The relationship between family-of-origin and marital satisfaction

Abstract

The aim of this article is to explore the relationship between marital satisfaction and family-of-origin factors amongst couples with children. Locke and Wallace’s Marital Adjustment Test and the McMaster Family Assessment Device were used to measure marital satisfaction and family of-origin factors respectively. Family-of-origin factors, such as problem solving, communication, roles, affective involvement and behavioural control were investigated. The sample consisted of 47 married couples. A significant relationship was found between roles and affective responsive- ness as family-of-origin factors and marital satisfaction, while roles as a family-of-origin factor played an important role in the wife as well as her husbands’ marital satisfaction. The findings emphasise the importance of functioning in the family-of-origin as a potential determinant of future marital satisfaction.

Opsomming

Die doel van hierdie artikel is om die verwantskap tussen huweliks-bevrediging en gesin-vanoorsprong- faktore onder pare met kinders te ondersoek. Locke en Wallace se Marital Adjustment Test en die McMaster Family Assessment Device is gebruik om onderskeidelik huweliksbevrediging en gesin-van-oorsprong-faktore te meet. Gesin-van-oorsprong-faktore, soos probleem-oplossing, kommunikasie, rolle, affektiewe betrokkenheid en gedragsbeheer is ondersoek. Die steekproef het uit 47 getroude pare bestaan. 'n Beduidende verwantskap is tussen rolle en affektiewe responsiwiteit as gesin-van-oorsprong-faktore en huweliksbevrediging gevind, terwyl rolle as 'n gesin-van-oorsprong- faktor 'n belangrike rol in die vrou sowel as die man se huweliks-bevrediging gespeel het. Die bevindinge beklemtoon die belangrikheid van funksionering in die gesin van oorsprong as 'n potensiële determinant van toekomstige huweliksbevrediging.