Transcript Family Soc Marital Satisfaction - fcstmsu342-2

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MARITAL SATISFACTION
FAMILY SOCIOLOGY
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Measuring Marriage Happiness
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How do we measure marital success?
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Many indicators of marital happiness
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Overall “global” measures
Specific questions on particular areas of
marriage
How would you measure marital happiness?
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Measuring Marriage Happiness
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How do we measure marital success?
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It is always difficult to predict what will happen in a marriage, but
realistically, what do you think the chances are that you and your
husband/wife will eventually separate or divorce?
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During the past year, have you ever thought that your marriage
might be in trouble?
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How often, if at all, in the last year have you had open
disagreements about each of the following:
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A. The children
B. Spending time together
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C. Money
D. Sex
E. Your in-laws
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Measuring Marriage Happiness
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How do we measure marital success?
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How would you describe the fairness in your
marriage in the following area:
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The division of household chores
Working for pay
Spending money
Physical violence: “During the past year, how
many fights with your husband/wife resulted in:
‘you hitting, shoving, or throwing things at
him/her’ or ‘him/her hitting, shoving, or
throwing things at you’?
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Measuring Marriage Happiness
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How do we measure marital success?
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NSFH question: Taking all things together, how would
you describe your marriage?
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2
3
4
5
6
7
Very
Very
unhappy
happy
Wives' and Husbands' Report of Marital
Happiness, NSFH 1993
Wives
Husbands
1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
1 - Very
Unhappy
2
3
4
5
6
7 - Very
Happy
Surprising Finding?
Why might so many people
report that they are happily
married?
Especially when we know the
lifetime divorce rate is 50%
This is an example of SOCIAL
DESIRABILITY BIAS
Married couples know they are
SUPPOSED to be happy, so they
give the socially desirable or
socially acceptable answer
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Summary
 Sociologists
and psychologists have developed
many ways to measure marital satisfaction
 Sometimes
they ask one “global” question?
 Or
they use questions about satisfaction in
many areas of marriage
 Sometimes
when couples take surveys they
give the answer that is socially desirable, which
may not be their true feelings