Husband Support and Wife's Marital Satisfaction

WIFE’S PERCEPTION OF HUSBAND’S SUPPORT IN PURSUING HER CAREER IN RELATION TO WIFE’S MARITAL SATISFACTION

AMONG WORKING WIVES IN METRO MANILA

Berta Esti Ari Prasetya

Faculty of Psychology, Satya Wacana Christian University

Abstract

This study investigated whether a wife’s perception of her husband’s support in pursuing her career is correlated with wife’s marital satisfaction among working wives in Metro Manila. A survey method using questionnaires (Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale and Husband’s Support Questionnaire) and open-ended questions were used in collecting the data. There were 129 Filipino working wives participated. The result of a correlational analysis showed that there was a positive and significant correlation between wife’s perception of her husband’s support in pursuing her career and wife’s marital satisfaction (r = .52, p < .01). The answers to open-ended questions were content analyzed and resulted that the supports given by the husband elicited the wives’ appreciation to their husband, and made the wives see their husbands as having numerous positive characteristics.

Key words: Husband’s support in pursuing wife’s career, wife’s marital satisfaction.

Introduction

A marital relationship has long been considered the most intimate, special, and enduring bond most adults experience in this lifetime. The sacred union is so dear and personal that the two persons may be considered as one, not only by the society and culture, but also by the law (Medina, 2001). This synergistic relationship is particularly special because couples share the most private matters in their lives, risking heavy emotional investments that each party would otherwise not do had it been just any other type of relationship. It is a most enduring relationship, because these two people take a vow that they will be together, in sadness or happiness, for richer or poorer, in good health or in sickness, until death separates them apart....