Family leisure and negative links between family of origin adversity and marital satisfaction

Objective

This study evaluated family leisure as a moderator of negative associations between family of origin adversity and subsequent marital relationship satisfaction.

Background

Negative experiences during childhood often affect marital outcomes. However, the vulnerability-stress-adaptation model of marriage suggests couples can adapt in healthy ways to manage vulnerabilities. Family leisure is often used to address stress. Family leisure remains a strong predictor of relationship well-being due to its ability to strengthen emotion regulation and build psychological resources, motivating an evaluation of family leisure as a potential ameliorating factor for links between family of origin adversity and marital relationship satisfaction.

Method

The study used a national dyadic sample of heterosexual married couples from the Couple Relationships and Transition Experiences (CREATE) study in the United States in 2021 (N = 1,462 couples). This study estimated an actor–partner interdependence model with dyadic connections and individual controls to evaluate family leisure in the context of married couples with past family of origin adversity.

Results

Family leisure positively associated with marital satisfaction directly but did not moderate family of origin adversity.

Conclusion

The study confirmed negative links between family of origin adversity and marital relationship satisfaction. Although the study also confirmed positive links between family leisure and relationship satisfaction, family leisure was not helpful as a buffer for family of origin adversity.

Implications

Findings suggest couples with family of origin adversity should not use family leisure as a primary means of addressing stress from family of origin experiences to help with marriages and may have more success with other strategies.