Weathering the Storm: How Socio-demographics Influence Stress, Resilience, and Couple Satisfaction
Keywords:
Transactional stress model, Coping styles, Resilience, Couple satisfactionAbstract
The current research investigates the influence of sociodemographic variables on stress, resilience, and couple satisfaction in Indian married couples. 131 participants were grouped according to factors like age, gender, education, family type, work status, and socioeconomic status. They filled out an online questionnaire with psychological measures, such as the Perceived Stress Scale, the Brief Resilience Scale, and the Couple Satisfaction Scale (16-item questionnaire).
The results show a strong difference in resilience between age groups, whereas stress and couple satisfaction were constant from young adulthood to late middle age. Yet, a considerable change in stress levels was noted, with resilience and relationship satisfaction being stronger in young adulthood and early middle age.
Moreover, stress levels were very different among the lower and upper socioeconomic groups, while resilience and marital satisfaction did not vary. Similarly, a vast contrast in stress and couple satisfaction was observed between the upper and middle classes, but resilience did not change. Conversely, no contrasts in stress, resilience, or relationship satisfaction were observed between the middle and lower classes. Moreover, family structure, work, and culture did not show remarkable differences.
The results indicate that social variables such as socioeconomic status and age had of significant impact on stress, resilience, and satisfaction in couples. No significant effects were observed with variables such as work, family structure, culture, and education. Owing to these huge differences, more studies are advised to investigate these dynamics more deeply.
Downloads
References
Abidin, Rozaina & Ismail, Khamsiah & Sariah, Sharifah & Sudan, Salmi. (2018). Marital Satisfaction, Communication, and Coping Strategy Among Malaysian Married Couples: Factors Prediction and Model Testing. International Journal of Engineering & Technology. 7.408.10.14419/ijet.v7i3.21.17202
Abreu-Afonso, J., Ramos, M. M., Queiroz-Garcia, I., & Leal, I. (2022). How Couple’s Relationship Last Over Time? A Model for Marital Satisfaction. Psychological Reports, 125(3), 1601–1627. https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941211000651
Aflakseir A. The role of social support and coping strategies on the mental health of a group of Iranian disabled war veterans. Iran J Psychiatry. 2010 Summer;5(3):102-7. PMID: 22952501; PMCID: PMC3430500.
Ajrouch, Kristine & Abdulrahim, Sawsan & Antonucci, Toni. (2013). Stress, Social Relations, and Psychological Health Over the Life Course. GeroPsych: The Journal of Gerontopsychology and Geriatric Psychiatry. 26. 15. 10.1024/1662-9647/a000076.
Almuqrin, A., Georgiades, A., Mouhitzadeh, K. et al. The association between psychosocial stress, interpersonal sensitivity, social withdrawal and psychosis relapse: a systematic review. Schizophr 9, 22 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41537-023-00349-w
Aqeel, Khan & Saleem, Muhammad & Shahid, Raheela. (2012). Buffering Role of Locus of Control on Stress among the College/University Teachers of Bahawalpur. Pak. J. Comm. Soc. Sci.. 6.
Avison WR, Ali J, Walters D. Family structure, stress, and psychological distress: a demonstration of the impact of differential exposure. J Health Soc Behav. 2007 Sep;48(3):301-17. doi: 10.1177/002214650704800307. PMID: 17982870.
Baik SH, Fox RS, Mills SD, Roesch SC, Sadler GR, Klonoff EA, Malcarne VL. Reliability and validity of the Perceived Stress Scale-10 in Hispanic Americans with English or Spanish language preference. J Health Psychol. 2019 Apr;24(5):628-639. doi: 10.1177/1359105316684938. Epub 2017 Jan 5. PMID: 28810432; PMCID: PMC6261792.
Bodenmann, Guy & Atkins, David & Schaer, Marcel & Poffet, Valérie. (2010). The Association Between Daily Stress and Sexual Activity. Journal of family psychology : JFP : journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association (Division 43). 24. 271-9. 10.1037/a0019365.
Bradley JM, Hojjat M. A model of resilience and marital satisfaction. J Soc Psychol. 2017;157(5):588-601. doi: 10.1080/00224545.2016.1254592. Epub 2016 Nov 1. PMID: 27802115.
Cathy Dandurand¹ & Marie-France Lafontaine,Intimacy and Couple Satisfaction: The Moderating Role of Romantic Attachment,International Journal of Psychological Studies; Vol. 5, No. 1; 2013 ISSN 1918-7211 E-ISSN 1918-722X
Chebotareva, Elena. (2014). Marital satisfaction of employed and non-employed young women.
Clarissa M.E. Richardson,Emotion regulation in the context of daily stress: Impact on daily affect, Personality and Individual Differences, Volume 112,2017,Pages 150-156, ISSN 0191-8869, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2017.02.058.
Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., & Mermelstein, R. (1983). A global measure of perceived stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24(4), 385–396.
Du X, Liang M, Mu W, Li F, Li S, Li X, Xu J, Wang K, Zhou M. Marital Satisfaction, Family Functioning, and Children's Mental Health-The Effect of Parental Co-Viewing. Children (Basel). 2022 Feb 6;9(2):216. doi: 10.3390/children9020216. PMID: 35204935; PMCID: PMC8870432.
Esch, Tobias & Stefano, George & Fricchione, Gregory & Benson, Herbert. (2002). Stress in cardiovascular disease. Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research. 8. RA93-RA101.
Fatemeh Shojaei,Leila Shojaei,Reza Dastjerdi, Mohsen Khorshidzadeh4,Investigating the Predictive Role of Resilience andPsychological Hardiness in Marital Conflicts of NursesWorking in Educational Hospitals in Birjand Modern Care Journal http://moderncare.bums.ac.ir Mod CareJ 2015 July;12(3):129-133 Scientific Quarterly of Birjand Nursing & Midwifery Facult.
Fisher, Terri & McNulty, James. (2008). Neuroticism and Marital Satisfaction: The Mediating Role Played by the Sexual Relationship. Journal of family psychology : JFP : journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association (Division 43). 22. 112-22. 10.1037/0893-3200.22.1.112.
Fung, Sai-fu. (2020). Validity of the Brief Resilience Scale and Brief Resilient Coping Scale in a Chinese Sample. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 17. 1265. 10.3390/ijerph17041265.
Funk, J. L. & Rogge, R. D. (2007). Testing the ruler with item response theory: Increasing precision of measurement for relationship satisfaction with the Couples Satisfaction Index. Journal of Family Psychology, 21, 572-583.
Gewirtz, Jonathan & Radke, Anna. (2010). Effects of Stress on Learning and Memory.10.1016/B978-0-08-045396-5.00234-7.
Gupta, Lokesh & Singh, Rajbir. (2011). Impact of family type on Resilience. Indian Journal of Positive Psychology. 2. 17-20.
Harper, J. M., & Sandberg, J. G., Schaalje, B. J. (2000). The effects of daily hassles and intimacy on marital quality in mature marriages. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 28, 1- 18.
Hammett JF, Lavner JA, Karney BR, Bradbury TN. Intimate Partner Aggression and Marital Satisfaction: A Cross-Lagged Panel Analysis. J Interpers Violence. 2021 Feb;36(3- 4):NP1463-1481NP. doi: 10.1177/0886260517747607. Epub 2017 Dec 18. PMID: 29295030.
Hana Yoo,2013, Couple Intimacy and Relationship Satisfaction:A Comparison Study between Clinical and Community Couples, Ohio University.
Hojjat SK, Hatami SE, Rezaei M, Khalili MN, Talebi MR. The efficacy of training of stress- coping strategies on marital satisfaction of spouses of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Electron Physician. 2016 Apr 25;8(4):2232-7. doi: 10.19082/2232. PMID: 27279997; PMCID: PMC4886563.
Hurley, Lillian N., "The Relationship Between Resilience, Coping, and Social Media" (2018).Masters Theses. 3683. https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/3683.
JOUR Ooi, Pei Boon Khor, Kuan Siew Tan, Choe Chai Ong, Derek Lai Teik,2022, Original Research,Depression, anxiety, stress, and satisfaction with life: Moderating role of interpersonal needs among university students, Frontiers in Public Health, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/-10.3389/fpubh.2022.958884
K.P Sheeeja, Dr. A. Arunmozhi And Dr. Nice Mary Francis, Study On The Effect Of Stress Management And Life Satisfaction On Marital Adjustment Among Couples In Kerala, European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine ISSN 2515-8260 Volume 07, Issue 08, 2020
Kumar A, Rinwa P, Kaur G, Machawal L. Stress: Neurobiology, consequences and management. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2013 Apr;5(2):91-7. doi: 10.4103/0975-7406.111818. PMID: 23833514; PMCID: PMC3697199.
Liu, Qingjin & Liu, Yong & Leng, Xuechen & Han, Jinfeng & Xia, Feng & Chen, Hong. (2020). Impact of Chronic Stress on Attention Control: Evidence from Behavioral and Event- Related Potential Analyses. Neuroscience bulletin. 36.10.1007/s12264-020-00549-9
Ljudmila Stojanovich, Dragomir Marisavljevich,Stress as a trigger of autoimmune disease, Autoimmunity Reviews,Volume 7, Issue 3,2008, Pages 209-213,ISSN 1568- 9972, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autrev.2007.11.007.
Maroufizadeh S, Hosseini M, Rahimi Foroushani A, Omani-Samani R, Amini P. The Relationship between Perceived Stress and Marital Satisfaction in Couples with Infertility: Actor-Partner Interdependence Model. Int J Fertil Steril. 2019 Apr;13(1):66-71. doi: 10.22074/ijfs.2019.5437. Epub 2019 Jan 6. PMID: 30644247; PMCID: PMC6334010.
McEwen BS, Nasca C, Gray JD. Stress Effects on Neuronal Structure: Hippocampus, Amygdala, and Prefrontal Cortex. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2016 Jan;41(1):3-23. doi: 10.1038/npp.2015.171. Epub 2015 Jun 16. PMID: 26076834; PMCID: PMC4677120.
Nikopoulou VA, Gliatas I, Blekas A, Parlapani E, Holeva V, Tsipropoulou V, Karamouzi P, Godosidis A, Diakogiannis I. Uncertainty, Stress, and Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2022 Apr 1;210(4):249-256. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001491. PMID: 35349504; PMCID: PMC8963442.
Park, Crystal & Wright, Bradley & Pais, Jeremy & Ray, D.. (2016). Daily Stress and Self- Control. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. 35. 738-753. 10.1521/jscp.2016.35.9.738.
Ptacek, J. T., & Dodge, K. L. (1995). Coping Strategies and Relationship Satisfaction in Couples. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 21(1), 76–84. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167295211008
Randall, Ashley & Bodenmann, Guy. (2009). The role of stress on close relationships and marital satisfaction. Clinical Psychology Review. 29. 10.5167/uzh-9210.
Rogge, Ronald. (2007). The Couples Satisfaction Index: CSI-16. 10.13140/RG.2.1.3149.7364. Nurhayati, Siti & Faturochman, Faturochman & Helmi, Avin. (2019). Marital Quality: A Conceptual Review. Buletin Psikologi. 7. 109-124. 10.22146/buletinpsikologi.37691.
Rook, Karen & Sorkin, Dara & Zettel-Watson, Laura. (2003). Stress in Social Relationships: Coping and Adaptation across the Life Span. Growing Together: Personal Relationships Across the Life Span. 210-239. 10.1017/CBO9780511499852.009.
Rubin, Kenneth & Burgess, Kim. (2001). Social Withdrawal and Anxiety. 10.1093/med:psych/9780195123630.003.0018.
Ruth Chu-Lien Chao, 2011, Managing Stress and Maintaining Well-Being: Social Support, Problem-Focused Coping, and Avoidant Coping.
Sandi C, Haller J. Stress and the social brain: behavioural effects and neurobiological mechanisms. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2015 May;16(5):290-304. doi: 10.1038/nrn3918. PMID: 25891510.
Schoenmakers EC, van Tilburg TG, Fokkema T. Problem-focused and emotion-focused coping options and loneliness: how are they related? Eur J Ageing. 2015 Feb 11;12(2):153-161. doi: 10.1007/s10433-015-0336-1. PMID: 28804352; PMCID: PMC5549139.
Scott, S.B., Graham-Engeland, J.E., Engeland, C.G. et al. The Effects of Stress on Cognitive Aging, Physiology and Emotion (ESCAPE) Project. BMC Psychiatry 15, 146 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-015-0497-7
Shivanand Manohar,Ananya Yashwanth,Smitha M C,Jose Jom Thomas,Raj kiran Donthu,Deepak Anil, 2022, Stress, Resilience and their Correlation among Medical Undergraduates during Covid-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional study, Global Journal of medicine and public health.
Surzykiewicz J, Skalski SB, Sołbut A, Rutkowski S, Konaszewski K. Resilience and Regulation of Emotions in Adolescents: Serial Mediation Analysis through Self-Esteem and the Perceived Social Support. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jun 29;19(13):8007. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19138007. PMID: 35805666; PMCID: PMC9265814.
Wacogne C, Lacoste JP, Guillibert E, Hugues FC & Le Jeunne C. Stress, anxiety, depression and migraine. Cephalalgia 2003; 23:451–455. London. ISSN 0333-1024
Ward, Rachel & Brady, Abbie & Jazdzewski, Rebekah & Yalch, Matthew. (2021). Stress, Resilience, and Coping.
Wolf, W. (1987). Alltagsbelastungen und partnerschaft [Daily hassles and close relation-ship]. Bern: Huber
Wu, Gang & Feder, Adriana & Cohen, Hagit & Kim, Joanna & Calderon, Solara & Charney, Dennis & Mathé, Aleksander. (2013). Understanding Resilience. Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience. 7. 10. 10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00010.
Zhou, Y., Wang, K., Chen, S., Zhang, J., & Zhou, M. (2017). The Actor, Partner, Similarity Effects of Personality, and Interactions with Gender and Relationship Duration among Chinese Emerging Adults. Frontiers in Psychology, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01698
Ziaee T, Jannati Y, Mobasheri E, Taghavi T, Abdollahi H, Modanloo M, Behnampour N. The Relationship between Marital and Sexual Satisfaction among Married Women Employees at Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Iran J Psychiatry Behav Sci. 2014 Summer;8(2):44-51. PMID: 25053956; PMCID: PMC4105603.
