Economic Distress and Perceptions of Sexual Intimacy in Remarriage

Overview

Journal Front Psychol

Date 2023 Jan 23

PMID 36687913

Authors

Joshua J Turner

J Scott Crapo

Olena Kopystynska

Kay Bradford

Brian J Higginbotham

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Economic distress and the relationship stability of remarried couples has been subject to some exploration, but less emphasis has been placed on how economic distress among remarried couples impacts other relationship domains, particularly sexual intimacy.

Methods: Through the lens of multidimensional family development theory (MFDT), this study utilizes longitudinal data over a three-year period to examine the links between economic distress, couple engagement, relationship satisfaction, and perceptions of sexual intimacy among remarried couples ( = 1,161 couples; 97% White).

Results: Through a dyadic structural equation model, results showed that wives' report of economic distress was directly related to their self-rejection of a partner's sexual advances. Findings also revealed gender differences in how both relationship satisfaction and couple engagement influenced one to accept or reject their partner's sexual advances, with couple engagement acting as a significant predictor for wives. Relationship satisfaction was also found to explain (i.e., mediate) the relation between economic distress and sexual intimacy, but only for husbands.

Discussion: Implications for further research and interventions designed to strengthen the relationships of remarried couples dealing with economic distress and intimacy issues are offered.

References

Huston T, Vangelisti A . Socioemotional behavior and satisfaction in marital relationships: a longitudinal study. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1991; 61(5):721-33. DOI: 10.1037//0022-3514.61.5.721. View

Mark K, Jozkowski K . The mediating role of sexual and nonsexual communication between relationship and sexual satisfaction in a sample of college-age heterosexual couples. J Sex Marital Ther. 2013; 39(5):410-27. DOI: 10.1080/0092623X.2011.644652. View

Buck A, Neff L . Stress spillover in early marriage: the role of self-regulatory depletion. J Fam Psychol. 2012; 26(5):698-708. DOI: 10.1037/a0029260. View

Schoenfeld E, Loving T, Pope M, Huston T, Stulhofer A . Does Sex Really Matter? Examining the Connections Between Spouses' Nonsexual Behaviors, Sexual Frequency, Sexual Satisfaction, and Marital Satisfaction. Arch Sex Behav. 2016; 46(2):489-501. DOI: 10.1007/s10508-015-0672-4. View

Debrot A, Meuwly N, Muise A, Impett E, Schoebi D . More Than Just Sex: Affection Mediates the Association Between Sexual Activity and Well-Being. Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2017; 43(3):287-299. DOI: 10.1177/0146167216684124. View

Sassler S . Partnering Across the Life Course: Sex, Relationships, and Mate Selection. J Marriage Fam. 2012; 72(3):557-575. PMC: 3399251. DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-3737.2010.00718.x. View

Copen C, Daniels K, Vespa J, Mosher W . First marriages in the United States: data from the 2006-2010 National Survey of Family Growth. Natl Health Stat Report. 2012; (49):1-21. View

Ophir A . "Thank U, Next"? Repartnering and the Household Division of Labor. J Marriage Fam. 2022; 84(2):636-654. PMC: 9231825. DOI: 10.1111/jomf.12816. View

Willoughby B, Farero A, Busby D . Exploring the effects of sexual desire discrepancy among married couples. Arch Sex Behav. 2013; 43(3):551-62. DOI: 10.1007/s10508-013-0181-2. View

10.

Harris E, Gormezano A, van Anders S . Gender Inequities in Household Labor Predict Lower Sexual Desire in Women Partnered with Men. Arch Sex Behav. 2022; 51(8):3847-3870. PMC: 9483460. DOI: 10.1007/s10508-022-02397-2. View

11.

Kapelle N . Time cannot heal all wounds: Wealth trajectories of divorcees and the married. J Marriage Fam. 2022; 84(2):592-611. PMC: 9303434. DOI: 10.1111/jomf.12824. View

12.

Markman H, Rhoades G, Stanley S, Ragan E, Whitton S . The premarital communication roots of marital distress and divorce: the first five years of marriage. J Fam Psychol. 2010; 24(3):289-98. PMC: 4298140. DOI: 10.1037/a0019481. View

13.

Kornrich S, Brines J, Leupp K . Egalitarianism, Housework, and Sexual Frequency in Marriage. Am Sociol Rev. 2014; 78(1):26-50. PMC: 4273893. DOI: 10.1177/0003122412472340. View

14.

Yeh H, Lorenz F, Wickrama K, Conger R, Elder Jr G . Relationships among sexual satisfaction, marital quality, and marital instability at midlife. J Fam Psychol. 2006; 20(2):339-43. DOI: 10.1037/0893-3200.20.2.339. View

15.

Cao H, Zhou N, Fine M, Li X, Fang X . Sexual Satisfaction and Marital Satisfaction During the Early Years of Chinese Marriage: A Three-Wave, Cross-Lagged, Actor-Partner Interdependence Model. J Sex Res. 2018; 56(3):391-407. DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2018.1463503. View

16.

McNulty J, Wenner C, Fisher T . Longitudinal Associations Among Relationship Satisfaction, Sexual Satisfaction, and Frequency of Sex in Early Marriage. Arch Sex Behav. 2014; 45(1):85-97. PMC: 4472635. DOI: 10.1007/s10508-014-0444-6. View

17.

Jensen T, Shafer K . Stepfamily functioning and closeness: children's views on second marriages and stepfather relationships. Soc Work. 2013; 58(2):127-36. DOI: 10.1093/sw/swt007. View

18.

DeLongis A, Zwicker A . Marital satisfaction and divorce in couples in stepfamilies. Curr Opin Psychol. 2017; 13:158-161. DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2016.11.003. View

19.

HETHERINGTON E . The adjustment of children with divorced parents: a risk and resiliency perspective. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1999; 40(1):129-40. View

20.

Lavner J, Karney B, Bradbury T . Does Couples' Communication Predict Marital Satisfaction, or Does Marital Satisfaction Predict Communication?. J Marriage Fam. 2016; 78(3):680-694. PMC: 4852543. DOI: 10.1111/jomf.12301. View