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Revisiting Financial Issues and Marriage

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Abstract

This chapter examines research pertaining to the association between financial issues and marriage. The majority of the research reviewed was published after 2008. These studies show that financial issues relate to marriage formation, marital quality, and marital stability (i.e., divorce). Specifically, financial stability is associated with a greater likelihood of marriage. Further, behaviors that financial practitioners would label “sound financial management” are positively associated with marital quality and stability. For example, longitudinal studies found that consumer debt was positively associated with divorce whereas financial assets were negatively associated with divorce. Studies have also found that financial arguments create worse relationship outcomes for couples than other types of disagreements. Because this area of research has been investigated for less than 30 years, this chapter also identifies areas that need further research including gender, diversity, and class issues.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family, Consumer, and Human Development, Utah State University, UMC 2705, Logan, UT, 84332-2705, USA

    Jeffrey P. Dew Ph.D.

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  1. Jeffrey P. Dew Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Jeffrey P. Dew Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Univ of Rhode Island, Transition Center, Department of Human Development and Family Studies,, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA

    Jing Jian Xiao

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Dew, J.P. (2016). Revisiting Financial Issues and Marriage. In: Xiao, J. (eds) Handbook of Consumer Finance Research. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28887-1_23

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