Marital Happiness and Inter-Racial Marriage: A Study in a Multi-Ethnic Community in Hawaii

Abstract

Inter-racial marriages are often reported as less stable and less happy than intra-racial marriages, but the effect of race and culture is difficult to separate. This paper examines self-reported marital happiness among a sample of married couples in a multi-racial, multi-cultural but homoreligious community. Findings suggest that even after controlling religion and many other demographic variables, inter-racially married individuals report lower happiness than those in intraracial unions, especially women. When couples are used as unit of analysis and husband and wife’s responses are controlled for each other, wives’ happiness is significantly affected by interracial marriage. Husbands’ happiness is not related to their type of marriage.

Sustainable Development: The Effects of Social Normative Beliefs On Environmental Behaviour

“…Descriptive normative beliefs relate to the perception of whether a behaviour is typical or atypical (Atchley et al , ). Social responsibility beliefs rely on a consensus amongst individuals (Parker and Koshiba, ) and a normative assessment (Johnson and Mulvey, ) that governs group pattern variations (Fu et al , ). The environmental behaviour of other individuals may increase individuals' perceptions of responsibility towards the behaviour because of the collective needs of individuals.…”

Dissimilar and Disadvantaged: Age Discrepancy, Financial Stress, and Marital Conflict in Cross-Border Marriages

“…Cross-border marriages also raise concerns because of the potential for linguistic and cultural differences relating to lifestyle, attitudes, and values. This issue has received extensive academic attention in relation to interethnic and interracial relationships in Western societies (Fu, Tora, & Kendall, 2001; Hohmann-Marriott & Amato, 2008; Negy & Snyder, 2000). In particular, feminist scholars have emphasized how socioeconomic inequalities between women and men locally and globally have prompted many women to enter interethnic transnational marriages or trapped them in an unhappy one (Piper, 1997).…”

How Couples Manage Interracial and Intercultural Differences: Implications for Clinical Practice

“…It is therefore important to understand how these couples successfully manage their differences. Unfortunately, most of the previous literature has approached the issues of interracial and intercultural marriages from a problem perspective (e.g., Bratter & King, 2008; Fu, Tora, & Kendall, 2001; Solsberry, 1994). While it is true that interracial/intercultural couples may face a number of hurdles and negative stereotypes, there is an emerging trend to approach the topic from a more positive stance and focus instead on the relational processes that make these relationships successful (e.g., Gaines & Agnew, 2003; Thomas, Karis, & Wetchler, 2003; Yancey & Lewis, 2009).…”