Work

Marital Discord and Subsequent Dissolution: Perceptions of Nepalese Wives and Husbands

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: This study examines the influence of marital discord on separation and divorce in a rural South Asian setting. We know little about how marital discord influences marital outcomes in settings with low personal freedom and limited access to independence. Using a sample of 674 couples from the Chitwan Valley Family Study in Nepal, this paper investigates the impact of marital discord on the rate of marital dissolution, and the extent to which wives' and husbands' perceptions of discord influence dissolution. Results reveal that (a) spouses' perceptions of marital discord increase the rate of marital dissolution, (b) both husbands' and wives' perceptions of discord have an important influence, and (c) the influence of wives' perceptions of discord is independent of their husbands' perceptions. Overall, these findings suggest that both spouses' perceptions of discord are important for marital outcomes, even in settings where the costs of marital dissolution are relatively high.

Source: Journal of Marriage and the Family

DOI: 10.1111/jomf.12104

Author: Elyse Jennings

Language: English

Topic: Family Dynamics and Relationships

Subfield: Demography

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Gender equality

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Awards: Carolina Population Center, G1789099407, Population Research Infrastructure Support, Population Research Training, Social Science Training Program in Population Studies