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THE INFLUENCE OF MARITAL SUPPORT ON MARITAL SATISFACTION: ARE THERE AGE AND GENDER DIFFERENCES?

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Abstract

Social support—as a substantial resource for any individual—is a central construct in psychology. Accordingly, there is an abundant supply of literature concerning its definition, its psychological and structural aspects, its effects on different dependent variables (e.g. self-efficacy, physical and mental health, subjective well-being), and its role as a buffer between stressful life-events and psychological disorders (Antonucci, 2001). Although social support is of great importance for close relationships, Julien and Markman (1991) pointed out that “researchers have virtually ignored the role of the support that spouses get from each other in determining marital outcomes” (p. 549). Previous studies addressing predictors of marital satisfaction have mainly focused on the influence of socio-economic factors and personality traits on marital satisfaction. While socio-economic factors seem to play a minor role in determining marital satisfaction (Feeney, Noller, & Ward, 1997), personality traits have been shown to be the most prominent stable dispositional factors influencing marital satisfaction in younger couples (Bouchard, Lusier, & Sabourin, 1999; Russell & Wells, 1994).

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SCHMITT, M., KLIEGEL, M. (2006). THE INFLUENCE OF MARITAL SUPPORT ON MARITAL SATISFACTION: ARE THERE AGE AND GENDER DIFFERENCES?. In: Wahl, HW., Brenner, H., Mollenkopf, H., Rothenbacher, D., Rott, C. (eds) The Many Faces of Health, Competence and Well-Being in Old Age. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4138-1_9

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