Perceived Stress and Marital Satisfaction: The Mediating Effects of Coping Strategies

Perceived stress, coping strategies, marital satisfaction, vulnerability–stress–adaptation model, mediation

Marital satisfaction is necessary for the personal well-being of married individuals, their family’s stability as well as for successful social functioning. Perceived stress in married individuals has risen due to the rising life demands and psychosocial pressures, and that is likely to influence the quality of relationships negatively. Using the Vulnerability-Stress-Adaptation (VSA) framework, the current research studies the connection between perceived stress and marital satisfaction with special emphasis on the role of coping strategies. The quantitative and cross-sectional design has been used, and the data on married men and women have been gathered with the help of standardized tools. Structural equation modeling has been utilized to test both the direct and indirect relationships between the study variables.

The findings indicated that perceived stress was a strong predictor of maladaptive coping strategies and adaptive coping strategies. Specifically, Perceived Stress was a positive predictor of Emotion Focused Engagement and Problem Focused Engagement and a negative predictor of Emotion Focused Disengagement and Problem Focused Disengagement. Perceived Stress was negatively linked to Marital satisfaction.

Maladaptive coping strategies revealed a negative relationship with marital satisfaction and adaptive coping (problem focused engagement) exhibited a positive relationship. Mediation analysis established that perceived stress had an indirect relationship with marital satisfaction mediated by coping strategies, which implies that stress has direct and indirect effects on marital satisfaction through coping strategies.

The results facilitate the theoretical supposition that adaptive processes are the major tools that interconnect stress with marital functioning. The research also emphasizes the need to enhance the adaptive coping abilities with the aim of countering the negative impact of stress on marital relationship. The findings present some useful conclusions to implement in marital counseling, preventive programs, and family well-being programs to promote relationship strength and satisfaction.