Perceived fairness and marital satisfaction: The role of the presence of children with disabilities

Authors

  • Klarinthia Ratri Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia
  • Yudiana Ratnasari Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26555/humanitas.v20i2.239

Keywords:

children with disabilities, division of household chores, marital satisfaction, parenting, perceived fairness

Abstract

Perceived fairness has been consistently found to have a  significant positive correlation with marital satisfaction. Furthermore, numerous studies on perceived fairness have been conducted related to parents of children with disabilities, considering the difficulties encountered by these parents due to their children’s specialized needs and demands. As a result, these challenges usually affect their marital relationship more than the other couples. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the relationship between perceived fairness and marital satisfaction moderated by the presence of children with disabilities. The Indonesian version of the Perceived Fairness instrument and Quality of Marriage Index were used to measure perceived fairness and marital satisfaction in 335 married Indonesian participants, including both parents of children with and without disabilities. Data analysis was performed using Hayes PROCESS. The result showed that perceived fairness was significantly correlated to marital satisfaction in both parents of children with and without disabilities. However, no significant interaction was found by the presence of children with disabilities on the relationship between perceived fairness and marital satisfaction. The results of this study provide a strong implication for mental health practitioners regarding the intervention goals for families and parents of children with disabilities.

References

Aranti, H. (2020). Pernikahan di generasi X: Peran strategi resolusi konflik sebagai moderator dalam hubungan antara human value dan kepuasan pernikahan [Marriage among X generation: The role of conflict resolution strategy as moderator in the association between human value and marital satisfaction] [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Universitas Indonesia.

Bahry, N. S., Mat, A., Kori, N. L., Ali, A. M., Munir, Z. A., & Salleh, M. Z. M. (2019). Challenges faced by Malaysian parents in caregiving of a child with disabilities. GATR Global Journal of Business Social Sciences Review, 7(2), 118–124. https://doi.org/10.35609/gjbssr.2019.7.2(2)

Benson, B. A., & Gross, A. M. (1989). The effect of a congenitally handicapped child upon the marital dyad: A review of the literature. Clinical Psychology Review, 9(6), 747–758. https://doi.org/10.1016/0272-7358(89)90021-4

Brobst, J. B., Clopton, J. R., & Hendrick, S. S. (2009). Parenting children with autism spectrum disorders: The couple’s relationship. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 24(1), 38–49. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088357608323699

Chen, S.-Q., Chen, S.-D., Li, X.-K., & Ren, J. (2020). Mental health of parents of special needs children in China during the covid-19 pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(24), 9519. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17249519

Chen, T. Y., & Tang, C. S. (1997). Stress appraisal and social support of Chinese mothers of adult children with mental retardation. American Journal of Mental Retardation, 101(5), 473–482.

Chong, A., & Mickelson, K. D. (2016). Perceived fairness and relationship satisfaction during the transition to parenthood: The mediating role of spousal support. Journal of Family Issues, 37(1), 3–28. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X13516764

Claffey, S. T., & Mickelson, K. D. (2009). Division of household labor and distress: The role of perceived fairness for employed mothers. Sex Roles, 60(11–12), 819–831. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-008-9578-0

Cooklin, A. R., Giallo, R., & Rose, N. (2011). Parental fatigue and parenting practices during early childhood: An Australian community survey. Child: Care, Health and Development, 38(5), 654–664. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01333.x

Craig, L., & Mullan, K. (2011). How mothers and fathers share childcare: A cross-national time-use comparison. American Sociological Review, 76(6), 834–861. https://doi.org/10.1177/0003122411427673

Doulabi, M. A., Sajedi, F., Vameghi, R., Mazaheri, M. A., Baghban, A. A., & Afraz, F. (2019). Marital satisfaction and depression in mothers of 3-4 year old children with developmental delay in comparison with mothers of normal children. Iranian Journal of Child Neurology, 13(4), 91–108. https://doi.org/10.22037/ijcn.v13i4.18050

Dush, C. M. K., Taylor, M. G., & Kroeger, R. A. (2008). Marital happiness and psychological well‐being across the life course. Family Relations, 57(2), 211–226. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2008.00495.x

Gillespie, B. J., Peterson, G., & Lever, J. (2019). Gendered perceptions of fairness in housework and shared expenses: Implications for relationship satisfaction and sex frequency. PLOS ONE, 14(3), e0214204. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0214204

Gosztyła, T. (2015). Marriage satisfaction of parents of children with autism. Introductory exploration of the problem among Polish married couples rearing children with autism. Fides et Ratio, 4(24), 228–247.

Hadiz, L., & Eddyono, S. W. (2005). Pembakuan peran gender dalam kebijakan-kebijakan di Indonesia [Standarization of gender roles in policies in Indonesia]. Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Asosiasi Perempuan Indonesia untuk Keadilan (LBH APIK).

Hartley, S. L., Barker, E. T., Seltzer, M. M., Floyd, F., Greenberg, J., Orsmond, G., & Bolt, D. (2010). The relative risk and timing of divorce in families of children with an autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Family Psychology, 24(4), 449–457. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0019847

Hartley, S. L., Papp, L. M., Mihaila, I., Bussanich, P. M., Goetz, G., & Hickey, E. J. (2017). Couple conflict in parents of children with versus without autism: Self-reported and observed findings. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 26(8), 2152–2165. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-017-0737-1

Heshmati, H., Behnampour, N., Arabameri, S., Khajavi, S., & Kohan, N. (2016). Marital satisfaction in Refereed Women to Gorgan Health ‎Centers. Iranian Journal of Psychiatry, 11(3), 198–200.

Holmbeck, G. N., Gorey-Ferguson, L., Hudson, T., Sefeldt, T., Shapera, W., Turner, T., & Uhler, J. (1997). Maternal, paternal, and marital functioning in families of preadolescents with spina bifida. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 22(2), 167–181. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/22.2.167

Hoseinnejad, H., Chopaniyan, F., Sarvi Moghanlo, O., Rostami, M., & Dadkhah, A. (2020). Marital satisfaction and happiness in parents with autistic and normal children. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal, 18(1), 49–56. https://doi.org/10.32598/irj.18.1.655.1

Ki, Y. W., & Joanne, C. C. Y. (2014). Stress and marital satisfaction of parents with children with disabilities in Hong Kong. Psychology, 5(5), 349–357. https://doi.org/10.4236/psych.2014.55045

Kluwer, E. S., Heesink, J. A. M., & de Vliert, E. Van. (1996). Marital conflict about the division of household labor and paid work. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 58(4), 958–969. https://doi.org/10.2307/353983

Lohranpour, G. A., & Chahartangi, S. (2016). Comparative analysis of marital satisfaction and quality of life in mothers with exceptional children and mothers with normal children. International Journal of Medical Research & Health Sciences, 5(7S), 631–636.

Mallers, M. H., Charles, S. T., Neupert, S. D., & Almeida, D. M. (2010). Perceptions of childhood relationships with mother and father: Daily emotional and stressor experiences in adulthood. Developmental Psychology, 46(6), 1651–1661. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0021020

McCracken, J. T., McGough, J., Shah, B., Cronin, P., Hong, D., Aman, M. G., Arnold, L. E., Lindsay, R., Nash, P., Hollway, J., McDougle, C. J., Posey, D., Swiezy, N., Kohn, A., Scahill, L., Martin, A., Koenig, K., Volkmar, F., Carroll, D., … McMahon, D. (2002). Risperidone in children with autism and serious behavioral problems. New England Journal of Medicine, 347(5), 314–321. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa013171

Newkirk, K., Perry-Jenkins, M., & Sayer, A. G. (2017). Division of household and childcare labor and relationship conflict among low-income new parents. Sex Roles, 76(5–6), 319–333. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-016-0604-3

Norlin, D., & Broberg, M. (2013). Parents of children with and without intellectual disability: couple relationship and individual well-being. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 57(6), 552–566. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.2012.01564.x

Norton, R. (1983). Measuring marital quality: A critical look at the dependent variable. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 45(1), 141–151. https://doi.org/10.2307/351302

Ponnet, K., Wouters, E., Goedemé, T., & Mortelmans, D. (2016). Family financial stress, parenting and problem behavior in adolescents: An actor-partner interdependence approach. Journal of Family Issues, 37(4), 574–597. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X13514409

Rahmadani, F. (2021). Peran financial infidelity dan perceived fairness terhadap marital distress: Studi pada lima tahun pertama perkawinan [The role of financial infidelity and perceived fairness on marital distress: Study in the first five years of marriage] [Unpublished undergraduate’s Thesis]. Universitas Indonesia.

Ren, J., Li, X., Chen, S., Chen, S., & Nie, Y. (2020). The influence of factors such as parenting stress and social support on the state anxiety in parents of special needs children during the COVID-19 epidemic. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.565393

Risdal, D., & Singer, G. H. S. (2004). Marital adjustment in parents of children with disabilities: A Historical review and meta-analysis. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 29(2), 95–103. https://doi.org/10.2511/rpsd.29.2.95

Rogers, S. J., & May, D. C. (2003). Spillover between marital quality and job satisfaction: Long-term patterns and gender differences. Journal of Marriage and Family, 65(2), 482–495. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2003.00482.x

Sanders, J. L., & Morgan, S. B. (1997). Family stress and adjustment as perceived by parents of children with autism or down syndrome: Implications for intervention. Child & Family Behavior Therapy, 19(4), 15–32. https://doi.org/10.1300/J019v19n04_02

Schaner, S., & Das, S. (2016). Female labor force participation in Asia: Indonesia country study. Asian Development Bank Economics Working Paper Series. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2737842

Schoen, R., Astone, N. M., Kim, Y. J., Rothert, K., & Standish, N. J. (2002). Women’s employment, marital happiness and divorce. Social Forces, 81(2), 643–662. https://doi.org/10.1353/sof.2003.0019

Sharpley, C. F., Bitsika, V., & Efremidis, B. (1997). Influence of gender, parental health, and perceived expertise of assistance upon stress, anxiety, and depression among parents of children with autism. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 22(1), 19–28. https://doi.org/10.1080/13668259700033261

Simmerman, S., Blacher, J., & Baker, B. L. (2001). Fathers’ and mothers’ perceptions of father involvement in families with young children with a disability. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 26(4), 325–338. https://doi.org/10.1080/13668250120087335

Simulja, J., Wulandari, E. H., & Wulansari, S. A. (2014). Gender inequality and the division of household labor: A comparative study of middle-class, working married men and women in Japan and Indonesia. Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia, 18(2), 109–126. https://doi.org/10.7454/mssh.v18i2.3466

Stevens, D., Kiger, G., & Riley, P. J. (2001). Working hard and hardly working: Domestic labor and marital satisfaction among dual-earner couples. Journal of Marriage and Family, 63(2), 514–526. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2001.00514.x

Student, R. A. P., & Student, A. L. P. (2011). Relationship between sexual pleasure and marital satisfaction. Iran Journal of Nursing, 24(70), 82–90.

Tsibidaki, A. (2013). Marital relationship in Greek families raising a child with a severe disability. Electronic Journal of Research in Education Psychology, 11(29), 25–50. https://doi.org/10.25115/ejrep.v11i29.1556

Vonneilich, N., Lüdecke, D., & Kofahl, C. (2016). The impact of care on family and health-related quality of life of parents with chronically ill and disabled children. Disability and Rehabilitation, 38(8), 761–767. https://doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2015.1060267

Wilkie, J. R., Ferree, M. M., & Ratcliff, K. S. (1998). Gender and fairness: Marital satisfaction in two-earner couples. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 60(3), 577–594. https://doi.org/10.2307/353530

Willoughby, J. C., & Glidden, L. M. (1995). Fathers helping out: Shared child care and marital satisfaction of parents of children with disabilities. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 99(4), 399–406.

Downloads

Published

2023-08-28

How to Cite

Ratri, K. ., & Ratnasari, Y. (2023). Perceived fairness and marital satisfaction: The role of the presence of children with disabilities. Humanitas: Indonesian Psychological Journal, 20(2), 90–101. https://doi.org/10.26555/humanitas.v20i2.239

Issue

Section

Articles