Marital Satisfaction, Social Support and Mental Health among Dual-Income Couples

Abstract

The increasing occurrence of dual-income couples has changed family dynamics, particularly in modern Indian context. While dual incomes contribute to financial stability and enhanced living standards of life, they also initiate challenges related to work–family balance, role conflict, and psychological factors. The present study tried to study the relationship among marital satisfaction, perceived social support, and mental health among dual-income couples in North U.P.
A quantitative, cross-sectional correlational research design was used in the research. The sample consisted of dual-income married individuals selected through purposive sampling. Standardized instruments, including the Marital Satisfaction Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), were utilized for collecting data. Suitable statistics (descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, regression, and mediation analysis) was used to analyze the data of the study.
The findings showed a significant positive relationship between marital satisfaction and mentalhealth. Social support was also positively associated with both marital satisfaction and mental health. Further analysis showed that social support partially mediates therelationship between marital satisfaction and mental health. The study also indicated highlights the critical role of emotional and instrumental support in maintaining marital coherence and mental health among dual-income couples.