Marital Satisfaction And Its Relationship To Perceptions Of Self Spouse And Ideal Spouse For Black And White Couples

Equality between husbands and wives is recognized - in theory - as being beneficial to the well-being of a family. However, empirical research over the past two decades indicates that the advantage is `his' rather than `hers': the vast majority of married women still bears a disproportionate responsibility for work related to relationships, home and children. This book examines why, while women's roles have expanded at an astonishing rate, the critical need for a more egalitarian style of relating has not been met. The author maintains that motivation to seek change stems from people perceiving inequality as unfair, and that this perception can be impeded by gender differences in sense of entitlement.

The current study proposes a theoretical model of Interracial Couple Relationship Success and empirically tests a portion of the model in which ethnic identity is linked to relationship satisfaction for Black-White interracial couples. Data were collected from 185 heterosexual Black-White marital couples in the United States. An actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) was used to test the direct and indirect effects of ethnic identity to relationship satisfaction via self-esteem and problem-solving skills. The results indicated ethnic identity of both Black and White partners was related to Black but not White partners self-esteem. Findings also revealed significant indirect pathways from Black partners self-esteem to their own relationship satisfaction via effective problem-solving skills. The indirect pathway from Black partners self-esteem to partner relationship satisfaction was also mediated by partner perceptions of problem-solving in the relationship. The results of this study informs the continued development of the of Interracial Couple Relationship Success model and offers data regarding the role of identity and individual well-being in the context of interracial relationships.

Marital satisfaction is viewed as a socially constructed reality having a direct impact on the physical, mental, emotional and social well-being of partners in a marriage. Just as marital satisfaction is vital to a couple's well-being, marital dissatisfaction can be distressing to a couple. Instances of research on relevant topics have been found in abundance in the west. However, this study is an attempt to expand the existing literature to the east and provide dovetail conclusions about the levels of marital satisfaction among couples in Pakistan. This study developed a validated screening scale with local norms called "The Marital Satisfaction Scale (MSS)" that would provide appropriate guidelines to the mental health care professionals and marriage counselors for the treatment of dissatisfied married couples. This study explored twelve subscales i.e. In-laws relationship, Communication, Husband's Financial Status, Compromise, Understanding, Spouse Support, Self-Perception, Dual Earning, Mutual Understanding, Education of Partner, Sexual Satisfaction, & Gender Difference, which relates to overall marital satisfaction.

after taking into account perceptions of interaction.