MARITAL SATISFACTION IN COUPLES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN (FAMILY, GENDER ROLES, PARENTING, DIVISION OF LABOR, SEXUALITY)

Two consistent findings in the literature on marital satisfaction are that: (a) women tend to be less satisfied than men and (b) couples with children at home are less satisfied than those at other stages. This study was designed to explore various domains within the marriages of couples with young children. In particular, the relative contributions of sex, spouse's parenting, division of labor, role balance, marital style, and SES to the overall marital satisfaction of husbands and wives was investigated.;Results showed no gender differences in mean levels of marital satisfaction, nor in satisfaction with any other domain. Significant relationships were noted between marital satisfaction and satisfactions with division of labor, role balance, and sex. However, satisfaction with division of labor was the only significant predictor using regression analysis. Satisfactions with spouse's parenting, role balance, and especially division of labor, were more salient for the marital satisfaction of wives than husbands. Surprisingly, satisfaction with spouse's parenting was negatively related to marital satisfaction for husbands. SES, marital style, and satisfaction with sex made no differential contribution to marital satisfaction by gender.;Results also demonstrated major and mutual spousal influence on marital satisfaction. Spouse satisfaction was the best predictor of the other partner's satisfaction. Wives were not significantly more influenced by husbands' satisfaction levels than husbands were influenced by wives'. Wife satisfaction with division of labor was an important predictor of the marital satisfaction of both couple members. Findings were interpreted in terms of gender role expectations and family systems theory.;A longitudinal sample of married couples (Grossman, Eichler, Winickoff et al., 1980) with cross-sectional additions was used (N = 57 couples). All had 5-year-old children. Measures of marital satisfaction (Spanier, 1976), domain satisfaction, quantity and quality of parenting, marital style, and SES (Coleman & Neugarten, 1971) were taken from interview, observational, and paper-and-pencil data. Data were analyzed using t-tests, correlations, and multiple regressions.