Correlations of the PAD Emotion Scales with self-reported satisfaction in marriage and work.

Abstract

The PAD (Pleasure-Arousal-Dominance) Emotion Model was used to summarize existing data and to investigate emotional correlates of satisfaction-dissatisfaction at work and in marriage. Ages of the married and employed participants were as follows: Study 1: M = 35.7, SD = 10.5; Study 2: M = 36.6, SD = 9.6. For all participants in both studies, Work Satisfaction (WSS) was correlated positively (p < .05) with pleasure, r(289) = .60; arousal, r(289) = .45; and dominance, r(289) = .51. Similarly, across both studies, Marital Satisfaction (MSS) was correlated positively (p < .05) with pleasure, r(289) = .72; and arousal, r(289) = .45; but was not significantly related to dominance, r(289) = .11. The relation of dominance to satisfaction at work but not in marriage was interpreted in terms of the greater likelihood of adversarial and competitive relationships at work versus greater prevalence of shared values and goals in marriage. WSS/MSS correlations were positive and significant in both studies: Study 1, r(148) = .28; Study 2, r(139) = .30. Similarities of the emotional correlates of satisfaction-dissatisfaction in marriage and work could have accounted for part of the carryover of satisfaction from marriage to work and vice versa.