• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.47-56
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• 2016

Objective: This study aimed to explore marital satisfaction changes of married couples from childbirth to 5 years postpartum using the data from the Panel Study of Korean Children 2008-2012. Methods: A total of 2,072 coupes were followed longitudinally during the first 5 years after childbirth. Their repeatedly measured marital satisfaction were analyzed with growth modeling analyses. Results: Husbands and wives had different marital satisfaction trajectories regarding the rate of change and initial marital satisfaction scores. Further, the facets of postpartum marital satisfactions change varied depending on the couples' first, second, and third (or more) birth(s). Conclusion: In general, Korean married couples' marital satisfaction has a decreasing tendency after childbirth. Fathers' marital satisfaction is generally higher but more rapidly decreases compared to mothers' marital satisfaction. Also, couples after first child birth experience a faster decline of marital satisfaction compared to couples after second or third (or more) birth(s).

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.27-38
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences between spouses and the relationship of irrational belief and marital satisfaction of newly married couples. The data were collected from 121 pairs of newly married couples by using self-administered questionnaire method. Results of paired t-tests showed that the degrees of irrational belief of wives were higher than those of their husbands, and that wives'marital satisfaction were lower than their husbands'. Correlational analyses indicated that irrational belief of both husbands and wives were negatively correlated with marital satisfaction of them, respectively. It was also found that marital satisfaction were significantly different across the differences in irrational belief between spouses. These results were discussed in terms of implications for the family life education for newly married couples and/or premarital couples.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.1-14
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• 2000

This study was to identify the influence of family adaptability and cohesion on marriage satisfaction and distress of married couples. For the data 434 married couples Living in Pusan, Korea were chosen. The data were analyzed using M, SD, t-test, factor analysis, MANOVA, scheffe-test, Pearson's correlation, multiple regression, and path analysis. The findings of this study are as follows; First, marital satisfaction is higher for husbands than wives. Physical and psychological distress are higher for wives than husbands. Second, married couples who perceived family adaptability to be higher level are higher marital satisfaction. And husbands who perceived family adaptability to be higher bevel are higher physical distress than other levels of adaptability. Third, husbands who perceived family cohesion to be higher level are higher marital satisfaction, and are lower psychological and physical distress than other levels of adaptability. Wives who perceived family cohesion to be higher level are higher marital satisfaction, and are lower psychological distress than other levels of adaptability. Fourth, for husbands, family adaptability, cohesion and marital satisfaction have significant direct effect on psychological and physical distress. Besides, family cohesion are indirectly associated with psychological and physical distress For wives, family cohesion and marital satisfaction have significant direct effect on psychological distress. Besides, family cohesion are indirectly associated with psychological and physical distress.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.159-176
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• 2014

This study examined the mediating effects of couple communication on self-differentiation and marital satisfaction among married women. The ANOVA, correlation and the multiple regression analysis were used to figure out the relationships and the mediating effects of those variables. The results revealed that self-differentiation was significantly related to marital satisfaction. Also, couple communication was revealed to be a partial and full mediator between self-differentiation and marital satisfaction. The results were as follows. First, there were differences in couple communication and marital satisfaction. Marital satisfaction showed differences according to socio-economic variables such as educational level, occupation, family income, and the years of married life. Educational level and family income made differences in couple's communication. However, socio-economic variables did not make any difference with regard to self-differentiation. Second, there was a significant correlation among all sub-factors for self-differentiation, whole self-differentiation, married couples' communication, and marital satisfaction. Third, the result shows that the mediating effect of couple communication between self-differentiation and marital satisfaction. Couple communication completely mediated the relationship between cognitive vs. emotional function, family projection, emotional cutoff, and marital satisfaction. It also partially mediated the relationship between family regression and marital satisfaction. In addition, there was a tendency to partially mediate the relationship between general self-differentiation and marital satisfaction. The results suggested that self-differentiation and couples communication should be considered together when explaining marital satisfaction among married women. Also, the results implied the importance of the increased self-differentiation and the better couple communication in women's marital satisfaction. Finally, this research suggested the necessity of counseling services to enhance the self-differentiation as well as couple communication programs for the marital satisfaction of women.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.151-164
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• 1998

This study was to investigate differences of quality of life between Korean and British married couples. For the data set 136 married couples living in London Plymouth United Kingdom and 208 married couples living in Pusan Korea were chosen. The data were analyzed using M, D, t-test multiple regression and path analysis,. The findings of this study are as follows; First the level of quality of life are higher for British married women than Korean married women. Second for Korean and british married women influence on quality of life are higher subjective variables than objective variables. Third for Korean married women wife's level of education religion marital satisfaction have significant direct effect on quality of life. Besides wife's age and husband's housework participation are indirectly associated with quality of life. For British married women marital satisfaction has significant direct effect on quality of life. Besides number of children income and religion are ind rectly associated with quality of life. Among the variables marital satisfaction is the strongest predictor variable.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.46 no.10
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• pp.83-96
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• 2008

Using a sample of 107 married couples, this study investigated the influence of self-reported argument-communication behaviors on marital satisfaction. The results were as follows. (a) Wives used more criticism, contempt, and self-assertion during marital arguments than husbands. There were no significant gender differences in the levels of defensiveness, stonewalling, and active listening. (b) Multilevel analyses indicated that marital satisfaction was predicted by the person's own level of self-assertion and stonewalling(i.e., actor effects) and by his or her spouse's level of stonewalling(i.e., partner effect). No other significant actor and partner effects were found. Also, there were no significant gender differences in the sizes of effects. (c) A cluster analysis of both spouses' communication behaviors during marital arguments identified four distinct groups of married couples. : mutual constructive, husband constructive-wife destructive, husband destructive-wife constructive, and mutual destructive. Mutual constructive couples reported the best marital satisfaction.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.417-428
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• 2020

This study investigates the effect of in-law relationship on the marital adjustment of married couples by considering family-oriented Korean culture. Previous in-law studies did not consider the influence of another party who did not attend the survey due to sampling limitations. However, the marital adjustment of married couple and the satisfaction of the relationship with parents-in-law are two-way relationships that affect each other and are not one-sided relationships. By considering the non-independence of the couple's data, Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) was utilized to examine the structural relationship between marital adjustment (marital satisfaction and marital stability) and in-law relationship quality (relationship satisfaction between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law for wives, relationship satisfaction between mother-in-law and son-in-law for husbands) of 203 married couples. Results indicated that a high satisfaction of wives' in-law relationship increased personal marital adjustment as well as husbands' marital adjustment. The husbands' positive relationship with in-laws also increased personal marital adjustment and their wives' marital adjustment. The results of this study can be used as basic data for program development and counseling for healthy in-law relationship as well as educational data for couples intending to marry.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.345-358
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• 1997

This study investigated the pattern of division of household labor between married couples and the determining variables of the division of household work. In addition, this study examined the effect of the pattern of the division of household work and the sense of fairness on marital satisfaction. Two hundreds forty two married couples living near seoul were selected. Both wives and husbands reported their daily time-use pattern. According to the results, flexibility of husbands' work schedules hours of market work of husbands, husbands' sex role attitudes, and the presence of household assistant affected significantly on the extent of household work time. In addition, husbands' household work time had direct effects on marital satisfaction of couples. In wives' hours of household labor, the significant variables were wives' employment status, presence of younger children, total income, wives' sex role attitudes, and hours of household labor performed by housework assistant. In addition, wives' sense of fairness had impact significantly on marital satisfaction.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.48 no.7
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• pp.89-97
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• 2010

The present study investigated the parenting alliance's mediating effects on the relationship between adult attachment and marital satisfaction. The participants were 157 married parents of young children(77 men and 80 women). We used the Experiences in Close Relationships Scales (Kim & Lee, 2005), Quality Marriage Index (Jang, 2001), and Parenting Alliance Inventory (Abidin, 1988) and analyzed data using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, and regression analysis, via SPSS PC program(17.0 version). The results revealed that the effects of married males' avoidant dimension on marital satisfaction were partially mediated by their wives' parenting alliance. The effects of married females' anxious dimension on marital satisfaction were totally mediated, and the effects of married females' avoidant dimension on marital satisfaction were partially mediated, by their husbands' parenting alliance. In conclusion, the parenting alliance mediates the effects of adult attachment on marital satisfaction in couples with young children.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.71-94
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to propose measures for social work practice to enhance the happiness of middle-aged married men and women by identifying the effects of family stress and social support resources (formal and informal support resources) on marital satisfaction among mid-life married couples. Subjects were selected through purposive sampling among married men and women aged between 40 and 59 and living in Seoul City and Gyeonggi province. The study results are follows. First, the average score of family stress was 3.06 points (SD=.56), slightly higher than the median value of 3 points. Of all subscales of family stress, the subjects experienced the most stress from family relationships, followed by financial problems, health and loss of families, and work-family compatibility. In regard to social support resources, the mean value of all social support resources categories was greater than the median. Among the subscales, informal support (family support and support from other people) was found to be higher than formal support. The level of marital satisfaction was higher than the median, and the score was 3.21 points (SD=.78). Second, in order to explore differences in marital satisfaction according to family stress and social support, differences in marital satisfaction were analyzed by grouping subjects who scored high, middle, and low levels of marital satisfaction. According to the results, marital satisfaction was statistically significantly higher in the group that experienced less family stress (F=6.25, p<.01). With respect to social support, marital satisfaction was statistically significantly higher in the group that received high social support (F=29.68, p<.001). Third, according to the analysis of factors affecting marital satisfaction in middle-aged married men and women, subjective economic status, family relationship stress, economic stress, and family support showed statistical significance. The higher the subjective economic status and the lower the family relationship stress and economic stress levels, the higher the marital satisfaction among middle-aged married men and women. In addition, the greater the family support, the higher the marital satisfaction. The results of this study underscore the need to improve family relationships in middle-aged married couples and to distribute family life education programs that can strengthen family support resources. For example, family relationship enhancement programs are currently performed, including "Family School for Middle-Aged Baby Boomers" and others as part of the Healthy Family Support Work regarding the promotion of marital satisfaction of middle-aged couples. In addition, continuing effort is warranted to include content on strengthening family support resources, maximizing the effectiveness of programs, and promoting service accessibility.