) using the FMBS (Financial Management Behaviour Scale) to measure financial well-being (Dew et al., 2012). The results of this study showed that factors such as savings, future security, investments, credit indiscipline, and financial consciousness had a significant impact on the financial well-being of individuals in India. ...
Financial well-being using a bibliometrics analytical approach to analyze the networks, clusters, and trends of scientific production is studied. This research uses a systematic literature review process, which is a step-by-step process-driven methodology, to find 327 articles published between 1978 and 2021 on the subject of financial well-being. This paper applies the bibliometrics method to investigate the research trends in the study of financial well-being, specifically analyzing the quality of the research by the citation status and the mutual influence of these articles. The results of the study provide an overview of citation trends on financial well-being such as the most cited papers and the network of these papers, the keyword distribution, the co-authorship status, bibliographic coupling analysis, and the most influential journals. This study tries to determine the trends and development of financial well-being research. This can help researchers attain a comprehensive understanding of this field and can be a reference for the application of financial well-being visualization approaches.
... Even the Prophet Muhammad emphasized in his hadith from Abdullah bin Mas ud, which was later narrated by Imam Tarmizi, that "Allah shall curse the muhallil and muhallal lahu." Yet, many Islamic scholars state that the use of a muhallil lahu for a cina buta or bakabuang marriage is halal [permissible or lawful] and that this type of marriage utilizing a muhallil lahu is a tahlil marriage or halalah [legalizing or making something halal] (Blenkhorn, 2002;Bone, 2020;Dew et al., 2012;Putra, 2017;Qureshi, 2020;Sabiq, 1994;Salam, 2020;Uddin, 2018). ...
Abstract
Bakabuang, more commonly known as cino buto, is a traditional yet destructive custom that is still practiced by the Minangkabau people by which an informally divorced couple may reconcile. This study aims to analyze the understanding of the bakabuang custom and its impact
on women and children, while exploring the role and function of Tungku Tigo Sajarangan [community leaders] on the custom of bakabuang in the Minangkabau culture. This research uses a qualitative approach employing interview data, observation, and documentation. Data sources are ex-husbands and ex-wives, kadi [marriage guardians], community members, and traditional
and community leaders. The results showed that bakabuang was one option offered to a married couple to reconcile after the husband had pronounced Triple Divorce/Talaq-e-Biddat/Triple Talaq [an instant irrevocable divorce that is not necessarily analogous with judgments and perceptions of Islamic scholars or jurists]. Bakabuang is usually done at the requests of children, families, and often, the couples themselves. The findings further showed that the community does not recognize that bakabuang is prohibited nor violates Islam's
foundational teachings. Some claimed that bakabuang is an acceptable solution in Islam for married couples who want to reconcile but have already executed a Triple Divorce. It was also found that the impact of such
practices is detrimental to women and children as most Ninik Mamak [clan leaders or elders] are aware of the
bakabuang tradition. Yet, they are powerless to stop it on account of social repercussions if the practice is
banned. Just as the Ninik Mamak cannot do much in responding to bakabuang, scholars are powerless; they can
only convey the negative impact of bakabuang. The study recommends that the bakabuang tradition be
considered a crime against humanity and classified as covert human and sex trafficking of women by the
Minangkabau people of West Sumatra, Indonesia.
... Indeed, people who are highly uncertain about their relationship are also more likely to avoid conflict-inducing topics that may threaten the relationship, such as politics or religion (Knobloch & Carpenter-Theune, 2004). The discussion of finances may also highlight dissimilarities or conflict between couples, whereby previous research has found financial disagreements to be associated with a greater likelihood of divorce (Dew et al., 2012). In sum, we examine relational uncertainty as our outcome of interest given: (a) the association between relational uncertainty and other negative relational outcomes, and (b) relational uncertainty may be a particularly salient outcome to examine relative to the presence of financial strain. ...
Prior research suggests that financial strain negatively impacts relational outcomes and that fluctuations (i.e., volatility) in daily reports of relationship aspects may be detrimental for relational outcomes. Daily relational uncertainty may also be associated with financial stressors; however, little is known about the association between financial strain and levels of daily relational uncertainty, as well as the volatility in day-to-day relational uncertainty. The current study includes both members of 100 adult different-sex couples (relationship length M = 7.0 years, SD = 7.1) who completed 14 days of daily diaries. We examined whether greater baseline financial strain is associated with higher levels of daily relational uncertainty and greater day-to-day volatility in relational uncertainty among actors and partners. Individuals who reported greater financial strain also reported higher overall levels of daily relationship uncertainty, as well as greater volatility in daily relationship uncertainty. The association between actor financial strain and volatility in daily relationship uncertainty was moderated by gender and marital status, such that financial strain was only associated with greater volatility in daily relationship uncertainty for men (but not for women) and for unmarried (but not married) individuals. Evidence for partner effects were also found, where partners’ higher levels of financial strain was associated with less volatility in actors’ daily relational uncertainty; however, this relationship was moderated by income, gender, and marital status. Individuals with lower income levels (versus high income levels) reported less volatility in their daily relationship uncertainty when their partners reported higher financial strain. Males rather than women reported lower volatility in daily relational uncertainty when their partners reported greater financial strain. In addition, unmarried rather than married individuals reported greater volatility in daily relationship uncertainty when their partners reported higher financial strain. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.
... Some studies suggest that forced proximity is a risk factor for domestic violence (Nigam, 2020). Even without forced proximity, stress, including financial disagreements between spouses, has been found to predict divorce (Dew et al., 2012). A recent study (Balzarini et al., 2020) completed with participants (N = 3,593) in long-term relationships (married, engaged, or dating) from 57 countries found that COVID-19 related stressors, such as social isolation, financial strain, and stress, were associated with greater conflict in relationships. ...
Objective: To assess love and relation�ship satisfaction among dating and married participants pre- and post-COVID-19 lockdown
in India.
Background: Extant literature demonstrates the impact of stressors like terror attacks and natural disasters on intimate relations. Yet little
is known about how a significant stressor like the COVID-19 lockdown will impact love among married and dating couples.
Method: Data from a convenience sample of 100 participants (65 dating, 35 married) was collected in two waves, first in January–March and then in May after the lockdown. Participants
completed an online survey with measures of love, relationship satisfaction, self-esteem, and how they spent time with their partner. Paired sample t test, correlation analysis, and thematic analysis were used.
Results: For both dating and married partici�pants, scores on relationship satisfaction, love, intimacy and passion were significantly lower post-lockdown compared with the pre-lockdown period. Commitment for those dating remained unaffected. Watching movies together and revisiting old memories was related to love for those dating, whereas for married couples, doing household chores, cooking, and watching movies together was associated with love.
Conclusion: Passion and intimacy in relation�ships changed after the COVID-19 lockdown. How couples spent time with each other during
the lockdown holds important implications for relationship satisfaction.
Implications: Practitioners who work with cou�ples must focus on ways in which couples spend quality time with each other. Norms that define a relationship, particularly with regard to partici�pation in domestic work by men, must be revis�ited to adapt to the new normal.
Financial advisors are trained to provide in-depth knowledge and advice regarding financial issues. However, the sensitivity of the information provided and emotions that may be tied to specific financial decisions make it necessary for financial advisors to recognise and understand that providing counselling or coaching on emotional and relationship issues might become an essential part of the service they offer. Financial conflicts are, overall, the most frequently occurring conflict in marriage or a relationship, and they have also been found to be characteristically different from other types of conflict. Therefore, it is necessary that in moving with the times, financial advisors realise this shift in the industry and prepare themselves to provide these non-financial services that clients need. This chapter explores the different financial conflict issues that a financial advisor could encounter when working with couples. The chapter discusses several areas where couples can experience financial conflict, including economic strain, perceived power and control and spending behaviour differences.KeywordsCouplesFinancial conflictMarriagePerceived powerLife coachFamily therapyInterior financeFinancial coachRelationshipEconomic strain
Conflicts about money and finances can be destructive for both the quality and longevity of relationships. This paper reports on a descriptive analysis of the contents of financial conflicts in two samples. Study 1 examined severe financial conflicts in social media posts ( N = 1014) from reddit ( r/relationships). Eight themes were identified via thematic analysis: “unfair relative contributions” “who pays for joint expenses”, “job and income”, “exceptional expenses”, “terms of financial arrangements”, “discrepant financial values”, “one-sided financial decisions”, and “perceived irresponsibility”. Study 2 examined reports of more mundane financial disagreements recalled by married individuals ( N = 481). Seven themes were identified via thematic analysis: “relative contributions”, “job and income”, “different values”, “exceptional expenses”, “mundane expenses”, “money management”, and “perceived irresponsibility”. In both samples, themes could be ordered along the dimensions of “concerns about fairness” and “concerns about responsibility”. The association of relationship outcomes (perceived partner responsiveness, couple satisfaction) with each theme and demographic predictors (income, relationship length, shared finances) were explored. Independent t-tests suggested that participants who recalled disagreements fitting the themes at the extreme ends of the two dimensions (“unfair relative contributions” and “perceived irresponsibility”) reported worse relationship outcomes. In contrast, participants recalling disagreements fitting the theme of “mundane expenses” reported better relationship outcomes.
Keeping and telling secrets are acts of intimacy. This article explores secret-telling-friendly methodologies, capable of encouraging individuals to share their life stories in their own terms, with particular episodes, emotional connections, protagonists, and also secrets. The openness of our research design played an important part in the identification of the role of secret-storytelling in the understanding of life. This was enhanced by methodological tools mobilized during the biographical interviews with individuals of families (the life calendar and the socio-genealogical tree). It testifies the importance of the research design, and method lato sensu, in the sociological analysis of secrets. Each secret connects to the person’s biography, social positioning, historical context, and generational anchor, contributing to understand more about wider social, gender, family, interpersonal, and normative values of given time-space coordinates. Secrets are narrative and emotional devices to build biographical narratives and chronologize life stories, bridging biography and society, exemplarily.
The role of relative income has been greatly discussed in the studies of subjective well-being. However, it is rarely studied with couple’s relationship satisfaction. This study uses two waves of data from the China Family Panel Survey (N = 9,291 in the 2014 wave, and N = 6,844 in the 2018 wave) to examine the association between relative income status and couple’s marriage satisfaction. The multivariable logistic analyses were applied to test the hypotheses. Generally, we find that the relative income status compared with people out-household has an important role in explaining marital satisfaction for husband and wife. Such associations are both significant from family and individual perspectives, but heterogenous from a gender perspective.
Although recent studies have linked pandemic unemployment with poorer mental health, the mechanisms underlying this association remain understudied. In this paper, we develop a mediation model to explain why pandemic job separation might undermine mental health. Using national data from the 2021 Crime, Health, and Politics Survey (n = 1,258), we test the indirect effects of pandemic job separation on psychological distress through several mechanisms. Mediation analyses reveal compound indirect effects of pandemic job separation on psychological distress through the primary pathway of financial strain and the secondary pathways of social support, self-esteem, mastery, religious struggles, and sleep disturbance. Absent the indirect effect of pandemic job separation through financial strain, we would have failed to observe any simple indirect effects through the other proposed mechanisms. Formal moderated mediation analyses also indicate that our observed indirect effects are invariant to subgroup differences in current employment status, education, and household income. In short, our indirect effects are observed for those respondents who were able to regain employment, those with college degrees, and those with the most financial resources. Our results suggest that the temporary expansion of public assistance has been insufficient to offset widespread unemployment and financial hardship during a global pandemic.
Research has shown considerable municipal‐level variation in divorce rates within countries. Given the large increase in cohabitation over the past decades, this study examines whether similar differences can also be observed in the union dissolution risks of cohabitants. By investigating whether six municipal‐level factors important in understanding spatial variation in divorce are also associated with spatial variation in the dissolution of cohabiting unions (financial uncertainty, gender roles, religiosity, social ties, alternative opportunities and educational attainment), this article aims to improve our understanding of municipal differences in the dissolution of cohabiting unions. This study is conducted on register data from Statistics Netherlands (2017–2018). For this study, unique union dissolution information per union type (marriage and cohabitation) is constructed for 355 Dutch municipalities. Nearly all explanatory factors are defined using publicly available municipal‐level information. We use spatial lag regression models to analyse differences in municipal union dissolution risks for different union types. We find that municipal‐level union dissolution risks of cohabiting and married couples are only moderately correlated, suggesting that the risk of union dissolution for cohabiting couples is not necessary high in municipalities with high divorce rates. Municipal‐level indicators of social ties, religiosity and alternative opportunities are linked to municipal‐level variation in union dissolution risks of married and cohabiting couples, whereas municipal‐level variation in financial uncertainty and educational attainment are only linked to municipal‐level variation in union dissolution risks of married couples.
When a romantic relationship becomes serious, partners often confront a foundational decision about how to organize their personal finances: pool money together or keep things separate? In a six-wave longitudinal experiment, we investigated whether randomly assigning engaged or newlywed couples to merge their money in a joint bank account increases relationship quality over time. Whereas couples assigned to keep their money in separate accounts or to a no-intervention condition exhibited the normative decline in relationship quality across the first two years of marriage, couples assigned to merge money in a joint account sustained strong relationship quality throughout. The effect of bank account structure on relationship quality is multiply determined. We examine—and find support for—three potential mechanisms using both experimental and correlational methods: merging finances 1) improves how partners feel about how they handle money, 2) promotes financial goal alignment, and 3) sustains communal norm adherence (e.g., responding to each other’s needs without expectations of reciprocity). While prior research has documented a correlation between financial interdependence and relationship quality, our research offers the first experimental evidence that increasing financial interdependence helps newlyweds preserve stronger relationship quality throughout the newlywed period and potentially beyond.
Emerging adults lack many basic financial capabilities. To avoid conflict that may come from these deficiencies, some emerging adults may financially deceive their romantic partner. However, little is known about financial deception in emerging adult romantic relationships. Through the lenses of two theoretical frameworks, we test whether financial deception intervenes the associations of couple financial communication, financial socialization, and similarity of financial values with romantic relationship flourishing in a sample of 1,950 U.S. emerging adults. Results indicate that couple financial communication, similarity of financial values, and financial socialization may contribute positively toward romantic relationship flourishing. However, financial socialization and financial deception may contribute negatively toward romantic relationship flourishing. Findings are discussed in light of the theoretical frameworks utilized, implications for clinicians and educators are identified, and directions for future research are presented. In summary, being less than fully honest about finances may have implications for emerging adults in romantic relationships.
This study examined factors associated with marital satisfaction/dissatisfaction among Ghanaian couples living in Ghana and abroad. Using a correlational design, data from a convenience sample of 231 married participants from Ghana and abroad were collected via an online survey. Results from regression analyses revealed that four positive behaviors—affection, companionship, commitment to the family, and financial support—and one negative behavior, beatings/slaps, were significantly associated with marital satisfaction. Three negative behaviors—annoying habits, selfishness, and disrespect—were significantly associated with marital dissatisfaction. Participants in Ghana reported significantly higher rates of beatings in marriage compared to those abroad. Also, negative behaviors experienced in marriage were significantly associated with less secure and more anxious attachment styles. Finally, slaps/beatings as associated with marital satisfaction show unique cultural/sub-cultural interpretations of behaviors. Findings contribute to growing studies and clinical practice that serve multicultural individuals and families.
Purpose
Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic impacts the financial condition and the mental health of millions of workers from various informal sectors. This study aims to look into the hawkers’ community’s mental health and living conditions in Bangladesh during COVID-19.
Design/methodology/approach
The researchers have applied the purposive sampling technique to choose ten hawkers from Khulna city, a district in the southern region of Bangladesh. An in-depth interview was taken in the Bengali language in an unstructured manner and lasted 30–40 min per respondent.
Findings
The findings showed that the Hawkers’ income reduced, and specifically, during the pandemic, they had earned half of what they usually made before. Besides, they could not open their stores because law enforcement agencies imposed restrictions on opening business centres during the lockdown except for some emergency necessities shops. This restriction led the hawkers to stop selling their products because there was a high chance of spreading the virus through the products they sold. Due to income reduction, they had to eat cheap food, which caused their health problems. Consequently, this community mentally got depressed.
Practical implications
Policymakers in Bangladesh might think about enacting more effective measures to provide some extrinsic and intrinsic support in improving the mental health of the hawkers’ community.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study on the mental of the hawkers’ community during COVID-19.
In couple relationships, discussing finances is often considered taboo. Specifically, emerging adult couples experience several unique financial challenges that may contribute to poorer financial communication and pose relational risks. Utilizing structural equation modeling with a sample of 1,950 U.S. emerging adults, the current study tests associations between the time of a couple’s first financial discussion, financial communication, relationship quality, and
financial conflict. Results indicate that initiating financial discussion earlier in a romantic relationship may benefit relationship quality—through financial communication. However, having an earlier first financial discussion as a couple was also positively associated with
financial conflict. Financial therapists might consider teaching emerging adult couples to have a first financial discussion earlier along with strategies to overcome financial conflict. Additionally, financial therapists may consider assessing when emerging adult couples first discussed finances in their relationship. Overall, our findings suggest the sooner an emerging adult couple discusses finances, the better.
This study investigates how partners’ money management strategies are associated with the experience of financial disagreements among older couples (60–80 years old). Money management is a broad concept, and this study operationalizes whether the partners pool all money, the partners pool some money, one partner manages the money (and gives a share to the other partner for personal spending), or the partners keep all money separate. The data comprise a subsample from the Swedish Generations and Gender Survey from 2012 to 2013. The descriptive statistics show that 11% of older couples experience financial disagreements and that there is a large variation in how couples manage their money. Contrary to our expectations, logistic regression analyses further indicate that couples who pool all money are less likely to have financial disagreements than couples who either keep all money separate or adopt a lower degree of pooling. Whether some or all money is kept separate does not seem to be important for the likelihood of financial disagreements, as all these couples are more likely to experience disagreements. Among couples with financial hardship, partial pooling and keeping money separate are associated with a higher likelihood of financial disagreements than pooling all money. In conclusion, the greater probability of financial disagreements among couples who do not pool their earnings calls for greater awareness of the potential consequences of various money management contexts among individuals, couples, decision-makers and practitioners. In the worst cases, couples may have poor financial wellbeing.
There are many households with financial problems, but most research on financial management is restricted to individual effects, not taking into account the relationship these individuals are in. The current investigation tests whether a person’s attachment style predicts how comfortable they are talking about financial issues with their partner and how that relates to different financial outcome variables. Two cross-sectional survey studies in the Netherlands and the US, each with more than 100 participants show that a higher score on anxious attachment is related to less communication about money with one’s partner. Less financial communication is related to worse financial management within the couple, which in turn predicts conflicts about money. A third survey with 770 participants shows that less financial communication is related to more financial problems. These findings highlight the need to take relationship variables into account to understand financial processes in couples.
In this article, we attempt to distinguish between the properties of moderator and mediator variables at a number of levels. First, we seek to make theorists and researchers aware of the importance of not using the terms moderator and mediator interchangeably by carefully elaborating, both conceptually and strategically, the many ways in which moderators and mediators differ. We then go beyond this largely pedagogical function and delineate the conceptual and strategic implications of making use of such distinctions with regard to a wide range of phenomena, including control and stress, attitudes, and personality traits. We also provide a specific compendium of analytic procedures appropriate for making the most effective use of the moderator and mediator distinction, both separately and in terms of a broader causal system that includes both moderators and mediators. (46 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
p> Recent studies have suggested that relative to other types of marital disagreement, financial disagreements are more problematic for couples. Using data from the National Survey of Families and Households (N = 3,861 couples), we tested whether different types of marital disagreements predicted self-reported marital conflict tactics. Considering the findings overall, financial disagreements were among the consistent top predictors of conflict tactics, including using heated arguments more frequently than calm discussion. Contrary to previous studies, however, disagreements over housework also predicted conflict tactics about as strongly as financial disagreements. Husbands’ reports of financial disagreements were more closely associated with conflict tactics than wives’ reports. </p
Social exchange theory (SET) is one the most influential conceptual paradigms in organizational behavior. Despite its usefulness, theoretical ambiguities within SET remain. As a consequence, tests of the model, as well as its applications, tend to rely on an incompletely specified set of ideas. The authors address conceptual difficulties and highlight areas in need of additional research. In so doing, they pay special attention to four issues: (a) the roots of the conceptual ambiguities, (b) norms and rules of exchange, (c) nature of the resources being exchanged, and (d) social exchange relationships.
Financial spending behaviors and relationship satisfaction are generally thought to be linked for many couples. The current study examined how perceived personal, partner, and joint spending behaviors influence relationship satisfaction. The sample consisted of residents from several communities within one mid)western state (N = 347). Spending behavior items were used to examine the interrelationship between perceived financial spending behaviors and relationship satisfaction. Results indicated that partner spending behaviors, but not one's own or joint spending behaviors, influence relationship satisfaction. Other factors associated with relationship satisfaction included self-esteem and financial stressors. Findings suggest a need for marriage and family therapists and financial counselors and planners to consider financial behaviors, namely spending activities, as an important element when providing counseling services. © 2008 Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education ®. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved.
Using the two waves of the National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH), we examine the effects on marital dissolution of couple's gender attitudes, perceived unfairness, marital disagreements, and relationship alternatives, exploring whether these dimensions of marriage influence marital dissolution, net of serious forms of hardship commonly noted in divorce research. With event history methods, we find that husbands’, but not wives’, perceived disagreements and alternatives are associated with higher odds of marital dissolution, though couples' marital happiness strongly mediates the effects of husbands' dissatisfaction. Wives' traditional attitudes are associated with lower odds and husbands' with higher odds of marital dissolution. We find no significant effects of unfairness perceptions on divorce. A nonviolent relationship is associated with lower odds of marital dissolution, but accumulated assets and debt and husbands' drug or alcohol abuse are not associated significantly with marital dissolution. Our analysis contributes to divorce research by demonstrating the importance of gender attitudes and low physical conflict and by showing that instances of perceived dissatisfaction might not matter for couples as much as marital happiness as an influence on divorce.
A commonly held view is that arguments about money are associated with marital problems, but relatively little is known about the nature of arguing about money within marriage. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79), this study uses a collective bargaining approach to examine the role of money arguments in marriage. The sample (N = 1,371) consists of married women. A collective bargaining framework provides a context for understanding money arguments within the marital relationship. Results indicate that costly communication is the dominant predictor of money arguments, followed by level and proportion of wife’s income, and household net worth. Because results suggest that both communication and financial resources are important components to understanding money arguments within marriage, a combination of professionals trained in marital therapy and/or financial planning is required for couples interested in seeking assistance to increase their satisfaction and/or avoid divorce.
In this article, we attempt to distinguish between the properties of moderator and mediator variables at a number of levels. First, we seek to make theorists and researchers aware of the importance of not using the terms moderator and mediator interchangeably by carefully elaborating, both conceptually and strategically, the many ways in which moderators and mediators differ. We then go beyond this largely pedagogical function and delineate the conceptual and strategic implications of making use of such distinctions with regard to a wide range of phenomena, including control and stress, attitudes, and personality traits. We also provide a specific compendium of analytic procedures appropriate for making the most effective use of the moderator and mediator distinction, both separately and in terms of a broader causal system that includes both moderators and mediators.
Money has been said to change people's motivation (mainly for the better) and their behavior toward others (mainly for the worse). The results of nine experiments suggest that money brings about a self-sufficient orientation in which people prefer to be free of dependency and dependents. Reminders of money, relative to nonmoney reminders, led to reduced requests for help and reduced helpfulness toward others. Relative to participants primed with neutral concepts, participants primed with money preferred to play alone, work alone, and put more physical distance between themselves and a new acquaintance.
This study investigated the extent to which reports of marital problems in 1980 predicted divorce between 1980 and 1992, the extent to which these problems mediated the impact of demographic and life course variables on divorce, and gender differences in reports of particular marital problems and in the extent to which these reports predicted divorce. Wives reported more marital problems than husbands did, although this was due to husbands' tendency to report relatively few problems caused by their spouses. A variety of marital problems predicted divorce up to 12 years in the future. A parsimonious set of marital problems involving infidelity, spending money foolishly, drinking or drug use or both, jealousy, moodiness, and irritating habits mediated moderate proportions of the associations between demographic and life course variables and divorce.
Many are familiar with the financial ruin the recent recession effected: U.S. unemployment above 10%, foreclosure rates at all time highs, and multitrillion dollar investment and home equity losses. Behind the easily calculated financial costs of the recession, though, are costs that are less easily defined - the individual and family costs. For example, home foreclosures likely exacerbated stress for many families. Unemployment probably took its toll on cohabiting and married couples' relationship quality. Finally, as older individuals watched retirement savings dwindle, many may have postponed retirement - some perhaps indefinitely. These ideas are speculative, though, because despite financial issues' potential to influence family life and relationships, family scholars have studied them less than other topics. Zelizer (1994, p. 43) noted, "In terms of evidence, to study money in the family is to enter largely uncharted territory. . . . We know less about money matters than about family violence or even marital sex." A decade later, DaIy (2003, p. 778) asserted, "we have given less attention to understanding how spending behaviors and consumer goods are the basis for the construction of meaning in the everyday experience of family life." Recent scholarship has made similar assertions (Stanley & Einhorn, 2007). These assertions are borne out when examined empirically. A review of 3,400 studies in Family Relations and the Journal of Marriage and Family from 1 980 to 2005 found only 91 articles with a main focus on finances and families; only 9 of those dealt with family relationships (Israelsen & Hatch, 2005). Thus, only 2.6% of these studies examined financial issues within the family context and only 0.2% examined how financial issues were associated with family relationships. Consequently, two research goals regarding the finance-family research gap guided this special issue. The first goal was to publish top quality papers examining how families dealt with financial difficulties. The studies we received in response were novel and timely. Two examples are a study that examined whether the recession pulled more wives into the labor force (Mattingly & Smith, 2010) and another that examined the predictors of using savings or consumer debt during a shortfall in income (Baek & DeVaney, 2010). The studies in this category provide insight into how families have dealt with (and are still dealing with) the effects of the recession. The second research goal was to more broadly stimulate scholarship regarding the association between financial issues and family relations. These broader studies showed that financial issues were associated with adult relationship quality and parent-child relationships. For example, one study demonstrated that pooling financial resources was associated with higher marital quality for wives than for husbands (Addo & Sassler, 2010). Two others explored parental influence on the financial behavior of young adult offspring (Jorgensen & Savia, 2010; Serido, Shim, Mishar, & Tang, 2010). We hope that this special issue might become one of many watershed moments where the discipline of family studies recognizes how central financial issues are to families and to family functioning. Although it already accomplished its two main goals, this issue will be even more successful if it continues to spark research on the ways that financial issues and family relationships intertwine. …
As part of the Center for Financial Security’s 2010 symposium, this study examined the association between consumer debt and divorce. Longitudinal data from the National Survey of Families and Households (N = 4,574 couples) indicated that consumer debt was positively associated with divorce. Financial conflict completely mediated this association for both husbands and wives and marital satisfaction also completely mediated the association for wives. These findings suggest that when families take financial steps to secure their financial stability they may also be taking steps to secure their relationship stability.
Despite the paucity of empirical evidence indicating the impact of money arguments on spousal relationship outcomes, it is common belief that money plays a large role in the life of couples. This study used panel data from the 1979 National Longitudinal Study of Youth to examine how money-related arguments affect the marital relationship. Economic theory indicates that initial expectations about the marriage and variance in expectations are both important in predicting relationship satisfaction and divorce. Money arguments were modeled as a sign of the lack of investment in spousal-specific capital and were hypothesized to negatively impact relationship quality. Results suggest that money arguments are an important indicator of relationship satisfaction, but are not as influential in predicting divorce. Both the approach used to model money arguments and the empirical results can be used by marriage therapists and financial counselors to help couples understand and improve the benefits received through marriage.
Virtually no studies exist that support the still popular belief that financial problems are the number one cause of divorce. Recent studies have found financial problems to be poor predictors of divorce. This study investigated the effect of selected demographic characteristics on the relationship between financial problems and divorce for individuals who were in their first marriages.Discriminant analysis techniques were used to analyze the data. Although all of the discriminant functions were statistically significant, the demographic and financial-problem variables generated no meaningful predictive power. That is, the variables used in this study were not useful in discriminating the divorced from the nondivorced.
This article examines marital power dynamics in couples in which wives earn more than their husbands, work in higher status occupations, or both to determine if wives with resource advantages are able to exercise greater power in their relationships than wives in more conventional marriages. The results do not bear out this hypothesis. This article argues that the logic of resource and exchange theories breaks down when women bring more money and status to the marital relationship. This suggests that the balance of marital power is more closely related to gender than to income or status. This article examines what Komter (1989) calls the hidden power in marriage and highlights how these couples do gender in ways that reinforce the husband's power.
Research in the Unites States concerning the relative access of women and men to financial resources has focused on the influence of women's increasing market work but has largely overlooked the also critical issue of what happens to money after it enters couple households. To fill this gap, this article employs a typology of household allocative systems developed in Great Britain to analyze money management and control in a sample of U.S. couples drawn from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. I find that the use of these systems varies substantially across socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, and relationship status groups, as well as by partners' relative household contributions. The patterns suggest that many women, already disadvantaged in earnings, either absolutely or relative to their partners, are in couples in which men's control over or withholding of income may reproduce or exacerbate their earnings disadvantage.
Utilizing a sample of 76 white, middle-class couples from a rural midwestern county, this study examined two central propositions: (a) the negative impact of economic hardship on a spouse's marital quality (happiness/satisfaction) or marital instability (thoughts or actions related to divorce) is in part a function of its influence on the affective quality of marital interactions, and (b) this process is particularly applicable to the hostile, irritable response of men to financial difficulties. A series of analyses supported these propositions. Economic pressures had an indirect association with married couples' evaluation of the marriage by promoting hostility in marital interactions and curtailing the warm and supportive behaviors spouses express toward one another. The hypothesized process was most pronounced for husbands, whose behavior was more strongly associated with economic problems than wives' behavior. Findings from the study are consistent with previous research that identifies negative affect as a principal behavioral correlate of marital distress; however, the results also suggest that more research needs to be done on the role of warmth and supportiveness in promoting marital quality. Limitations of the research and future research directions are discussed.
The purpose of this article is to use a distributive justice approach to understand women's sense of fairness about family work. Previous research on family work is reviewed and organized around three factors that contribute to sense of fairness: Outcome values, comparison referents, and justifications. Women sense an injustice if they lack some outcome they desire, have a high standard for comparison, and believe there is no acceptable justification for being deprived of desired outcomes. To understand women's sense of fairness, researchers need to consider (a) valued outcomes other than time and tasks, (b) between-and within-gender comparison referents, and (c) gender-specific justifications for men's small contribution to family work.
In this edition, the authors have tried to describe the full scope of family therapy—its rich history, the classic schools, the latest developments.
There are lots of changes in this edition: more up-to-date descriptions of the latest models, an expanded treatment of the cognitive-behavioral approach, a richer description of the research literature, and a more thorough and consistent emphasis on clinical techniques. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
The Domestic Production of MoniesAllowance versus a Joint Account: The Allowance as “Bad” MoneyA Husband's Allowance: Domestic Money in the Working ClassPin Money versus Real Money: Defining Women's EarningsKeeping Money Domestic
I argue that there is significant disjunction between the way that families live their lives and the way that we theorize about families. Using the metaphor of positive and negative spaces from the art world, I argue that there are many negative spaces in our theorizing—everyday family activities that take up considerable time, energy, and attention but that are poorly represented in our theorizing about families. Specifically, there are three negative spaces that call out for more attention, including the realm of spirituality, emotions, and myths; activities related to consumption; and time and space.
Guided by a family stress perspective, we examined the hypothesis that discussing money would be associated with the handling of marital conflict in the home. Analyses were based on dyadic hierarchical linear modeling of 100 husbands' and 100 wives' diary reports of 748 conflict instances. Contrary to findings from previous laboratory-based surveys, spouses did not rate money as the most frequent source of marital conflict in the home. However, compared to non-money issues, marital conflicts about money were more pervasive, problematic, and recurrent, and remained unresolved, despite including more attempts at problem solving. Implications for professionals who assist couples in managing their relationships and family finances are discussed.
Introduction General Conditions for the Randomization-Validity of Infinite-m Repeated-Imputation Inferences Examples of Proper and Improper Imputation Methods in a Simple Case with Ignorable Nonresponse Further Discussion of Proper Imputation Methods The Asymptotic Distribution of (Q̄m, Ūm, Bm) for Proper Imputation Methods Evaluations of Finite-m Inferences with Scalar Estimands Evaluation of Significance Levels from the Moment-Based Statistics Dm and Δm with Multicomponent Estimands Evaluation of Significance Levels Based on Repeated Significance Levels
Scholars identified a negative relationship between assets and divorce decades ago, but the mechanisms behind this relationship
remain unknown. Using data from the National Survey of Families and Households (N = 4,721 couples), this study compared three mechanisms that might link assets and divorce. Non-proportional Cox hazard models
indicated that two of the three mechanisms explained the relationship between assets and divorce. Wives’ marital satisfaction
and their perceptions of their hypothetical post-divorce standard of living completely mediated the relationship between assets
and divorce. The relationship between assets and divorce was not related to husbands’ characteristics.
The key relationship dynamics of communication, conflict, and commitment were investigated using data from a randomly sampled, nationwide phone survey of adults in married, engaged, and cohabiting relationships. Findings on communication and conflict generally replicated those of studies using more indepth or objective measurement strategies. Negative interaction between partners was negatively associated with numerous measures of relationship quality and positively correlated with divorce potential (thinking or talking about divorce). Withdrawal during conflict by either or both partners, though quite common, was associated with more negativity and less positive connection in relationships. The most frequently reported issue that couples argue about in first marriages was money, and in re-marriages it was conflict about children. Overall, how couples argue was more related to divorce potential than was what they argue about, although couples who argue most about money tended to have higher levels of negative communication and conflict than other couples. Further, while the male divorce potential was more strongly linked to levels of negative interaction, the female was more strongly linked to lower positive connection in the relationship. Consistent with the commitment literature, higher reported commitment was associated with less alternative monitoring, less feeling trapped in the relationship, and greater relationship satisfaction.
This article addresses the therapeutic importance of discussing money at every stage of a couple's relationship, both as a concrete reality and as a metaphor for security, adequacy, competence, commitment, acceptance, and acknowledgment in a relationship. I will present a developmental schema looking at financial issues that couples confront at various stages in the adult life cycle and how these affect and reflect relationship problems. The article also presents a money questionnaire as a useful tool for exploring family-of-origin financial history, affect, and behavior.
Using a sample consisting of 4,997 married couples from the National Survey of Families and Households, individual emotional distress, the occurrence of couple disagreements, couple fighting, and couple quality time together mediated the relationship between financial strain and personal assessments of marital instability. The overall results suggest that financial strain influences both positive and negative forms of couple interaction which are stronger mediators than personal emotional distress of the relationship between financial strain and marital instability. The results further suggest that there were no gender differences among these linkages. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2007
We examine the physical and mental health effects of providing care to an elderly mother on the adult child caregiver. We address the endogeneity of the selection in and out of caregiving using an instrumental variable approach, and carefully control for baseline health and work status of the adult child using fixed effects and Arellano-Bond estimation techniques. Continued caregiving over time increases depressive symptoms for married women and married men. In addition, the increase in depressive symptoms is persistent for married men. Depressive symptoms for single men and women are not affected by continued caregiving. There is a small protective effect on the likelihood (10%) of having any heart conditions among married women who continue caregiving. Robustness checks confirm that the increase in depressive symptoms and decrease in likelihood of heart conditions can be directly attributable to caregiving behavior, and not due to a direct effect of the death of the mother. The initial onset of caregiving, by contrast, has no immediate effects on physical or mental health for any subgroup of caregivers.
Techniques of event history modeling: New approaches to causal analysis The influence of perceived spending behaviors on relationship satisfaction
- H P Blossfeld
- G Rohwer
Blossfeld, H. P., & Rohwer, G. (2002). Techniques of event history modeling: New approaches to causal analysis (2nd ed.). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum. Britt, S. L., Grable, J. E., Nelson-Goff, B. S., & White, M. (2008). The influence of perceived spending behaviors on relationship satisfaction. Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning, 19, 31 – 43.
Introduction to finances, families, and hard times.
- Dew
Dew, J. P. (2010). Introduction to finances, families, and hard times. Family Relations, 59, 341 – 342.
Retaining clients through improved mar-ital satisfaction. Academy of Financial Services Proceedings You paid how much for Family Relations that? How to win at money without losing at love
- S J Huston
- S L Britt
- D L Durband
- J Grable
- Co Denver
- N H Jenkins
- S M Stanley
- W C Bailey
- H J Markman
Huston, S. J., Britt, S. L., Durband, D. L., & Grable, J. (2010). Retaining clients through improved mar-ital satisfaction. Academy of Financial Services Proceedings. Denver, CO. Jenkins, N. H., Stanley, S. M., Bailey, W. C., & Markman, H. J. (2002). You paid how much for Family Relations that? How to win at money without losing at love. San Fransisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Is the economy ruining your marriage? Money Magazine Retrieved from http://money.cnn.com Family therapy: Concepts and methods
- G Mannes
Mannes, G. (2009). Is the economy ruining your marriage? Money Magazine. Retrieved from http://money.cnn.com/2009/08/10/news/economy/ economy_marriage.moneymag/index.htm?post version=2009082110 Nichols, M. P., & Schwartz, R. C. (2004). Family therapy: Concepts and methods (6th ed.). New York: Allyn and Bacon.
Fatal (fiscal) attraction: Spendthrifts and tightwads in marriage. SSRN Working Paper Retrieved from http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_ id=1339240 Multiple imputation for nonre-sponse in surveys Hard living, perceived entitlement to a great marriage, and marital dissolution
- S I Rick
- D A Small
- E J Finkel
Rick, S. I., Small, D. A., & Finkel, E. J. (2009). Fatal (fiscal) attraction: Spendthrifts and tightwads in marriage. SSRN Working Paper. Retrieved from http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_ id=1339240 Rubin, D. B. (1987). Multiple imputation for nonre-sponse in surveys. New York: Wiley. Sanchez, L., & Gager, C. T. (2000). Hard living, perceived entitlement to a great marriage, and marital dissolution. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 62, 708 – 722.
The state of our unions: Marriage in America, 2009. Money and marriage
- W B Wilcox
Wilcox, W. B. (2009). The state of our unions: Marriage in America, 2009. Money and marriage. Charlottesville, VA: National Marriage Project.
The power of the purse: Allocation systems and inequality in couple households.
- Kenney
- Rubin
Financial problems and divorce: Do demographic characteristics strengthen the relationship?
- Andersen