STRESS AND MARITAL SATISFACTION: EXPLORING THE MODERATING ROLE OF SELF-EFFICACY BELIEFS
Keywords:
marital stress, marital satisfaction, self-efficacy beliefs, moderating effectAbstract
Literature offers several theoretical working models to explain the factors that impact the developmental course of a marital relationship. Much of this research has been focused on intrapersonal variables (e.g., personality traits and partners’ behaviors) and/or interpersonal factors (e.g., conflict, stress) as predictors of marital outcomes (e.g., marital adjustment, satisfaction or stability). There is a large volume of published studies describing the role of stress in marital dynamics. The current research focuses on the role that self-efficacy beliefs in partners play in the relationship between perceived marital stress and satisfaction. One hundred and twelve married adults (N = 56 couples) completed an adapted version of the Perceived Stress Scale along with the General Self-Efficacy Scale and a scale which was created to capture marital satisfaction. Baron and Kenny's analysis technique was used to explore the moderating role of self-efficacy beliefs. Marital satisfaction was positively associated with the level of perceived self-efficacy and negatively related to higher levels of perceived stress. The hypothesis of moderating role was not supported. However, our partial results were consistent with previous studies that have shown the negative impact of marital stress. Some theoretical and practical implications are discussed.References
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