Couple resilience to economic pressure.

Abstract

Over 400 married couples participated in a 3-year prospective study of economic pressure and marital relations. The research (a) empirically evaluated the family stress model of economic stress influences on marital distress and (b) extended the model to include specific interactional characteristics of spouses hypothesized to protect against economic pressure. Findings provided support for the basic mediational model, which proposes that economic pressure increases risk for emotional distress, which, in turn, increases risk for marital conflict and subsequent marital distress. Regarding resilience to economic stress, high marital support reduced the association between economic pressure and emotional distress. In addition, effective couple problem solving reduced the adverse influence of marital conflict on marital distress. Overall, the findings provided substantial support for the extended family stress model.

The Association between Employment- and Housing-Related Financial Stressors and Marital Outcomes during the 2007–2009 Recession

“…Though the causes of the financial stress have varied with the studies, these findings are consistent with previous studies framed by the family stress model (Conger et al, 1990;Conger, Rueter, & Elder, 1999;Cutrona et al, 2003;Dew & Xiao, 2013;Dew & Yorgason, 2010;Kinnunen & Feldt, 2004). It is not simply the presence of financial challenges that negatively impacts a relationship, rather it is the daily financial worries and troubles that increase the likelihood of harmful marital interactions and decrease the likelihood of warm and supportive marital interactions that can ultimately erode a relationship (Conger et al,1999). ISSN: 1945-7774 CC by-NC 4.0 2017 Financial Therapy Association 57…”

How do Money, Sex, and Stress Influence Marital Instability?

“…There are few family finance research articles with marital instability as an outcome variable (Dew, 2016). That being said, lack of financial resources, as well as other financial stressors, do predict marital dissatisfaction (Archuleta et al, 2011;Conger, Rueter, & Elder, 1999;Dew, 2011;Gudmunson, Beutler, Israelsen, McCoy, & Hill, 2007) and divorce (Dew, 2009;cf. Andersen, 2005).…”

His and Hers: Economic Factors and Relationship Quality in Germany

“…A second explanation has argued that economic hardship can elevate stress among couples, leading to lower relationship quality (Conger & Conger, 2002;Conger et al, 1990Conger et al, , 1999Cutrona et al, 2003;Robila & Krishnakumar, 2005;White & Rogers, 2000). Economic hardship has been conceptualized in a number of ways, including low income thresholds, subjective indicators of financial worry, welfare receipt, and indices of economic hardship experiences (see White & Rogers, 2000, for a review; Conger et al 2010;Hardie & Lucas, 2010).…”

“…NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript economic strain is associated with lower relationship quality among couples Conger et al, 1990;Conger, Conger, & Martin, 2010;Conger & Elder, 1994;Conger, Rueter, & Elder, 1999;Fox & Chancey, 1998;Hardie & Lucas, 2010;Robila & Krishnakumar, 2005;White & Rogers, 2000).…”

“…Prior research has found strong support for the association between educational attainment and romantic relationship quality but weaker support for the contention that income is related to this outcome (Duncan, Huston, & Weisner, 2007;Hardie & Lucas, 2010;Martin, 2006;White & Rogers, 2000). Given our focus on economic resources we posed the following hypothesis:Hypothesis 1A: Among German couples, household income is positively associated with relationship satisfaction, and increases in household income are associated with increases in relationship satisfaction.A second explanation has argued that economic hardship can elevate stress among couples, leading to lower relationship quality (Conger & Conger, 2002;Conger et al, 1990Conger et al, , 1999Cutrona et al, 2003;Robila & Krishnakumar, 2005;White & Rogers, 2000). Economic hardship has been conceptualized in a number of ways, including low income thresholds, subjective indicators of financial worry, welfare receipt, and indices of economic hardship experiences (see White & Rogers, 2000, for a review;Conger et al 2010;Hardie & Lucas, 2010).…”