Equity perceptions and marital satisfaction in former and current marriage

A study among 290 remarried individuals examined equity perceptions in the former and the current marriage. The results showed that equity in the former and the current marriage were not related to each other. In general, respondents perceived much more inequity in the former than in the current marriage, and this was especially true for women. Men felt on average deprived in their former marriage, and overbenefited in their current marriage, whereas women in their current marriage were close to perceiving equity. The current marriage was perceived as more satisfying than the former marriage. Satisfaction in both types of marriage was higher the more equitable the relationship was, and the more advantaged one felt. In addition, for women, satisfaction in the present marriage was more strongly associated with the degree of equity, whereas, for men, satisfaction was more strongly associated with the degree of feeling advantaged.