Separations of romantic relationships are experienced differently by initiators and noninitiators

Brüning, Max

doi:10.1073/pnas.2020901119

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 85 publications

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“…Longer-term effects, however, were biased downward when adjusting for future life events (mostly finding a new partner) indicating overcontrol bias when adopting a total control strategy. This is consistent with a recent analysis of effects of separation on well-being that showed more positive post-event trajectories if re-partnering occurred within a year (Brüning, 2022).…”

Section: Are Effect Estimates Of Life Events On Life Satisfaction Bia...supporting

confidence: 91%

“…Conversely, separation, unemployment, death of partner, and death of child affected life satisfaction negatively. In line with previous studies, we found a short-term negative effect of separation on life satisfaction in the year after the event that was relatively similar for men and women (Brüning, 2022;Rhoades et al, 2011;. For first separation, there was also evidence for a decrease in the second year after the event.…”

Section: Negative Eventssupporting

confidence: 91%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Life events and life satisfaction: Estimating effects of multiple life events in combined models

Krämer¹,

Rohrer²,

Lucas³

et al. 2023

Preprint

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How do life events affect life satisfaction? Previous studies focused on a single event or separate analyses of several events. However, life events are often grouped non-randomly over the lifespan, occur in close succession, and are causally linked, raising the question of how to best analyze them jointly. Here, we used representative German data (SOEP; N = 40,121 individuals; n = 41,402 event occurrences) to contrast three fixed-effects model specifications: First, individual event models in which other events were ignored, which are thus prone to undercontrol bias; second, combined event models which controlled for all events, including subsequent ones, which may induce overcontrol bias; and third, our favored combined models that only controlled for preceding events. In this preferred model, the events of new partner, cohabitation, marriage, and childbirth had positive effects on life satisfaction, while separation, unemployment, and death of partner or child had negative effects. Model specification made little difference for employment- and bereavement-related events. However, for events related to romantic relationships and childbearing, small but consistent differences arose between models. Thus, when estimating effects of new partners, separation, cohabitation, marriage, and childbirth, care should be taken to include appropriate controls (and omit inappropriate ones) to minimize bias.

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Section: Are Effect Estimates Of Life Events On Life Satisfaction Bia...supporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Negative Eventssupporting

confidence: 91%

Life events and life satisfaction: Estimating effects of multiple life events in combined models

Krämer¹,

Rohrer²,

Lucas³

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…CHANGE IN RELATIONSHIP SATISFACTION separation). Future research should examine the moderating role of initiator status on change in relationship satisfaction in relationships and across consecutive relationships (e.g., Brüning, 2022). Relatedly, this study does not provide information about the relationship processes that may explain the patterns of stability and change in satisfaction within and across relationships.…”

Section: Limitations and Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 90%

How relationship satisfaction changes within and across romantic relationships: Evidence from a large longitudinal study.

Bühler,

Orth

2024

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

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Research suggests that relationship satisfaction changes in systematic ways over the course of a relationship. In this preregistered study, we tested whether relationship satisfaction changes differently as a function of the eventual outcome of the relationship, that is, whether the relationship lasted, whether it was dissolved, and whether people began a new relationship after separation. Data came from a large longitudinal study (the Longitudinal Study of Generations), including 2,268 participants aged 16-90 years, who were assessed at up to seven waves across 20 years. We used multilevel models to examine change in relationship satisfaction within relationships (i.e., comparing continuing and dissolving relationships) and across relationships (i.e., comparing consecutive relationships of the same persons). The results indicated that satisfaction in dissolving (vs. continuing) relationships was lower and showed a more pronounced decrease over the course of the relationship. Individuals who began a new relationship after separation were more satisfied at the beginning of the new relationship compared to the beginning of the previous relationship. However, satisfaction declined within both relationships (i.e., the previous and the new relationship). Moderator analyses indicated that relationship satisfaction decreased more strongly when participants had children, were in a dissolving relationship of briefer duration, and when the time lag between the previous and current relationship had been shorter. Overall, the findings contribute to understanding change in satisfaction within and across relationships. The Discussion addresses the possibility that couples tend to separate when relationship satisfaction falls below a critical value.

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“…Moreover, women conduct a larger share of emotional work in the marriage, making them more perceptive to unmet needs (Frisco & Williams, 2003; Umberson et al, 2015). Indeed, about 55–90% of all divorces are requested by women (Australia: Hewitt et al, 2006; France: Boigeol & Commaille, 1974; Germany: Brüning, 2022; the Netherlands: Kalmijn & Poortman, 2006; Sweden: Wadsby & Svedin, 1992; United States: Braver et al, 1994; Brinig & Allen, 2000; England et al, 2016; Rosenfeld, 2018; Sweeney, 2002). In line with the view of lower marital attractions for women, a recent study suggests that although women are more likely to desire and start the divorce process, men are more likely to be held responsible for the divorce (Parker et al, 2022).…”

Section: Theoretical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

The educational diffusion of divorce: The role of gender and context

Hogendoorn,

van den Berg

2024

J of Marriage and Family

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ObjectiveThis study examines the education diffusion of divorce in Europe and the role of women's decision‐making therein.BackgroundAs the contextual barriers to divorce have lowered, the divorce rates of less‐educated women have increased in many societies. Changes in divorce barriers are likely more pertinent to married women than to married men. However, no previous study has tested whether less‐educated women increasingly take the initiative to divorce or whether less‐educated women are increasingly left by their husbands.MethodThe authors used retrospective panel data from the Generations and Gender Survey, covering 39,650 marital unions across 49 country‐cohort contexts in Europe. Multilevel models showed how divorce barriers were associated with the educational gradient in divorce. Competing‐risks models decomposed the associations into a wife‐initiated share and a husband‐ or jointly‐initiated share.ResultsLower divorce barriers are associated with the educational diffusion of divorce. This diffusion is largely driven by women's own divorce initiation.ConclusionMore permissive family norms and greater economic autonomy enable less‐educated women to leave a dissatisfying marriage.

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Separations of romantic relationships are experienced differently by initiators and noninitiators

Cited by 7 publications

References 85 publications

Life events and life satisfaction: Estimating effects of multiple life events in combined models

Life events and life satisfaction: Estimating effects of multiple life events in combined models

How relationship satisfaction changes within and across romantic relationships: Evidence from a large longitudinal study.

The educational diffusion of divorce: The role of gender and context

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