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Resource adequacy perception and marital satisfaction of rural wives and husbands: A nonrecursive model

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Abstract

Rural families have experienced rapid changes in their social and economic environment in the past few decades. How do rural husbands and wives perceive the adequacy of their resources in the face of economic pressures? Is there a relationship between their perception of resource adequacy and their marital satisfaction? These questions are explored using data from a random sample of 205 couples living in rural Minnesota. Age and Locus of Control are predictors of Perceived Resource Adequacy for both husbands and wives; employment is a predictor of Perceived Resource Adequacy for wives; and Money Management is negatively related to Perceived Resource Adequacy for husbands. Cohesion is the only salient cause of Marital Satisfaction for husbands and wives. No reciprocal relationship is found between Perceived Resource Adequacy and Marital Satisfaction. Implications for theory, research, education, and counseling are discussed.

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This study was supported in part by the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station project 52-056 and the Minnesota Extension Service. Data were collected in conjunction with the cooperative regional research project NC-182, “Family Resource Utilization as a Factor in Determining Economic Well-Being of Rural Families.” Cooperating states were Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, and Minnesota. Only data from Minnesota were used in this study.

She received her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1992 with Drs. Bauer and Hogan as advisors. Her current research interests include family functioning and human resource development.

She received her Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, and her current research interests include family management and economic well-being of various family forms.

She received her Ph.D. from Michigan State University, and her current research interests include gender roles and family resource management theory.

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Hyun, E.M., Bauer, J.W. & Hogan, M.J. Resource adequacy perception and marital satisfaction of rural wives and husbands: A nonrecursive model. J Fam Econ Iss 14, 215–236 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01022178

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