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Developmental Patterns in Marital Satisfaction: Another Look at Covenant Marriage
Alfred Demaris1, Laura A Sanchez, Kristi Krivickas
1Bowling Green State University.
Journal of Marriage and the Family
|November 13, 2012
Summary
Covenant marriage offered husbands a slight benefit, mainly due to premarital counseling. However, marital satisfaction declined similarly for both covenant and standard marriages over time.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Psychology
- Family Studies
Background:
- Marital satisfaction often declines in the early years of marriage.
- Covenant marriage, a legally distinct form of marriage, aims for greater marital stability.
- Understanding factors influencing marital satisfaction trajectories is crucial for relationship research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the trajectory of marital satisfaction in the first seven years for couples in covenant versus standard marriages.
- To identify predictors of marital satisfaction within the first seven years of marriage.
- To examine the influence of premarital counseling and traditional gender role attitudes on marital satisfaction.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 707 Louisiana marriages (1998-2004) using the Marriage Matters Panel Survey.
- Application of multivariate longitudinal growth modeling to track marital satisfaction over time.
- Sample restricted to couples who remained married throughout the study duration.
Main Results:
- A marginal benefit of covenant status was observed for husbands, primarily explained by increased premarital counseling.
- No significant difference in the linear decline of marital satisfaction over time was found between covenant and standard marriages.
- Traditional gender role attitudes, high premarital risk factors, initial uncertainty about marriage, and preschool children negatively impacted marital satisfaction.
Conclusions:
- Premarital counseling appears to be a key factor associated with covenant marriage benefits for husbands.
- Marital satisfaction trajectories are not significantly different between covenant and standard marriages in the initial seven years.
- Societal and individual factors, including gender role attitudes and life stressors, significantly influence marital satisfaction regardless of marriage type.
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