Linking financial distress to marital quality: The intermediary roles of demand/withdraw and spousal gratitude expressions

This study investigates demand/withdraw communication and spousal expressions of gratitude as intervening variables in the association between financial distress and marital quality. With a sample of 468 married individuals, dual‐mediation models revealed demand/withdraw transmitted the effect of fi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Personal relationships 2015-09, Vol.22 (3), p.536-549
Main Authors: BARTON, ALLEN W., FUTRIS, TED G., NIELSEN, ROBERT B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Marriage
Quality
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Summary:This study investigates demand/withdraw communication and spousal expressions of gratitude as intervening variables in the association between financial distress and marital quality. With a sample of 468 married individuals, dual‐mediation models revealed demand/withdraw transmitted the effect of financial distress onto 3 different marital outcomes; in most instances, this indirect effect occurred through total couple demand/withdraw and not one spouse‐specific pattern. In moderated mediation models, spousal gratitude exerted main effects on all marital outcomes and, for a subset of outcomes, protective effects for couples with high levels of demand/withdraw. Results elucidate how demand/withdraw patterns link financial distress to marital outcomes and highlight spousal gratitude expressions as a promising, yet understudied, process within couples that promotes and protects marital quality.
ISSN:1350-4126
1475-6811
DOI:10.1111/pere.12094