Bases of Marital Satisfaction among Men and Women

Possible gender differences in bases of marital satisfaction were investigated through male-female variations in (1) overall marital quality; (2) satisfaction with love, interest, friendship, sexual gratification, time spent at home and with children, help at home, spouse's friends, and treatment by in-laws; and (3) correlations between general evaluations of marital quality and satisfaction with specific marital characteristics. It was found that marital quality of men and women differs in degree rather than in kind. Although men are more satisfied with their marriages than women, the same factors are important in their assessments. These aspects are more important to the overall marital quality for women, but their saliency varies by stages of the family life cycle. There are indications of differential assessment, with women more sexually fulfilled, while men are more satisfied with spouse's help, time with children, and friendship; results also suggest a greater focus by women on companionship.