Negative Life Events Experienced by Couples and Factors Predicting Marital and Life Satisfaction

Abstract

Issues of infidelity and violence are related to divorce. Some couples experience such negative life events while other couples do not. Furthermore, marital satisfaction and life satisfaction are associated with divorce, so it is important to identify the factors that influence the rise/decline of marital and life satisfaction. This study has three aims: 1) survey on negative life events among child-rearing couples, 2) identification of factors that lead to a decrease/increase in marital satisfaction, and 3) identification of factors that lead to a decrease/increase in life satisfaction. A questionnaire survey was conducted in 2019 with the cooperation of four institutions, and data from 192 individuals (79 fathers and 113 mothers）were included in the analysis. The results of the analysis showed that 1) a certain number of couples experienced such negative life events, 2) lower internal stressors and higher relational support predicted higher marital satisfaction, 3) higher internal stressor predicted lower life satisfaction.