For richer, for poorer: Financial behaviors, power (im)balance, and relational aggression among different‐gender newlyweds in the U.S.

Abstract

Guided by an intersectional feminism framework, we used three‐wave, dyadic survey data from a nationally representative sample of 1625 U.S. different‐gender newlywed couples to test three research questions. First, as balanced power is considered a key concept for relational well‐being in feminism, we examined developmental trajectories in husbands' and wives' perception of power (im)balance. Second, considering money as a major influence on power and aggression, we examined how financial behaviors relate to power (im)balance and in turn relational aggression—a type of intimate partner violence that is controlling and manipulative in nature. Third, informed by the intersectionality between gender and socioeconomic status (SES), we examined gender differences and SES disparities in the associations among financial behaviors, developmental trajectories of perception of power (im)balance, and relational aggression. Our findings demonstrate that newlywed different‐gender couples are experiencing power struggles, where two partners diminish each other's influence over time. We also found that healthy financial behaviors are associated with balanced power and, in turn, less relational aggression (especially for wives and in lower‐SES households). Taken collectively, we continue calling for efforts to facilitate money management skills and promote balanced marital power.

Actions for solutions: Financial behaviors, power (im)balance, and economic abuse among Chinese young adults in non-marital cohabitation

“…In line with feminist theory and prior studies, disparities in the capability of money management can be associated with power inequity in couple relationships; the person who felt powerless and oppressed was, in turn, likely to be economically abused (Allen, 2023;Christy et al, 2022;Li, Wheeler, et al, 2023;Schuler & Nazneen, 2018). Notably, when estimating associations among three key study constructs in the same model, we did not identify any statistically significant direct associations between short-or long-term money management and economic abuse.…”

“…Thus, we followed the perspective of power as couple dynamics and focused particularly on power (im)balance during power process. To date, researchers have found preliminary evidence that balanced power in power process-the ideal situation where the two partners show equal influence and mutual respect during the decision-making process (Miller et al, 2022) -can be the mediator in associations between healthy financial behaviors and reduced economic abuse (Li, Wheeler, et al, 2023;Schuler & Nazneen, 2018). In a longitudinal, quantitative study, enacting healthy short-term money management (e.g., spending within budget and checking expenses regularly) was associated with balanced power in the next two years (Li, Wheeler, et al, 2023).…”

“…To date, researchers have found preliminary evidence that balanced power in power process-the ideal situation where the two partners show equal influence and mutual respect during the decision-making process (Miller et al, 2022) -can be the mediator in associations between healthy financial behaviors and reduced economic abuse (Li, Wheeler, et al, 2023;Schuler & Nazneen, 2018). In a longitudinal, quantitative study, enacting healthy short-term money management (e.g., spending within budget and checking expenses regularly) was associated with balanced power in the next two years (Li, Wheeler, et al, 2023). According to life narratives, healthy long-term money management (e.g., initiating and regularly contributing to an investment account) can give voice to the previously powerless partner (Schuler & Nazneen, 2018).…”

“…Yet possibly because low-SES individuals live on a very tight budget and need to consider how money is handled carefully, the associations between healthy short-term money management and balanced power were of significantly larger effect sizes in low-SES households than in high-SES households (Li, Wheeler, et al, 2023). Besides, a small investment (i.e., 5% of minimal monthly income in the data collection area) can demonstrate low-SES individuals' capabilities in accumulating wealth and generating substantial benefits over time (Schuler & Nazneen, 2018).…”

“…After controlling for relevant factors reported to be associated with economic abuse (e.g., employment and other types of IPV; Kutin et al, 2017;Yau et al, 2020), our investigation on how financial behaviors and power (im)balance were associated with economic abuse sheds light on additional avenues for reducing economic abuse. Notably, financial behaviors, power (im)balance, and economic abuse all reflect privilege and inequity that are stratified by gender and socioeconomic status (SES) (Agnew & Cameron-Agnew, 2015;Kutin et al, 2019Kutin et al, , 2022Li, Wheeler, et al, 2023). Instead of focusing on overall associations within the whole sample, we further advance knowledge by investigating young adults' experiences across gender and SES.…”