A Typology of Marital Quality among Javanese People

Abstract

Marital quality typologies have been the subject of many studies in Western psychology, and dimensions of marital quality have been associated with various positive life outcomes. However, marital quality in the context of a collectivist culture, where marriage could have a different quality, has not been explored extensively. This study aimed to classify marital quality among Javanese people, one of the largest groups representing collectivist culture in Indonesia. Using data collected online from participants in five regions in Java ( N = 889), we conducted a cluster analysis based on a two-dimensional marital quality scale (relationship and well-being). Three types of marital quality emerged from the analysis, namely, flourishing, functional, and surviving marriages. The flourishing type was the most positive marital quality indicator. Participants belonging to this type reported better relationship quality and well-being compared to the other two types.