The impact of materialism on relational satisfaction

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction: Materialism is a value that reflects the principle that possessions are imperative in people’s lives. Relational satisfaction is a partner’s subjective assessment of a relationship. Prior literature has documented the negative relationship between materialism and life satisfaction. Method: The research question asks, if there an impact between living a materialistic lifestyle and relational satisfaction? Results: A hierarchical multiple regression found that materialist values are a statistically significant predictor of relational satisfaction. Discussion: MFTs can address materialistic tendencies within the couples that may be negatively influencing their relationship. Limitations, implications for clinical practice, and future directions are discussed.