妻の回想的語りによる夫婦関係満足度の変遷

抄録

　　This study examined changes in levels of marital satisfaction from the perspective of wives and it discussed these changes in terms of family developmental stages. Participants were 6 mothers of adolescent children. Participants were asked to create a timeline as they recalled events from when they were married to the present. Participants' narratives were analyzed with a focus on changes in the level of marital satisfaction. Key findings were as follows.

　　When wives reflected on when they raised their children, “collaboration by and support from one's husband” affected the wife's level of marital satisfaction in every life stage after childbirth. Forms of collaboration and support differed depending on the wife's life stage. While caring for an infant, wives wanted collaboration from their husbands so that they did not feel like they were raising their children alone. As the child grew, wives wanted to be viewed as individuals by their husbands. Wives then wanted their husbands to collaborate by being “present,” i.e. cheering on a child during a game or dropping the child off or picking the child up from activities.

　　In addition, matters such as “increased involvement in a child’s life by one's husband” and “being able to discuss shared topics with one's husband” increased the marital satisfaction of wives. In such instances, the ability of wives and children to directly influence husbands/fathers was a key factor for marital satisfaction.