Marriage in Motion

About 40 years after the onset of the so-called second demographic transition, Marriage in Motion examines the underlying processes and correlates of spouses' satisfaction with marriage. Among other things, this transition has been characterized by an upward trend of divorces turning marriage into a vulnerable institution. It is, therefore, of utmost importance to gain insight in the features of longer-term marriages. The present study is directed towards the generation that instigated the quantitative and qualitative changes in the private sphere. Using longitudinal data of a representative sample of married husbands and wives in the Netherlands, Marriage in Motion tackles several issues that are relevant to contemporary marital life. How do economic and cultural factors affect spousal marital satisfaction? What role does communication play in understanding husbands and wives' satisfaction with marriage? How do parenting experiences spill over to the spousal system? What are the implications of masculine and feminine self-definitions on partners' evaluation of marriage? The elaboration of these and other related questions offer the reader a broad picture of the role of gender, communication, parenting and individuals' socioeconomic position in understanding spousal marital experiences.

Introduction

PART I: SOCIAL BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH AGENDA

1. Marriage and Partnership in a Changing Social Landscape
1.1. Demographical Issues
1.2. Theoretical Issues
1.3. Gender Issues
1.4. Conclusion

2. Towards a Research Design for Marital Satisfaction
2.1. Impetus of the Study
2.2. Research Questions
2.3. Structure of this Study

3. Method
3.1. Dutch Panel Data
3.2. Procedure
3.3. Selection and Characteristics of the Married Sub-sample
3.4. Validation of the Sample and Missings Cases

PART II: THE STUDY

4. The Dutch Marital Satisfaction and Communication Questionnaire: A Validation Study
4.1. Introduction
4.2. Research Aim
4.3. Study 1
4.4. Study 2
4.5. Study 3
4.6. Discussion

5. The Relationship between Communication and Marital Satisfaction. A Cross-Lagged Panel Analysis
5.1. Introduction
5.2. Method
5.3. Results
5.4. Discussion

6. Effects of Spousal Economic and Cultural Characteristics on Marital Satisfaction
6.1. Introduction
6.2. Theoretical and Empirical Background
6.3. Present Study and Hypotheses
6.4. Study Design
6.5. Method
6.6. Results
6.7. Conclusion and Discussion

7. Social Position, Gender Role Identity and Marital Satisfaction
7.1. Introduction
7.2. Empirical Background
7.3. Present Study and Hypotheses
7.4. Method
7.5. Results
7.6. Discussion

8. Associations between Gender Characteristics and Marital Outcomes. A Test of Identity Theory in Established Marriages
8.1. Introduction
8.2. Present Study
8.3. Method
8.4. Results
8.5. Discussion

9. Marital Relationships and Parenting Experiences in Established Marriages. Short-Term and Long-Term Interrelationships
9.1. Introduction
9.2. Short-Term Relationships Between Parenting Experiences and Marital Relationships
9.3. Long-Term Relationships Between Parenting Experiences and Marital Satisfaction
9.4. Present Study
9.5. Method
9.6. Results
9.7. Discussion and Conclusion

PART III: CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

10. Central Findings and Reflections
10.1. Introduction
10.2. Central Findings Recapitulated and Reconsidered
10.3. Concluding Reflections: Strengths, Unresolved Issues and Future Directions
10.4. Marriage in Motion: Final Reflection

References

Format: Monograph - hardback

Size: 240 × 160 × 20 mm

301 pages

ISBN: 9789058674647

Publication: June 01, 2005

Series: Sociologie Vandaag / Sociology Today 10

Languages: English

Stock item number: 46016