Family background and marital satisfaction of newlyweds: Generational transmission of relationship interaction patterns.

摘要

Using data from the RELATE assessment on premarital and marital compatibility, I investigated associations between the similarity of family of origin experiences and marital satisfaction of newlywed couples married for two years or less. The sample includes 1291 couples' responses and is evaluated on parent-child relationships, family violence, perceptions of parental marriages, socioeconomic backgrounds, and family structures. Using a regression model, this study lacks evidence that family backgrounds explain the marital satisfaction of newlyweds, but there were weak bivariate correlations between all variables except socioeconomic background and marital communication and emotional intimacy. There was no indication that the similarity of family backgrounds influences marital conflict resolution strategies. Limitations are also discussed.