His and Hers: Economic Factors and Relationship Quality in Germany

Abstract

Research has linked economic factors to relationship quality in the United States, primarily using cross-sectional data. In the current study, 2 waves of the Panel Analysis of Intimate Relationships and Family Dynamics data (n = 2,937) were used to test the gendered association between economic factors and relationship satisfaction among young German couples. In contrast to U.S.-based studies, the findings showed striking gender differences in the association between economic factors and relationship satisfaction for Germans. In cross-sectional models, women's relationship satisfaction was positively associated with receiving government economic support, and men's satisfaction was positively associated with poverty status and negatively associated with being a breadwinner. Longitudinal models revealed that changes in poverty status are associated with women's satisfaction, but men's satisfaction remains tied to their role as family provider. These unexpected results suggest that men's satisfaction is positively associated with a more equal division of labor market activity between partners. Keywords cohabitation; family economics; fixed effects models; marriage; relationship quality; western European families Economic circumstances and romantic relationship quality are interrelated in adults' lives. Economic well-being predicts entry into romantic relationships (McLaughlin, Lichter, & Johnston, 1993;Oppenheimer, 1988;Oppenheimer, Kalmijn, & Lim, 1997;Sweeney, 2002), whereas union formation can improve both partners' economic stability. Once formed, the quality of these relationships plays a significant role in emotional well-being and physical health (Dush, Taylor, & Kroeger, 2008;Proulx, Helms, & Buehler, 2007;Wickrama & Elder, 1997), which can produce economic returns. Finally, research has demonstrated that * Department of Sociology, Hunter College, City University of New York, 695 Park Ave., 16th Floor Hunter West, New York, NY 10065. ** Department of Sociology, University of Houston-Clear Lake, 2700 Bay Area Blvd., Box 11, Houston, TX 77058. Department of Sociology, University of Utah, Room 301, 380 S 1530 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84112 (claudia.geist@soc.utah.edu). NIH Public Access NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-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).However, research on the relationship between economic factors and relationship quality has been based primarily on cross-sectional data from the United States. Considerably less research has examined the association between economic factors and romantic relationship quality in other settings and over time. Studies of relationship dynamics often tacitly assume that findings apply cross-nationally. A growing body of comparative family literature (e.g., Cooke & Gash, 2010;Liefbroer & Dou...

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