Cultural Values, Gender-Role Beliefs, and Marital Satisfaction Among Dual-Earner Couples: An Actor–Partner Interdependence Structural Equation Model of Work–Family Conflict and Perceived Partner Support
Keywords:
Cultural values, gender-role beliefs, marital satisfaction, dual-earner couples, work–family conflict, perceived partner support, Actor–Partner Interdependence ModelAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to examine the actor, partner, direct, and indirect associations of cultural values and gender-role beliefs with marital satisfaction through work-to-family conflict, family-to-work conflict, and perceived partner support among Canadian dual-earner couples.
Methods and Materials: This cross-sectional correlational study included 250 different-gender dual-earner married couples, comprising 500 participants residing in Canada. Both spouses independently completed validated questionnaires assessing horizontal and vertical individualism and collectivism, gender-role beliefs, work-to-family conflict, family-to-work conflict, perceived partner support, and marital satisfaction. Data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and Actor–Partner Interdependence Structural Equation Modeling. Measurement invariance across wives and husbands was examined, and indirect effects were tested using 5,000 bias-corrected bootstrap resamples.
Findings: The structural model demonstrated acceptable fit, χ²(872) = 1517.46, CFI = .943, TLI = .936, RMSEA = .038, and SRMR = .047. Horizontal collectivism significantly predicted greater perceived partner support through actor and partner effects. Vertical individualism predicted greater work-to-family conflict, lower perceived partner support, and lower marital satisfaction. Egalitarian gender-role beliefs predicted lower work-to-family conflict and greater perceived partner support for both spouses. Work-to-family conflict negatively predicted marital satisfaction through significant actor and partner pathways, whereas perceived partner support positively predicted marital satisfaction and produced the strongest direct effects. Significant bootstrapped indirect effects showed that work-to-family conflict and perceived partner support partially mediated the associations of cultural values and gender-role beliefs with marital satisfaction. The model explained 58.1% of the variance in wives’ marital satisfaction and 53.4% in husbands’ marital satisfaction.
Conclusion: Marital satisfaction among dual-earner couples is shaped by interdependent cultural, ideological, occupational, and relational processes. Egalitarian gender-role beliefs and horizontal collectivism appear to strengthen marital functioning by reducing work–family strain and increasing perceived partner support, whereas vertical individualism may undermine satisfaction through heightened conflict and reduced relational support.
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