Relationship Standards and Satisfaction in Chinese, Western, and Intercultural Chinese–Western Couples in Australia

Abstract

This study compared the endorsement of Chinese and Western relationship standards by Chinese, Western, and intercultural Chinese–Western couples. All couples were living in Australia. Couples’ relationship standards differed in line with predictions. Western couples rated intimacy and the demonstration of love and caring (assessed by the Couple Bond scale) as more important for a successful couple relationship than Chinese couples. Chinese couples rated relations with the extended family, relational harmony, face maintenance, and traditional gender roles (assessed by the Family Responsibility scale) as more important than Western couples. Intercultural couples endorsed the standards to an extent that was intermediate between the Chinese and Western couples. Cultural differences were smaller on Couple Bond standards (small to medium effects) than on Family Responsibility standards (medium to large effects). Almost all cultural combinations of partners shared greater similarity on Couple Bond and Family Responsibility standards than would be expected by chance, with the notable exception that Chinese women’s standards were less similar to their male partner’s standards than was the case for Western women. Across cultural combinations of partners, high endorsement of Couple Bond standards, low endorsement of Family Responsibility standards, and high agreement between partners on both standards predicted high relationship satisfaction. Our results suggest that partner selection and convergence on relationship standards are important avenues for future research.

Couple Relationship Standards and Migration: Comparing Hong Kong Chinese with Australian Chinese

“…The individual scale scores and/or the superordinate scales can be used to test different hypotheses about cultural differences in relationship standards. As expected, Chinese endorsed Family Responsibility standards more, and Couple Bond standards less, than Westerners (Hiew et al, 2015b). Across cultural combinations of partners, high endorsement of Couple Bond standards, and high agreement between partners on Family Responsibility standards, predicted high relationship satisfaction (Hiew et al, 2015b).…”

“…Notably, being in a relationship might lead to change in standards. For example, intercultural Chinese‐Western couples tend to hold standards midway between the cultures of origin of the two partners (Hiew et al, ). This might reflect selection effects (Chinese and Westerners who value each other's cultural standards might be more likely to form an intercultural relationship), or accommodation effects, where partners move toward each other's standards.…”

“…This might reflect selection effects (Chinese and Westerners who value each other's cultural standards might be more likely to form an intercultural relationship), or accommodation effects, where partners move toward each other's standards. Endorsement of certain relationship standards and agreement between partners on some standards are associated with couples' relationship satisfaction (Hiew et al, ). Single people's standards might influence their selection of relationship partners, and relationship standards are culturally shared values inculcated in both single and partnered individuals.…”

“…Notably, being in a relationship might lead to change in standards. For example, intercultural Chinese-Western couples tend to hold standards midway between the cultures of origin of the two partners (Hiew et al, 2015b). This might reflect selection effects (Chinese and Westerners Fam.…”

“…and are associated with relationship satisfaction (Hiew et al, 2015b). There are high rates of migration to Western countries by people from Eastern cultures, and high rates of intercultural marriage (International Organization for Migration, 2015).…”