Marriage in Motion: A Study on the Social Context and Processes of Marital Satisfaction.

Abstract

Table of Contents Table of Contents v List of Tables xi List of Figures xv Introduction 1 Part I Social Background and Research Agenda 1. Marriage and Partnership in a Changing Social Landscape 7 1.1. Demographical Issues 8 1.1.1. The 'New' Outlook of Dutch Partnership 8 1.1.2. Transitions in Partnership Interpreted 14 1.1.3. Much Ado About What? 16 1.2. Theoretical Issues 20 1.2.1. The Homo Optionis: Choice, Risk and Partnership 21 1.2.2. Emotionality, Identity, Stability and Vulnerability 24 1.3. Gender Issues 26 1.3.1. Who Gets the Best Deal? 26 1.3.2. The Gender Division of Emotion 28 1.3.3. The Gendered Impact of Children 31 1.4. Conclusion 33 2. Towards a Research Design for Marital Satisfaction 35 2.1. Impetus of the Study 35 2.1.1. The Vulnerability-Stress-Adaptation Model of Marriage 37 2.1.2. From a Conceptual to a Methological Toolkit 41 2.2. Research Questions 42 2.3. Structure of this Study 47 3. Method 51 3.1. Dutch Panel Data 51 3.2. Procedure 55 3.3. Selection and Characteristics of the Married Sub-sample 56 3.4. Validation of the Sample and Missings Cases 58 3.4.1. External Validation 59 3.4.2. Internal Validation 62 3.4.3. Item Non-Response 64 Part II The Study 4. The Dutch Marital Satisfaction and Communication Questionnaire: A Validation Study 69 4.1. Introduction 69 4.2. Research Aim 72 4.3. Study 1 73 4.3.1. Procedure and Participants 74 4.3.2. Measures 74 4.3.3. Results 75 4.4. Study 2 79 4.4.1. Procedure and Participants 79 4.4.2. Measures 81 4.4.3. Results 81 4.5. Study 3 83 4.5.1. Procedure and Participants 83 4.5.2. Measures 83 4.5.3. Results 84 4.6. Discussion 85 5. The relationship Between Communication and Marital Satisfaction. A Cross-Lagged Panel Analysis 89 5.1. Introduction 89 5.2. Method 94 5.2.1. Procedure and Sample 94 5.2.2. Measures 95 5.3. Results 97 5.4. Discussion 105 6. Effects of Spousal Economic and Cultural Characteristics on Marital Satisfaction 109 6.1. Introduction 109 6.2. Theoretical and Empirical Background 110 6.3. Present Study and Hypotheses 115 6.4. Study Design 116 6.5. Method 117 6.5.1. Procedure and Sample 117 6.5.2. Measures 118 6.6. Results 120 6.7. Conclusion and Discussion 131 7. Social Position, Gender Role Identity and Marital Satisfaction 137 7.1. Introduction 137 7.2. Empirical Background 138 7.3. Present Study and Hypotheses 143 7.4. Method 145 7.4.1. Procedure and Sample 145 7.4.2. Measures 146 7.5. Results 148 7.6. Discussion 160 8. Associations Between Gender Characteristics and Marital Outcomes. A Test of Identity Theory in Established Marriages 169 8.1. Introduction 169 8.2. Present Study 175 8.3. Method 176 8.3.1. Participants 176 8.3.2. Measures 178 8.4. Results 180 8.5. Discussion 191 9. Marital Relationships and Parenting Experiences in Established Marriages. Short-Term and Long-Term Interrelationships 199 9.1. Introduction 199 9.2. Short-Term Relationships Between Parenting Experiences and Marital Relationships 201 9.3. Long-Term Relationships Between Parenting Experiences and Marital Satisfaction 209 9.4. Present Study 210 9.5. Method 213 9.5.1. Sample 213 9.5.2. Measures 215 9.6. Results 217 9.7. Discussion and Conclusion 231 Part III Conclusion and Implications 10. Central Findings and Reflections 245 10.1. Introduction 245 10.2. Central Findings Recapitulated and Reconsidered 247 10.2.1. Communication 247 10.2.2. Parenting 249 10.2.3. Spouses' Labor Market Resources and Their Cultural Orientations 252 10.2.4. Gender 255 10.3. Concluding Reflections: Strengths, Unresolved Issues and Future Directions 259 10.3.1. Methodological Reflections 260 10.3.2. Theoretical Reflections 262 10.3.3. Towards a New Research Agenda for Studying Marital Satisfaction 264 10.3.4. Policy Thoughts 268 10.4. Marriage in Motion: Final Reflection 272 Samenvatting – Dutch summary 275 References 293status: publishe