Marital satisfaction in older adults: A comparison of community and clinic couples.

Investigated marital satisfaction in older adults to identify specific dimensions of marital satisfaction that demonstrate significant age differences and to estimate the magnitude of age differences in community and clinic samples in marital therapy. The community sample consisted of 640 married individuals (mean age 34 yrs) and the clinic sample consisted of 2,490 married persons (mean age 37 yrs). All Ss were divided into 3 age groups: ages 2034 yrs, ages 3549 yrs, and ages 5075 yrs. The Marital Satisfaction Inventory (MSI) served as the primary measure. Small age differences were observed on several scales from the MSI. Older adults reported more traditional gender role preferences; less disruption and conflict in their families of origin; less conflict over childrearing, finances, and leisure time spent together; but greater distress in their sexual relationship. However, the magnitude of age differences was sufficiently small to suggest only a modest influence of age on marital satisfaction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Marital satisfaction in older adults: A comparison of community and clinic couples. Academic Article