Marital Satisfaction Among African Americans and Black Caribbeans: Findings From the National Survey of American Life*

doi:10.1111/j.1741-3729.2008.00497.x

If you are seeing this message, you may be experiencing temporary network problems. Please wait a few minutes and refresh the page. If the problem persists, you may wish to report it to your local Network Manager.

It is also possible that your web browser is not configured or not able to display style sheets. In this case, although the visual presentation will be degraded, the site should continue to be functional. We recommend using the latest version of Microsoft or Mozilla web browser to help minimise these problems.

Wiley InterScience

Family Relations

Volume 57 Issue 2, Pages 239 - 253

Published Online: 31 Mar 2008

Published on behalf of the National Council on Family Relations

Go to Society Site

< Previous Abstract | Next Abstract >

Save Article to My Profile Download Citation Request Permissions

Abstract | References | Full Text: HTML, PDF (Size: 133K) | Related Articles | Citation Tracking

Marital Satisfaction Among African Americans and Black Caribbeans: Findings From the National Survey of American Life*

Chalandra M. Bryant** Robert Joseph Taylor** Karen D. Lincoln** Linda M. Chatters** & James S. Jackson**

Correspondence to **Chalandra M. Bryant is an associate professor of Human Development and Family Studies at The Pennsylvania State University, 105 White Building, University Park, PA 16802-3903 (cmb34@psu.edu). Robert J. Taylor is an associate dean for Research in the School of Social Work at the University of Michigan, 1080 South University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (rjtaylor@umich.edu). Karen D. Lincoln is an assistant professor of Social Work at the University of Southern California, 669 West 34th Street, MRF 327, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0411 (klincoln@usc.edu). Linda M. Chatters is a professor of Public Health and professor of Social Work at the University of Michigan, 1080 South University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (chatters@umich.edu). James S. Jackson is a professor of Psychology and director of the Institute for Social Research, 426 Thompson Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1248 (jamessj@umich.edu).

*The data collection on which this study is based was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH; U01-MH57716) with supplemental support from the Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research at the National Institutes of Health and the University of Michigan. The preparation of this manuscript was supported by grants from the National Institute on Aging to Drs. Chatters and Taylor (R01-AG18782) and Drs. Jackson and Taylor (P30-AG15281), a grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD050045) to Dr. Bryant, and a grant from the NIMH (K01-MH69923-01) to Dr. Lincoln. The authors would like to thank Dr. David H. Chae for his valuable assistance with the data analysis for this study.

KEYWORDS

African American • Caribbean families • marital quality • marital satisfaction • West Indians

ABSTRACT

Abstract: This study examines the correlates of marital satisfaction using data from a national probability sample of African Americans (N = 962) and Black Caribbeans (N = 560). Findings reveal differences between African Americans and Black Caribbeans, and men and women within those groups, in the predictors of marital satisfaction. Black Caribbean women reported overall higher levels of marital satisfaction than African American women. The findings amply demonstrate the significance of ethnic diversity within the Black population in the United States. Difficulties with finances (budgeting, credit issues, and debt management) are one of the key issues that generate conflict in marriages; stress generated as a result of financial problems can lower marital satisfaction. Because these issues are salient for couples at any given time in the family life cycle, counseling at critical points in the marriage (birth of children, launching of children from home, and retirement) may be helpful.

Received: 17 January 2008; Accepted: 28 March 2008;

DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)

10.1111/j.1741-3729.2008.00497.x About DOI