Associations between beliefs about marriage and life satisfaction: the moderating role of relationship status and gender

The association between marital beliefs and life satisfaction is investigated on the foundation of the Marital Paradigm Theory. Using secondary data analysis with data from the Changing American Family study by the Pew Forum, beliefs in the advantageousness of marriage were assessed from a representative sample of the United States (weighted N=24,268) which included both married and unmarried men and women. Results suggested that belief in the advantageousness of marriage was associated with higher reported general and domain-specific life satisfaction. However, a three-way interaction between gender, marital status, and belief in the advantageousness of marriage was also found. Married men who believe marriage is advantageous report significantly higher life satisfaction. Belief in the advantages of marriage was generally associated with less life satisfaction for those who were unmarried, regardless of gender. Results suggest the role marital beliefs may play in life satisfaction based on varying relational contexts.