Perceived Relationship Approval and Inclusion by Parents-in-Law as Predictors of Marital Satisfaction and Stability

Becoming part of an in-law family system can be a difficult process. The limited peer-reviewed research on in-law relationships and their impact on marital satisfaction and stability suggest that parental-in-law relationships are influential on the adult child's marital relationship quality. The present study explored the association between children-in-law's perceived relationship approval/inclusion by parents-in-law and marital satisfaction and stability. The results of structural equation modeled dyadic data analysis indicated that the perception of relationship approval/inclusion by parents-in-law was predictive of marital satisfaction and stability for both husbands and wives. The relationships between approval/inclusion and marital satisfaction and marital stability were mediated by perceptions of problems related to parents-in-law. Husbands and wives' perceptions of problems related to parents-in-law, marital satisfaction, and marital stability predicted their partner's marital satisfaction and marital stability. Limitations and recommendations for future research, as well as clinical implications for treating problems related to parents-in-law, are provided.