Experiencing marital satisfaction across three cultures: A qualitative study

Abstract

The present study examined, via qualitative interviews, the experience of marital satisfaction across three cultures: the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and Beijing, China. A total of 79 respondents were interviewed in the three cultures and template analysis with an emic approach was used as the analytic method. Results indicated that, in all three cultures, a stable relationship with the spouse, spousal support, partnership with the spouse, and stable family finances were important factors that contributed to marital satisfaction. Cultural differences also appeared. Companionship was more important for British respondents, while harmonious marital relations were more important for Hong Kong respondents. These findings were generally consistent with postulates from modernization theories and cultural value theories. © The Author(s), 2009.