The nature and predictors of the trajectory of change in marital quality over the first 4 years of marriage for first-married husbands and wives.

Does cat attachment have an effect on human health? A comparison between owners and volunteers

“…The attachment bond created between owner and pet may have implications for how their relationship is maintained over time (Smolkovic et al 2012). Interestingly, in human relationships, satisfaction tends to decline over time (over the first 4 years) and contributes less to overall well-being (Kurdek 1998). …”

Can skills training prevent relationship problems in at-risk couples? Four-year effects of a behavioral relationship education program.

“…Relative to other people, those in satisfying marriages have lower rates of psychological distress, higher rated life happiness, and greater resistance to the detrimental effects of negative life events (Bradbury, 1998;Gore, 1978;Gove, Hughes, & Style, 1983;Halford, 2001;Halford, Kelly, & Markman, 1997). In contrast, being in a distressed marriage is a generic risk factor for poorer mental and physical health for the couple and their offspring (Coie et al, 1993;Halford, 1999) and is strongly associated with risk for relationship aggression (Arias, Samios, & O'Leary, 1987;O'Leary et al, 1989).Almost all couples report high relationship satisfaction at the time of marriage, but for many couples satisfaction erodes in the first few years of marriage (Hill & Peplau, 1998;Huston & Vangelisti, 1991;Kurdeck, 1998;Markman, 1981;Noller & Feeney, 1994;Veroff, Douvan, Orbuch, & Acitelli, 1998). Decreased satisfaction is associated with a high risk of separation (Gottman, 1993), particularly if there is physical aggression between the partners (Rogge & Bradbury, 1999).…”

Korean Pastors and Their Wives’ Marital Satisfaction and Its Predicting Factors

“…Marital satisfaction is defined as an individual's overall subjective evaluation of the nature of his or her marriage, including the degree to which the person's needs, expectations, and desires are met (Gelles 1995). With respect to the pattern of marital satisfaction throughout the life of a marriage, research reports that marital satisfaction decreases during the early years of marriage because couples need to adjust to a new circumstance where they have to negotiate responsibility and encounter realities of marital life (Amato et al 2003;Kurdek 1998;Mackey and O'Brien 1999). Marital satisfaction also declines when couples become parents due to losing positive perception about marriage by stressors of raising children (Lawrence et al 2008;Kurdek 1998;Leonard and Roberts 1998).…”