Commitment to one’s spouse as a predictor of marital quality among older couples

Abstract

The present study examined the relationships between several independent variables (ego development, commitment to the spouse, length of marriage, church attendance, and sex of subject) and three marital quality variables (marriage problems, expression of love, and dyadic adjustment) in a community sample of 72 married couples age 50 and up. Commitment to the spouse was the strongest and most consistent predictor of marital quality; commitment was negatively related to marriage problems and positively related to expression of love and dyadic adjustment. The other independent variables were generally unrelated to marital quality.The quality of an older person's marital relationship is one of the key determinants of that person's quality of life and level of life satisfaction (Antonucci and Jackson, 1987;Levenson et al., 1993;Rook, 1984). Haynes et al. (1992, p. 473) note that the marital relationship "can mediate the effects of the stressors associated with aging and serve as an important source of social support," and they cite research supporting this claim (Antonucci and Akiyama, 1987;Medley, 1980). However, in spite of the importance of the marital relationship for many older persons, relatively little research has been conducted on the quality of marital relationships in later life. Instead, most of the research on marital relationships has focused on the relationships of young couples. Several researchers have noted this gap in the literature and have called for more research on the marital relationships of older couples (e.g., Condie, 1989;Levenson et al., 1993;Treas and Bengtson, 1987). The present study was designed to help fill this gap in the marital literature by examining the relationships between several independent variables and three different dimensions of marital quality (a "negative" dimension, that of marital problems, and two "positive" dimensions, the expression of love between spouses and "dyadic adjustment" [Spanier, 1976]) in a sample of older individuals. The predictor variables that were included in the present study were chosen on the basis of results of past research (with couples of various ages) which suggested that these variables might be predictive of the quality of older couples' marital relationships. These variables included ego development, commitment to the spouse, length of marriage, church attendance, and the sex of the subject.

Socio-demographic determinants of marital satisfaction in Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

“…Gender differences have been found in the household division of labour, parenting styles and responsibilities, the expression of sexual intimacy and in psychological orientation (Heaton and Blake, 1999 McRae and Brody (1989) found that being in a happy marriage is more important to women than men. Haynes et al (1992) compared men and women on eight different aspects of marital satisfaction and found that men reported significantly higher satisfaction than did women on four of the eight comparisons (the other four comparisons did not yield statistically significant sex differences) (Clements and Swensen, 2000). In contrast, Gilford and Bengtson (1979) and Levenson et al (1993) found no gender differences with regard to marital satisfaction (Clements and Swensen, 2000) which is consistent to finding of the present study.…”

“…Haynes et al (1992) compared men and women on eight different aspects of marital satisfaction and found that men reported significantly higher satisfaction than did women on four of the eight comparisons (the other four comparisons did not yield statistically significant sex differences) (Clements and Swensen, 2000). In contrast, Gilford and Bengtson (1979) and Levenson et al (1993) found no gender differences with regard to marital satisfaction (Clements and Swensen, 2000) which is consistent to finding of the present study.…”

Factors Preventing Gridlock in Chilean Couples’ Relationships Based on the Discourse of Couples Therapists and Highly Adjusted Couples

“…The therapy could use these resources to strength the bond avoiding the interventions that threaten those beliefs. Other studies have confirmed that shared values provide an important source of support for satisfied long-term couples (Clements & Swensen, 2000;Kaslow & Robison, 1996;Lauer & Lauer, 1986;Roizblatt et al, 1999).…”

Thin slices of infidelity: Determining whether observers can pick out cheaters from a video clip interaction and what tips them off

“…Research has demonstrated that commitment, which could be defined as the feeling of psychological attachment toward a relationship, is a central factor in predicting important relationship outcomes, including marital quality (Clements & Swensen, 2000), better communication (Stanley, 2005), and long-term stability (Fenell, 1993). Commitment also serves as a mediator between stay/leave decisions in romantic relationships (Drigotas & Bart, 2001;Rusbult, 1983).…”