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Cited by 1,068Attachment and Relationship DynamicsFamily Dynamics and RelationshipsPsychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction

Marital quality and personal well-being: a meta- analysis

Open access
Proulx, Christine M., Helms, Heather M., Buehler, Cheryl·2007·Journal of Marriage and Family
DOI 10.1111/j.1741-3737.2007.00393.x
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Abstract

This study examines the association between marital quality and personal well‐being using meta‐analytic techniques. Effects from 93 studies were analyzed. The average weighted effect size r was .37 for cross‐sectional and .25 for longitudinal effects. Results indicate that several variables moderate the association between marital quality and personal well‐being, including gender, participants’ marital duration, source of measurement, data collection year, and dependent variable. These results suggest that longitudinal effects are more likely to be uncovered when using standard measurement and that future research should use samples homogenous in marital length. The longitudinal finding that the strength of the association is stronger when personal well‐being is treated as the dependent variable supports previous theorizing.

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  • Marital dissatisfaction and discord are strongly related to depressive symptoms, with an average correlation of about r = .4 across studies and very similar patterns for men and women; the association is bidirectional, but marital discord predicts later depressive symptoms more strongly than the reverse; clinical depression has significant adverse effects on marital functioning.

    “It has long been known that marital dissatisfaction and discord are strongly related to depressive symptoms (e.g.,35, 36), with an average correlation between marital dissatisfaction and depressive symptoms of approximately r = .4 across studies and very similar patterns for men and women.37 Longitudinal studies show that the association is bidirectional,38, 39 but with a stronger time-lagged”

    From The Costs of Depression (2012) · cites this paper as [39]

  • Meta-analytic evidence indicates that the risk of suicidal behaviour in persons with depression is significantly associated with previous suicide attempt, severe depression, anxiety, hopelessness, family history of psychiatric disorder, comorbid substance abuse disorder, personality disorder, and sleep disorders, particularly nightmares and insomnia.

    “Meta-analytic evidence 209 indicates that the risk of suicidal behaviour in persons with depression is significantly associated with previous suicide attempt, severe depression, anxiety, hopelessness, family history of psychiatric disorder, comorbid substance abuse disorder, personality disorder, 210 and sleep disorders, particularly nightmares and insomnia. 211”

    From Time for united action on depression: a Lancet–World Psychiatric Association Commission (2022) · cites this paper as [211]

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Barnett, R. C., Brennan, R. T., Raudenbush, S. W., & Marshall, N. L. (1994). Gender and the relationship between marital-role quality and psychological distress. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 18, 105 -127.

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Authors
Proulx, C. M., Helms, H. M., & Buehler, C.
Affiliations
  • University of Missouri (US)
  • University of North Carolina at Greensboro (US)
Corresponding author
Proulx, Christine M.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Marriage and Family
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2007-07-05
Volume
69
Issue
3
Pages
576-593
ISSN
  • 0022-2445 (ISSN-L)
  • 1741-3737
DOI
10.1111/j.1741-3737.2007.00393.x
OpenAlex
W2024360759
Cited by
1,068
References
143
Citations by year
2026: 50 · 2025: 68 · 2024: 74 · 2023: 62 · 2022: 60 · 2021: 83 · 2020: 139 · 2019: 88 · 2018: 69 · 2017: 59 · 2016: 53 · 2015: 49 · 2014: 61 · 2013: 47 · 2012: 36
FWCI
20.18
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Journal of Marriage and the Family (publishedVersion)
  • NC Digital Online Collection of Knowledge and Scholarship (The University of North Carolina at Greensboro) (submittedVersion)
Funders
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
  • Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
Keywords
marital quality, personal well-being, marital satisfaction, gender differences, marriage duration, longitudinal effects, cross-sectional effects, moderators, subjective well-being

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