Factors of Marital Satisfaction among African American Couples and Nigerian Male/African American Female Couples

Abstract

This study examined factors related to the marital satisfaction of African American couples and Nigerian male/African American female couples. The sample was composed of 19 homogeneous and 19 intermarried couples. Each couple participated in the research by completing the Marital Satisfaction Inventory, a researcher-designed demographic data sheet, and a follow-up questionnaire. A 2 x 2 analysis of variance procedure was performed to investigate the differences between the homogeneous and intermarried dyads. The intermarried couples consistently expressed greater dissatisfaction than their African American counterparts in the areas of global distress, time together, disagreement over finances, and conflict over child rearing. There was no interaction effect. The implications of these findings for cross-cultural therapists are discussed. Implications for future research are also examined.