Shared leisure and couple satisfaction

Journal title PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE
Author/s Rosalba Raffagnino, Camilla Matera, Martina Fabbrizzi, Alice Pennatini, Luisa Puddu
Publishing Year 2015 Issue 2015/3
Language Italian Pages 24 P. 87-110 File size 183 KB
DOI 10.3280/PDS2015-003005
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This research aimed to examine how shared leisure can influence couple satisfaction and how this association might vary according to partners’ gender, relationship length and parental status. A questionnaire assessing the variables of interest was administered to 200 heterosexual couples (N = 400). Path analysis revealed an indirect effect (through the quality of shared leisure) of parental status and a direct effect of relationship length on dyadic satisfaction. An interaction effect between relationship length and participants’ gender on shared leisure was observed. Also familial satisfaction, which was higher among men, was influenced by the quality of shared leisure, on which a main effect of parental status and a relationship length X gender interaction effect were observed. These findings show that the quality of shared time has a clear role in influencing couple satisfaction. From an applicative point of view, this research highlights the importance of focusing interventions on positive dimensions of couple life.

Keywords: Shared leisure, sharing, couple satisfaction, gender, relationship length, parenting

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