Marital Conflict and Health in Taiwan: A Dyadic Longitudinal Analysis

Keywords

Marital conflict, Physical health, Depression, Taiwan, Longitudinal study

Abstract

Marital conflict is predictive of physical health; however, there are few studies that demonstrate this relationship in Chinese cultures. The purpose of this study was to test the effect of marital conflict on physical health among couples in Taiwan. This study utilized dyadic data of 239 married couples from three waves of a longitudinal study on work and family issues conducted in Taiwan. This study used participant’s reports of marital conflict at time 2, depressive symptoms at time 3, and physical health at time 4. Using a time-sequential method of analysis, results indicated that marital conflict was indirectly predictive of physical health 2 years later, with depressive symptoms fully mediating this relationship for husbands and wives. There were no significant partner effects or gender differences. The findings of this study provide evidence that the quality of marital relationships is important for the physical wellbeing of couples in Chinese cultures.

Original Publication Citation

*Kubricht, B.C., Miller, R.B., Li, T.-S., & Hsiao, Y.-L. (2017). Marital conflict and health in Taiwan: A dyadic longitudinal analysis. Contemporary Family Therapy, 39, 87-96.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2017-02-10

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/5399

Publisher

Contemporary Family Therapy

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Sociology

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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