The DOI matches its Crossref record; 73 of the 73 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Marital Happiness, Marital Duration, and the U-Shaped Curve: Evidence from a Five-Wave Panel Study
Abstract
Previous research suggests a U-shaped pattern of marital happiness over the life course, with happiness declining in the early years of marriage and rising in the later years. Most prior studies have been limited by the use of cross-sectional data or nonprobability samples. In contrast, the present study is based on data from a national, 17-year, 5-wave panel sample. Using cross-sectional data from the first wave, we replicate the U-shaped relationship between marital happiness and marital duration. In an analysis based on a fixed-effects pooled time-series model with multiple-wave panel data, we find declines in marital happiness at all marital durations and no support for an upturn in marital happiness in the later years. The relationship between marital happiness and marital duration is slightly curvilinear, with the steepest declines in marital happiness occurring during the earliest and latest years of marriage. When other life-course variables are controlled, a significant negative effect of marital duration on marital happiness remains. For most marriage cohorts, marital happiness declined more in the 1980s than in the 1990s, suggesting a period effect. This study provides evidence that the U-shaped pattern of marital happiness over the life course is an artifact of cross-sectional research and is not typical of U.S. marriages.
Overview
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cites
Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences
(1990) · Computers, Environment and Urban Systems · doi:10.1016/0198-9715(90)90050-4 · Cited by 65,269
Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life
Steidlmeier, P., Bellah, R. N., Madsen, R., Swindler, A., Sullivan, W. M., & Tipton, S. M. (1986) · Review of Religious Research · doi:10.2307/3511439 · Cited by 5,061
The Second Shift: Working Families and the Revolution at Home
Hochschild, A. R., & Machung, A. (2012) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 3,230
The longitudinal course of marital quality and stability: A review of theory, method, and research.
Karney, B. R., & Bradbury, T. N. (1995) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.118.1.3 · Cited by 2,608
Life-Span Development and Behavior
Baltes, P. B., Featherman, D. L., Lerner, R. M., Brim, O. G., & Perlmutter, M. C. (1984) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 1,805
Time for life: the surprising ways Americans use their time
(1997) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.35-2429 · Cited by 1,265
Sourcebook of Family Theories and Methods: A Contextual Approach
(1993) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-0-387-85764-0 · Cited by 1,127
Americans View Their Mental Health, 1957: Archival Version
Gurin, G., Veroff, J., & Feld, S. (1984) · ICPSR Data Holdings · doi:10.3886/icpsr03503 · Cited by 1,104
Husbands and Wives, the Dynamics of Married Living
Taves, M. J., Blood, R. O., & Wolfe, D. M. (1961) · Marriage and Family Living · doi:10.2307/347757 · Cited by 925
Families in Troubled Times: Adapting to Change in Rural America.
Tickamyer, A. R., Conger, R. D., Jr., G. H. E., Lorenz, F. O., Simons, R. L., & Whitbeck, L. B. (1995) · Contemporary Sociology · doi:10.2307/2077381 · Cited by 912
The Division of Household Labor
Shelton, B. A., & John, D. (1996) · Annual Review of Sociology · doi:10.1146/annurev.soc.22.1.299 · Cited by 793
Work Role Characteristics, Family Structure Demands, and Work/Family Conflict
Voydanoff, P. (1988) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.2307/352644 · Cited by 539
The Emerging Field of Personal Relationships
Gilmour, R., & Duck, S. (2021) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781003164005 · Cited by 516
Effects of Parental Divorce on Mental Health Throughout the Life Course
Cherlin, A. J., Chase-Lansdale, P. L., & McRae, C. (1998) · American Sociological Review · doi:10.2307/2657325 · Cited by 515
Thompson, L. (1991) · Journal of Family Issues · doi:10.1177/019251391012002003 · Cited by 447
Changing Attitudes toward Family Issues in the United States
Thornton, A. (1989) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.2307/353202 · Cited by 437
Quantitative Research on Marital Quality in the 1980s: A Critical Review
Glenn, N. D. (1990) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.2307/353304 · Cited by 387
Marital Quality: A Review of the Seventies
Spanier, G. B., & Lewis, R. A. (1980) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.2307/351827 · Cited by 385
Stability and Change in Marriage across the Transition to Parenthood
Belsky, J., Spanier, G. B., & Rovine, M. (1983) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.2307/351661 · Cited by 380
Marital Satisfaction over the Family Life Cycle
Rollins, B. C., & Feldman, H. (1970) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.2307/349967 · Cited by 351
Regression Diagnostics: An Introduction.
Trustrum, K., & Fox, J. (1993) · The Statistician · doi:10.2307/2348998 · Cited by 338
The Incidence and Frequency of Marital Sex in a National Sample
Call, V., Sprecher, S., & Schwartz, P. (1995) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.2307/353919 · Cited by 336
Using Panel Data to Estimate the Effects of Events
ALLISON, P. D. (1994) · Sociological Methods & Research · doi:10.1177/0049124194023002002 · Cited by 321
The Developmental Course of Marital Dysfunction
Weiss, R. L. (1998) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511527814 · Cited by 305
Anatomy of love: the natural history of monogamy, adultery, and divorce
(1993) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.30-5663 · Cited by 292
Changes in Gender Role Attitudes and Perceived Marital Quality
Amato, P. R., & Booth, A. (1995) · American Sociological Review · doi:10.2307/2096345 · Cited by 258
Self-citationDimensions of Marital Quality: Toward Methodological and Conceptual Refinement
JOHNSON, D. R., WHITE, L. K., EDWARDS, J. N., & BOOTH, A. (1986) · Journal of Family Issues · doi:10.1177/019251386007001003 · Cited by 251
Self-citationAmerican Families and Households.
Cherlin, A., Sweet, J. A., & Bumpass, L. L. (1989) · Journal of the American Statistical Association · doi:10.2307/2289983 · Cited by 239
Perceived Marital Quality and Family Life-Cycle Categories: A Further Analysis
Anderson, S. A., Russell, C. S., & Schumm, W. R. (1983) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.2307/351301 · Cited by 220
Marital Satisfaction over the Family Life Cycle: A Reevaluation
Rollins, B. C., & Cannon, K. L. (1974) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.2307/351153 · Cited by 215
Disturbing the Nest: Family Change and Decline in Modern Societies.
McIntosh, A., & Popenoe, D. (1991) · Population and Development Review · doi:10.2307/1971958 · Cited by 214
The Course of Marital Success and Failure in Five American 10-Year Marriage Cohorts
Glenn, N. D. (1998) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.2307/353529 · Cited by 199
Is the U-Curve of Marital Satisfaction an Illusion? A 40-Year Study of Marriage
Vaillant, C. O., & Vaillant, G. E. (1993) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.2307/352971 · Cited by 193
Marital Adjustment over the Family Life Cycle: The Issue of Curvilinearity
Spanier, G. B., Lewis, R. A., & Cole, C. L. (1975) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.2307/350960 · Cited by 191
Emptying the Nest and Parental Well-Being: An Analysis of National Panel Data
White, L., & Edwards, J. N. (1990) · American Sociological Review · doi:10.2307/2095629 · Cited by 182
Satisfaction with Various Aspects of Marriage over the Life Cycle: A Random Middle Class Sample
Burr, W. R. (1970) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.2307/349968 · Cited by 181
Stability and Developmental Change in Marital Quality: A Three-Wave Panel Analysis
Johnson, D. R., Amoloza, T. O., & Booth, A. (1992) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.2307/353244 · Cited by 177
Self-citationA Multivariate, Multisurvey Study of Marital Happiness
Glenn, N. D., & Weaver, C. N. (1978) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.2307/350758 · Cited by 176
Featherman, D. L., & Lerner, R. M. (1985) · American Sociological Review · doi:10.2307/2095380 · Cited by 172
Exchange and Resource Theories
Sabatelli, R. M., & Shehan, C. L. (2008) · Sourcebook of Family Theories and Methods · doi:10.1007/978-0-387-85764-0_16 · Cited by 167
Correlates of Dissatisfaction in Marriage
Renne, K. S. (1970) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.2307/349972 · Cited by 158
Hamilton, G. V. T. (1929) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 147
Children and Marital Happiness
White, L. K., BOOTH, A. R., & Edwards, J. N. (1986) · Journal of Family Issues · doi:10.1177/019251386007002002 · Cited by 147
Women, Outside Employment, and Marital Instability
BOOTH, A. R., Johnson, D. R., White, L. K., & Edwards, J. N. (1984) · American Journal of Sociology · doi:10.1086/228117 · Cited by 140
Self-citationMeasuring Marital Satisfaction in Three Generations: Positive and Negative Dimensions
Gilford, R., & Bengtson, V. L. (1979) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.2307/351705 · Cited by 140
Marital Quality Over the Life Course
Orbuch, T. L., House, J. S., Mero, R. P., & Webster, P. S. (1996) · Social Psychology Quarterly · doi:10.2307/2787050 · Cited by 139
Johnson, D. R. (1995) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.2307/353423 · Cited by 134
Self-citationA Multivariate Developmental Model of Marital Satisfaction
Miller, B. C. (1976) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.2307/350684 · Cited by 123
Huston, T. L., & Houts, R. (1998) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511527814.006 · Cited by 122
Sociology of Marriage and the Family: Gender, Love, and Property
Hatch, L. R., & Collins, R. (1989) · Teaching Sociology · doi:10.2307/1318437 · Cited by 118
Do Attitudes Toward Divorce Affect Marital Quality?
Amato, P. R., & Rogers, S. J. (1999) · Journal of Family Issues · doi:10.1177/019251399020001004 · Cited by 118
Self-citationThe Consequences of Premarital Fatherhood
Nock, S. L. (1998) · American Sociological Review · doi:10.2307/2657326 · Cited by 114
The Effects of Children on Adults' Psychological Well-Being: 1957-1976
McLanahan, S., & Adams, J. (1989) · Social Forces · doi:10.1093/sf/68.1.124 · Cited by 109
The Transition to Parenthood and Marital Quality
White, L. K., & BOOTH, A. R. (1985) · Journal of Family Issues · doi:10.1177/019251385006004003 · Cited by 107
The Effect of the Transition to Parenthood on the Marriage Relationship: A Longitudinal Study
McHale, S. M., & Huston, T. L. (1985) · Journal of Family Issues · doi:10.1177/019251385006004002 · Cited by 104
Behaviour Analysis and Contemporary Psychology
Lowe, C. F., Richelle, M. N., Blackman, D. E., et al. (2022) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781003316718 · Cited by 97
The Postdivorce Family: Children, Parenting, and Society
Thompson, R. A., & Amato, P. R. (1999) · Sage eBooks · doi:10.4135/9781452234038 · Cited by 96
Self-citationAllen, S. V. A. (1995) · The Prairie Light Review · Cited by 96
The Recent Trend in Marital Success in the United States
Glenn, N. D. (1991) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.2307/352897 · Cited by 87
Welfare and the Rise in Female‐Headed Families
Lichter, D. T., McLaughlin, D. K., & Ribar, D. C. (1997) · American Journal of Sociology · doi:10.1086/231173 · Cited by 86
Leonard, K. E., & Roberts, L. J. (1998) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511527814.004 · Cited by 77
Jasso, G. (1985) · American Sociological Review · doi:10.2307/2095411 · Cited by 70
Nb, R. (1990) · Social Forces · doi:10.1093/sf/68.3.951 · Cited by 70
The Developing Child and Marital Satisfaction of Parents
Rollins, B. C., & Galligan, R. J. (1978) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-444450-8.50010-9 · Cited by 70
Marital Quality: A Product of the Dyadic Environment or Individual Factors?
Johnson, D. R., & Booth, A. D. (1998) · Social Forces · doi:10.1093/sf/76.3.883 · Cited by 67
Self-citationMen's Retirement and Marital Quality
MYERS, S. M., & BOOTH, A. R. (1996) · Journal of Family Issues · doi:10.1177/019251396017003003 · Cited by 64
The Development of Marriage: A 9-Year Perspective
Lindahl, K. M., Clements, M. L., & Markman, H. J. (1998) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511527814.009 · Cited by 62
Contrasts in Marital Satisfaction Throughout Old Age: An Exchange Theory Analysis
Gilford, R. (1984) · Journal of Gerontology · doi:10.1093/geronj/39.3.325 · Cited by 53
Marital Stress and Family Transitions: A Panel Analysis
Menaghan, E. G. (1983) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.2307/351515 · Cited by 50
Tracking Respondents in a Telephone Interview Panel Selected by Random Digit Dialing
BOOTH, A. R., & Johnson, D. R. (1985) · Sociological Methods & Research · doi:10.1177/0049124185014001003 · Cited by 46
Self-citationKurdek, L. A. (1998) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511527814.008 · Cited by 40
Hudson, W. W., & Murphy, G. J. (1980) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.2307/351223 · Cited by 32
Changes in Marital Satisfaction in Three Generations of Mexican Americans
Markides, K. S., Roberts, J., Ray, L. A., et al. (1999) · Research on Aging · doi:10.1177/0164027599211002 · Cited by 11
Cited by
Life-span development of self-esteem and its effects on important life outcomes.
Orth, U., Robins, R. W., & Widaman, K. F. (2012) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0025558 · Cited by 860
Nelson, S. K., Kushlev, K., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2014) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/a0035444 · Cited by 621
Unhappily Ever After: Effects of Long-Term, Low-Quality Marriages on Well-Being
Hawkins, D. N., & Booth, A. (2005) · Social Forces · doi:10.1353/sof.2005.0103 · Cited by 444
Reexamining the Case for Marriage: Union Formation and Changes in Well‐being
Musick, K., & Bumpass, L. (2012) · Journal of Marriage and Family · doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2011.00873.x · Cited by 340
Self-Esteem and the Quality of Romantic Relationships
Yasemin Erol, R., & Orth, U. (2016) · European Psychologist · doi:10.1027/1016-9040/a000259 · Cited by 149
Metadata
- Authors
- VanLaningham, J., Johnson, D. R., & Amato, P.
- Venue
- Social Forces
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2001-06-01
- Volume
- 79
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 1313-1341
- ISSN
- 0037-7732 (ISSN-L)
- 1534-7605
- OpenAlex
- W2103964838
- Cited by
- 419
- References
- 73
- FWCI
- 17.33
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
Data sources
Bibliographic data: Semantic Scholar, OpenAlex, Crossref.
Contains information from the Semantic Scholar Academic Graph Datasets, made available under the ODC Attribution License (ODC-BY 1.0).
Semantic Scholar’s data is described in: Kinney, R., et al. (2023). The Semantic Scholar Open Data Platform. arXiv:2301.10140.