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This study examines the relationship between sound financial management behaviors and happiness using a national sample of adults collected in 2009 (N = 1,014). We used Maslow's hierarchy of needs (1943) as a theoretical framework to examine associations between sound financial management behavior, economic pressure, relationship satisfaction, and happiness. Findings suggested that economic pressure and relationship satisfaction both mediated the association between sound financial management and happiness, but the mediator effects were only partial. That is, even after accounting for participants' actual financial context, feelings of economic pressure, and relationship satisfaction, a positive association between sound financial management behavior and happiness remained.

Objective: Using feminist theory as a lens, we tested whether couple finance behaviors are associated with marital outcomes and whether shared relational power mediates these associations. Background: Building on a previous study, we sought to understand financial dynamics and relational power (a) in early marriage, (b) using a nationally representative sample, and (c) considering financial deception. Method: We tested these associations with a nationally representative sample of mixed‐gender U.S. newlyweds (N = 1,654 couples; data are from the CREATE [Couple Relationships and Transition Experiences] project) using an actor–partner interdependence mediation model. Results: In support of our hypotheses, we found significant actor and partner associations from financial conflict, financial deception, and unequal influence in financial decision‐making with relational power, marital satisfaction, and marital stability. Additionally, many associations between couple finance variables and marital outcomes were mediated by relational power. We did not find expected associations from employment status and joint/separate bank accounts to relational power, marital satisfaction, or marital stability. Conclusion: Our findings support feminist claims suggesting that unequal financial power is linked to unequal relational power, which is in turn associated with lower marital satisfaction and stability. Implications: Financial conflict, financial deception, and unequal financial influence can unbalance relational power and weaken new marriages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite couples with similar financial values tending to experience higher relationship satisfaction, individuals with dissimilar spending tendencies often marry each other. Research has not yet established strategies for therapists to encourage for newlywed couples with dissimilar financial values. We examined associations between similarity of financial values and relationship flourishing among 1,486 different-sex newlywed couples. In these associations, we tested both husbands' and wives' forgiveness as moderators. Only wives' forgiveness significantly moderated associations between similarity of financial values and husbands' and wives' relationship flourishing. Therapists may consider encouraging forgiveness—especially for wives—in different-sex newlywed couples with dissimilar financial values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars have established connections between how married couples navigate their finances and their sexual relationship. For example, financial management behaviors are associated with sexual satisfaction among newlywed couples. However, we know very little about the direction of the association between financial management behaviors and sexual satisfaction. Understanding which might predict the other, or if there might be a bidirectional association between the two, could provide information on where to intervene to help newlywed couples with financial or sexual obstacles in their marriage. With three waves of dyadic data (N = 1,205 U.S. newlywed couples), we used structural equation modeling to examine the bidirectional, indirect associations between husbands' and wives' financial management behaviors and their own sexual satisfaction through their own marital satisfaction. Overall, we found that financial management behaviors indirectly predicted changes in sexual satisfaction through marital satisfaction for both husbands and wives. We also found limited evidence that husbands' sexual satisfaction indirectly predicted changes in their own financial management behaviors through their own marital satisfaction. Additionally, these indirect associations differed by gender. Partner effects, however, were largely non-significant. Implications of these findings for those who help newlywed couples with their sexual relationships are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers have shown that if couples manage their money in sound ways, their marriages may benefit. Scholars have also shown that the quality of a marriage may precede positive financial behaviors. Previous studies have not determined the directionality of these processes, but researchers have assumed that it flows from financial variables to marital satisfaction. Utilizing a sample of U.S. mixed-gender, newlywed dyads (N = 1220), we examined which is a stronger association: financial processes predicting marital processes or marital processes predicting financial processes. Specifically, we estimated three dyadic, structural equation models to examine cross-lagged associations between husbands' and wives' own financial behaviors and their own marital satisfaction, between husbands' and wives' own financial communication and their own marital satisfaction, and between husbands' and wives' own financial behaviors and their own financial communication across two waves of data. We found that husbands' marital satisfaction predicted rank-order change in their reports of financial communication more strongly than the reverse. Furthermore, we found that wives' financial behaviors predicted rank-order change in their reports of financial communication more strongly than the reverse. These results have implications for theory, future research, and improving the financial and marital wellbeing of U.S. mixed-gender, newlywed couples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using longitudinal data from the National Survey of Families and Households and both wife- and husband-reported data (N = 4,574 couples), this study examined how financial well-being, financial disagreements, and perceptions of financial inequity were associated with the likelihood of divorce. When financial disagreements were in the model, financial well-being was not associated with divorce. Both wives' and husbands' financial disagreements were the strongest disagreement types to predict divorce. Mediators derived from systems theory (conflict tactics) and social exchange theory (marital satisfaction) fully mediated the association between financial disagreement and the hazard of divorce. Finally, financial disagreements fully mediated the association between perceptions of financial inequity and divorce. These findings suggest that financial disagreements are stronger predictors of divorce relative to other common marital disagreements. They further suggest that financial disagreements (e.g., "content") are associated with marital process. (Contains 4 tables.)

Few studies have examined how financial relationship issues are associated with cohabiting individuals' risk of union dissolution or marriage. Competing-risks Cox regressions using the cohabiting data in the National Survey of Families and Households (N = 483) found that financial disagreements predicted union dissolution, whereas disagreements about housework, spending time together, sex, and parents did not. Perceived unfairness in finances also predicted union dissolution. Although perceived housework unfairness also positively predicted dissolution, this effect was moderated by gender. Interestingly, neither financial issues nor the other normative problems predicted the likelihood of marriage. These findings suggest that the relationship problems associated with financial issues are particularly salient to cohabiting individuals' decision to end their unions.

This study tests competing explanations for the link between the transition to motherhood and declines in wives' marital satisfaction. Using data from the first and second waves of the National Survey of Families and Households (N = 569), we found that new mothers' marital satisfaction declines could be attributed to reductions in wives' quality time spent with their husbands and to increases in perceptions of unfairness in housework. Family role traditionalization in the wake of the birth of a child did not directly explain marital satisfaction declines but was linked to perceptions of marital unfairness. Attendance at religious worship services did not moderate the association between the transition to motherhood and marital satisfaction changes. (Contains 3 tables and 1 note.)

This article uses data on 2,024 men who were followed through the third wave of the National Survey of Families and Households to examine the implications of fatherhood experiences for men's involvement in altruistic social activities at middle age. We find that middle-aged men (ages 45-65) who at some point in their lives become fathers are significantly more likely to have altruistically oriented social relationships and be involved in service organizations compared with men who have never become fathers. Furthermore, it appears that the defining aspect of the effect of fatherhood is the level of engagement with children while they are growing up. Neither current residential status nor whether current nonresidence occurs because of nest leaving is found to distinguish men's altruistic ties. (Contains 4 tables and 1 figure.)

Tests of the relationship between economic difficulties and marital distress have generally excluded retirement-aged couples. Given the aging U.S. population and the upcoming retirement of the baby boom cohort, this research gap is problematic. To rectify this omission, this study uses longitudinal data from the National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH; N = 3,853) and assesses whether the family stress model operates differently for three retirement-aged groups of couples (one group that retired before the study, one that retired during the study, and one group of retirement-aged couples that did not retire during the study) and a comparison group of younger couples. The family stress model did not operate for married couples that began the NSFH already retired but did operate for the two other retirement-aged couples. The authors discuss the potential mechanisms behind these findings and the implications for the upcoming retirement of the baby boom cohort. (Contains 1 figure, 4 notes, and 3 tables.)

Qualitative and quantitative research has suggested that married couples handle the increasing demands of intensive parenting norms and work expectations by reducing spousal time (e.g., the time that spouses spend alone with each other). Using nationally representative time-diary data, this study examined whether married individuals with children at home lost more spousal time in the years 1975-2003 than individuals without children at home. The analyses showed that on average married individuals have reduced their spousal time by 50 minutes a day. Contrary to expectations, however, individuals with minor children at home had lower time declines than individuals without children. The strategies that assisted married individuals with children to protect their spousal time differed between weekdays and weekend days. (Contains 9 notes, 5 tables, and 4 figures.)

This paper examines the role of religion in adolescence for shaping subsequent family formation. Data were drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N = 13,895). We explored the role of three dimensions of religious life--affiliation, attendance, and religious fervor--both singly and in combination for the transition to either marriage or cohabitation. Although each dimension predicted subsequent union formation, it was the particular combination of these dimensions that was important for understanding the likelihood of cohabiting. We also found evidence that patterns of religious identity, attendance, and fervor in adolescence were associated with the length of cohabitation, the likelihood of the cohabitation ending in marriage, and beliefs about the purpose of cohabitation.

Although recently married couples report debt as one of their top concerns, research has not measured how debt changes relate to changes in their marital satisfaction. Further, the mechanisms that link debt and marital satisfaction are unknown. Findings using the National Survey of Families and Households (N = 1,078 couples) demonstrated that consumer debt changes predicted recently married couples' marital satisfaction changes. Changes in variables associated with couples achieving their marital expectations (e.g., spending time together, arguing about finances) partially explained these findings. Changes in consumer debt negatively predicted couples' time together and positively predicted arguments over money, which in turn were both associated with declines in marital satisfaction. (Contains 2 tables and 4 figures.)

The purpose of this study was to examine how problematic media use (technoference, internet gaming disorder symptoms, and pornography use) predicted later partner relationship outcomes, operating through the mediator of partner responsiveness. Participants (N = 1039) were from Waves II–IV of a nationally representative quantitative study on marriage relationships across the United States. Both spouses completed surveys reporting problematic media use, partner responsiveness, and relationship outcomes at three separate time points each spaced a year apart. In order to test the hypotheses, three longitudinal actor-partner interdependence models with indirect paths were estimated, with each model corresponding to one type of problematic media use. Results indicated that at the cross-sectional level, all three types of problematic media use had significant indirect actor and partner effects, where problematic media use predicted lower relationship outcomes through the intervening variable of partner non-responsiveness. Longitudinally, wife technoference directly negatively predicted later partner responsiveness, but there were no full indirect paths of Wave II problematic media to Wave IV relationship outcomes through the intervening variable of Wave III partner responsiveness. Implications of these findings and future directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The FAAR model (Patterson in Fam Syst Med 6(2):202–237, 1988) posits that following a stressor, demands, capabilities, and meanings can contribute to bonadaptation (i.e., adaptation that promotes wellbeing). The purpose of the current study is to test how financial and relational demands, capabilities, and meanings are associated with relationship commitment and coparenting (i.e., bonadaptation) following a financial stressor. We used data from the Building Strong Families (BSF) sample (i.e., primarily lower-income, unmarried couples; N = 1396). First, results showed that predictors of coparenting were more numerous than predictors of commitment. Second, all facets of the FAAR model—demands, capabilities, and meanings—were evident as predictors of bonadaptation. Finally, comparing the results with the results of a previous paper (i.e., a nationally-representative sample of married couples; Dew et al. in J Fam Econ Issues 39(3):405–421, 2018), relationship maintenance behaviors and financial support were capabilities for both samples, whereas other capabilities and meanings were context-specific (e.g., relational support significant in Dew et al. sample but not BSF sample). These patterns suggest that although some of the avenues to bonadaptation may differ depending on the sample, it is possible for couples to thrive not just in spite of financial stressors but even because of them; that is, financial stressors can serve as catalysts for positive relational growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important component in the industrial products supply chain is the distribution segment of the channel. The health and success of industrial distributors can often influence the success of manufacturers whom they represent. Although research has demonstrated how leadership is a key ingredient in the success of large corporations across industries, very little leadership research has been conducted in the industrial distribution market segment--especially at the local level. This research fills the gap between what is known about leadership in larger organizations, and the need for greater understanding of leadership at the local level of an industrial distributor. The authors of this study ask: how does leadership style affect the branchlevel sales and margin performance of industrial sales organizations? To answer this question, this study collected transformational and transactional leadership data from 100 branch-office locations of a national wholesale distributor using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ). Both leader and follower data were collected at each location. In all, nearly 300 people participated in the study. The authors calculated the predictive relationship between leadership style and average change in year-over-year sales and profit margin using a multiple regression analysis. The results show that a leader's self-reported transformational leadership was positively associated with sales and profit margin performance at the local level of an industrial distributor, while followers' ratings of a leader's transactional leadership style was negatively associated with sales performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the relationship between housing burden ratios and marital satisfaction. We also examined whether economic pressure might mediate this association and whether housing satisfaction would moderate it. Using existing data from the National Survey of Families and Households (n = 5,109 participants), results suggested that participants' housing burden ratio was negatively associated with marital satisfaction. Among homeowners, having a paid-off home mortgage was positively associated with marital satisfaction. These relationships were fully mediated by feelings of economic pressure. Although housing satisfaction was positively associated with marital satisfaction, it did not mediate the association between participants' housing burden ratio and their reported marital satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some highly religious individuals contribute a relatively high percent of their income (e.g., 10 - 15% or more) to their faith communities. This study used a racially and religiously diverse sample and employed qualitative methods to investigate why these individuals give. Five themes emerged from the grounded-theory analysis. Four themes concerned why families gave: a) out of a sense of obedience/duty, b) to express thanksgiving and feel joy, c) because they feel that it is a wise investment, and d) to promote social justice and charity. The final theme that emerged was that they give despite their financial challenges. Based on these findings, this study offers suggestions for how financial counselors and planners might provide culturally competent services to highly religious individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research from the American Psychological Association suggests that approximately 67% of U.S. adults are getting more or less sleep than desired, and over 80% of U.S. adults ages 18-43 are stressed about finances. Cross-sectional evidence suggests that there may be a connection between the two. That is, some cross-sectional research suggests a contemporaneous association between sleep quality and finances. Using two waves of newlywed dyadic data ( N = 1497 couples), we estimated a longitudinal structural equation model to test actor-partner associations between husbands' and wives' sleep quality and financial management behaviors. In these associations, we examined husbands' and wives' marital satisfaction as potential mediating variables. We found that both husbands' and wives' sleep quality longitudinally predicted their own and their partner's financial management behaviors. Additionally, husbands' and wives' sleep quality-through wives' marital satisfaction-indirectly and longitudinally predicted wives' financial management behaviors. As financial practitioners encourage newlywed couples to consistently experience quality sleep, their financial management behaviors may benefit. We suggest that for newlywed couples, both partners' bedtime may be longitudinally connected to both partners' management of their budget.

Introduction: Although spouses frequently financially deceive each other (MFD; i.e., marital financial deception), few studies have examined this relationship behavior. The purpose of our study is to examine predictors of separate and joint occurrences of MFD and extramarital affairs (EMI). We chose the predictors we tested using social exchange theory (SET)., Methods: We used a national sample of married individuals and multinomial logistic regression analyses to examine how different predictors were associated with membership in three different groups (MFD with no EMI, EMI with no MFD, and both MFD and EMI) relative to the group of participants who reported neither behaviors., Results: Relationship satisfaction was associated with a lower likelihood of being in the MFD-only group, moral commitment was negatively associated with membership in both EMI groups, and personal dedication commitment was negatively associated with membership in both MFD groups. Flirting with someone other than one's spouse was positively associated with being in all three groups relative to the reference group. The personal importance of religion was not associated with group membership., Discussion: Moral commitment, personal dedication commitment, and flirting with someone other than one's spouse predicted these two types of marital deception. It is likely that other issues that affect marital outcomes, comparisons, and monitoring alternatives to the relationship may predict MFD and/or EMI., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Dew, Saxey and Mettmann.)