The effect of self-esteem on marital satisfaction: Applying the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model with dyadic data from spouses

Abstract

Satisfying romantic relationships have been found to influence one’s well-being as well as mental and physical health. Previous research has examined what factors increase relationship satisfaction. One such factor is self-esteem, or the level of one’s social values. Individuals with high self-esteem and those having a partner with high self-esteem tend to feel more satisfied with their relationships. However, most of the previous research was conducted in individualistic cultures (e.g., North America), and it is not apparent whether the same pattern would be confirmed in collectivistic cultures (e.g., Japan). In the current study, we distributed questionnaires to married couples, and examined the effect of self-esteem on one’s own and his/her spouse’s marital satisfaction, using APIM. The results from 107 couples indicated that one’s high self-esteem predicted the greater level of own marital satisfaction as well as spouse’s marital satisfaction. This relation did not significantly differ based on participants’ gender or age. Thus, the current study showed that, consistent with the research in North America, one’s self-esteem influences not only one’s own but also spouse’s marital satisfaction in Japan.