Relational and Sexual Costs of Materialism in Couple Relationships: An Actor–Partner Longitudinal Study

Keywords

APIM, financial stress, gender differences, materialism, relational satisfaction, sexual satisfaction

Abstract

This study examined the relational and sexual costs of materialism in couple relationships. Path analyses utilizing an actor–partner interdependence model (APIM) based on social comparison theory longitudinally predicted relationships across three waves of data over two years. Respondents included 338 couples (married and cohabiting) who participated in three waves of the (Day et al. 2016) Project. Women’s goods materialism at Time 2 was also directly related to their own (positively) and their partner’s (negatively) sexual satisfaction at Time 3. Men’s image materialism at Time 2 was directly and negatively related to their own commitment at Time 2 and their goods materialism at Time 2 was directly and negatively related to their own Time 2 relationship satisfaction. We also identified negative indirect associations between men’s T2 image and goods materialism and men’s and women’s T3 relationship satisfaction. This study provided evidence of the concurrent and longitudinal associations of materialism and relationship and sexual satisfaction using dyadic data. Implications for family life educators and therapists are explored.

Original Publication Citation

Leavitt, C.E., Dew, J.P., Allsop, D.B. et al. Relational and Sexual Costs of Materialism in Couple Relationships: An Actor–Partner Longitudinal Study. Journal of Family and Economic Issues 40, 438–454 (2019).

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2019-02-23

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/6945

Publisher

Journal of Family and Economic Issues

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Family Life

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

Link to Full Text

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