Antecedents and Consequences of Marital Satisfaction in an Emirati Sample: A Structural Equation Model Analysis

© 2017 Taylor & Francis. This study surveyed 1,000 married Emirati men and women to explore a model of marital satisfaction in relation to self-esteem, satisfaction with life, gender-role attitudes, and general health (physical and psychological). The Emirati Marital Satisfaction Scale (EMSS), State Self-Esteem Scale (SSES), Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), the Arabic General Health Questionnaire, and the Sex-Role Egalitarianism Scale were used. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on the EMSS indicated a moderate fit of the data to one factor structure. CFA on SSES and SWLS indicated an adequate fit of the data to the four-factor solution and one factor, respectively. The structural equation model for the EMSS showed that both general health and gender-role attitudes predict marital satisfaction and that marital satisfaction seems to predict the individual’s well-being as measured by life satisfaction and self-esteem. These results are discussed within the context of the United Arab Emirates culture and directions for future research are provided

Couple Relationships in the Arab Region: Changes and Renegotiations

This chapter investigates the potential impact of two competing forces on the positioning and dynamics of marriage in the Arab region. It also investigates the level of satisfaction and the possible emergence of a new framework of conscious choice. The first type of forces support individual control. They foster informal unions and equitable dynamics. The expectations are that these relationships are governed by individual choices and are characterized by more closeness and romantic emotions. The second type of forces include the centrality of marriage, as well as a traditional division of gender roles. These forces sustain the institution of marriage, as well as a patriarchal separation of roles. The expectations are that these latter relationships lend themselves to pressured or even forced marriages and are characterized by uneven power relationships and less closeness and romantic ideals. This chapter demonstrates that couple relationships, particularly among the young generations, are caught between two opposing forces. Transformations are occurring, but the speed and degree of change vary widely among countries, as well as between males and females. The role of love and intimacy in shaping couple relationships is also shifting. The current evidence depicts a level of practicality in partner selection, as well as a degree of tension within marriage. It suggests that power relationships remain dominant. It also points to a transitional phase where women are more assertive in claiming their rights and exercising them in different formats