Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction: Considering the traditional Confucian values prevalent in Chinese society, we study the effects of the spouses' personalities and household sociodemographic circumstances on the marital satisfaction of marriage partners. Methods: We evaluate the factors that contribute to marital satisfaction, using the 2018 wave of the Chinese Family Panel Survey, including 6,603 households. We use information on both spouses' Big-Five personality traits, and marital satisfaction. In addition, the effects of the household's sociodemographic factors on the spouses' marital satisfaction are estimated. We employ the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model to estimate the effects, using simultaneous equation modeling. Results: We find significant actor effects of personality, i.e., agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, and extroversion, but few partner effects on marital satisfaction. In addition to other socioeconomic effects, we find strong actor effects of subjective social status on marital satisfaction for both spouses. The wife's level of education had a negative effect on her marital satisfaction. Discussion: The effects of the spouses' personalities and sociodemographic circumstances on their marital satisfaction fit the Confucian values fostered in China. The wife's double burden of having a job and taking care of household duties, negatively affecting her marital satisfaction, may be alleviated by proper government policies.
Source: Frontiers in Psychology
Authors: Li Jia, Gerrit Antonides, Zhuomin Liu
Institutions: Sichuan University, Wageningen University & Research
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
Funder: China Scholarship Council
Award: G3405594273
OpenAlex ID: W4407181598