The first five years of marriage are a crucial period for sustaining relationships, especially in Malaysia, where a growing number of marriages end in divorce, with financial stress being a primary cause. This study explores marital sustainability through a qualitative approach, focusing on expert perspectives regarding the B40 group, Malaysia's lower-income households, during their critical first five years of marriage. The study utilizes a framework that incorporates both the risk and protective factors of marital sustainability, while also acknowledging the heightened vulnerability of marriages during the early years and shedding light on strategies for nurturing and sustaining marital bonds. In-depth interviews were conducted with experts (N=5) in the field of family studies. Using thematic analysis, the researchers identified key risk and protective factors influencing marital sustainability. Among the protective factors for marital sustainability are adaptability and willingness to change, effective communication, emotional and physical intimacy, mutual support and shared responsibilities, quality time together, spirituality, and emotional and instrumental support. However, the risk factors include lack of understanding, family interference, and financial stress. Interestingly, these factors do not differ from factors that would imply marital satisfaction or marital happiness. Implications and suggestions for future research were discussed further within the study.
Alsemgeest, L., & Grobbelaar, C. (2015). Spouses’ views of gender roles: Financial Management in marriage. Journal of Economic and Financial Sciences, 8(3). https://doi.org/10.4102/jef.v8i3.125
Alsemgeest, L., & Grobbelaar, C. (2015a). Spouses’ views of gender roles: Financial in marriage. Journal of Economic and Financial Sciences, 8(3). https://doi.org/10.4102/jef.v8i3.125
Anas, N. (2022). Qualitative Research Method in Social and Behavioural Science Research. International Journal of Management, Social Sciences, Peace and Conflict Studies (IJMSSPCS), 5(1).
Babcock, J. C., Gottman, J. M., Ryan, K. D., & Gottman, J. S. (2013). A component analysis of a brief psycho?educational couples' workshop: one?year follow?up results. Journal of Family Therapy, 35(3), 252-280.
Baptist, J., Hamon, R.R. (2022). Family Systems Theory. In: Adamsons, K., Few-Demo, A.L., Proulx, C., Roy, K. (eds) Sourcebook of Family Theories and Methodologies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-92002-9_14
Baumgardner, S. R., & Crothers, M. K. (2014). Positive psychology. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall
Blau, P. M. (1964). Exchange and power in social life. New York: John Wiley.
Bogner, A., & Menz, W. (2009). The theory-generating expert interview: Epistemological Interest, forms of knowledge, interaction. In A. Bogner, B. Littig, & W. Menz (Eds.), Interviewing experts (pp. 43–80). Palgrave Macmillan UK.
Boo, S. L. (2013, December 24). Till debt do us part. The Malay Mail. Retrieved from http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/till-debt-do-us-part
Bowen, M. (1978). Family Therapy in Clinical Practice. New York: Aronson.
Bramlett, M. D. & Mosher, W. D. (2001). First marriage dissolution, divorce, and remarriage:
United States. Advance data from vital and health statistics, no. 323. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics.
Brown, E. Orbuch, T. L., & Bauermeister, J. A. (2008). Religiosity and marital stability among Black American and White American couples. Family Relations, 57(2), 186-197. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3729.2008.00493.x
Brown, J. H., & Brown, C. S. (2002). Marital therapy: Concepts and skills for effective practice (pp. 12–15). Pacific Grove: Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning
Bryant, C. M., Conger, R. D., & Meehan, J. M. (2001). The influence of in-laws on change in marital success. Journal of Marriage and Family, 63, 614-626. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2001.00614.x
Carlson, D. L., Miller, A. J., & Rudd, S. (2020). Division of Housework, Communication, and Couples’ Relationship Satisfaction. Socius, 6. https://doi.org/10.1177/2378023120924805
Carroll, S., Hill, E., Yorgason, J., Larson, J., & Sandberg, J. (2013). Couple communication as a mediator between work-family conflict and marital satisfaction. Contemporary Family Therapy, 35(3), 530–545. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-013-9237-7
Cornelius, T. L., & Sullivan, K. T. (2009). Transition to marriage. In H.T. Reis and S. Sprecher (Eds.) Encyclopedia of Human Relationships (pp. 1052-1055). Sage Publications, Inc.
Crawford, D. W., Houts, R. M., Huston, T. L., & George, L. J. (2002). Compatibility, leisure, and satisfaction in marital relationships. Journal of Marriage and Family, 64(2), 433– 449. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2002.00433.x
Department of Statistics Malaysia (2020): Marriage and divorce statistics, Malaysia 2020. Department of Statistics Malaysia Official Portal. Available on: https://www.dosm.gov.my/
Dew, J. (2008). Marriage and finance. In Xiao (ed.) 2008.
Dew, J. (2011). The association between consumer debt and the likelihood of divorce. Journal of Family Economic Issues, 32(4), 554-565.
Döringer, S. (2020). ‘The problem-centred expert interview’. Combining qualitative interviewing approaches for investigating implicit expert knowledge. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 24(3), 265–278. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2020.1766777
Falconier, M. K., & Jackson, J. B. (2020). Economic strain and couple relationship functioning: A meta-analysis. International Journal of Stress Management, 27(4), 311–325.
Fincham, F.D. (1998), Child Development and Marital Relations. Child Development, 69: 543 574. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.1998.tb06207.x
Flood, S. M., & Genadek, K. R. (2015). Time for each other: Work and family constraints among couples. Journal of Marriage and Family, 78(1), 142–164. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12255
Froschauer, U., & Lueger, M. (2002). ExpertInnengespräche in der interpretativen Organisationsforschug. In A. Bogner, B. Littig, & W. Menz (Eds.), Das Experteninterview: Theorie, Methode, Anwendung (pp. 239–258). VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
Geiger, A., & Livingston, G. (2019). 8 facts about love and marriage in America. Retrieved from Pew Research Center website: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/02/13/8- factsabout-love-and-marriage/
Glenn, N. D., Uecker, J. E., & Love, R. W. (2010). Later first marriage and marital success. Social Science Research, 39(5), 787-800. doi: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2010.06.002.
Gottman, J. M, & Levenson, R. W. (1992). Marital processes predictive of later dissolution: Behavior, physiology, and health. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63, 221–233. Retrieved from http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/psp/63/2/221/\
Gottman, J. M. (1994). What predicts divorce? The relationship between marital processes and marital outcomes. Hillsdale: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Gottman, J. M. (2015). Principia amoris: The new science of love. New York: Routledge.
Gottman, J. M., & Driver, J. L. (2005). Dysfunctional marital conflict and everyday marital interaction. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 43, 63–77. https://doi. org/10.1300/J087v43n0304.
Gottman, J. M., & Levenson, R. W. (2000). The timing of divorce: Predicting when a couple will divorce over a 14?year period. Journal of Marriage and family, 62(3), 737-745.
Hindman, T. A. (2015). Healthy marital relationships among farming couples: A narrative inquiry. Dissertation Abstracts International, 75. (9-B) (E)
Homans, G. C. (1958). Social Behavior as Exchange. American Journal of Sociology, 63(6), 597–606. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2772990
Homans, G. C. (1974). Social behavior: Its elementary forms (rev. ed.). New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
Husted, J. A., Cook, R. J., Farewell, V. T., & Gladman, D. D. (2000) Methods for assessing responsiveness: a critical review and recommendations. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 53(5):459-68.
Javadivala, Z., Allahverdipour, H., Asghari Jafarabadi, M., Azimi, S., Gilani, N., & Chattu, V. K. (2021). Improved couple satisfaction and communication with marriage and relationship programs: are there gender differences? — a systematic review and meta-analysis. Systematic Reviews, 10(1). doi:10.1186/s13643-021-01719-0
Johnson, M. D., Lavner, J. A., Mund, M., Zemp, M., Stanley, S. M., Neyer, F. J., Impett, E. A., Rhoades, G. K., Bodenmann, G., Weidmann, R., Bühler, J. L., Burriss, R. P., Wünsche, J., & Grob, A. (2022). Within-Couple Associations Between Communication and Relationship Satisfaction Over Time. Personality & social psychology bulletin, 48(4), 534–549. https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672211016920
Jones, G. W. (2021). Divorce in Malaysia: Historical trends and contemporary issues. Jurnal Institutions and Economies, 13(4), 35–60. https://doi.org/10.22452/ijie.vol13no4.2
Juhari, R., Yaacob, S.N., Arif, N.A., & Sabri, M.F. (2019). Marital commitment as a function of marital satisfaction, marital investment and marital alternatives among working women in Malaysia. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities 27 (S1), 61 – 76. ISSN: 0128-7702
Karney, B. R., & Bradbury, T. N. (2020). Research on marital satisfaction and stability in the 2010s: Challenging conventional wisdom. Journal of Marriage and Family, 82(1), 100–116. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12635
Kerkmann, B. C., Lee, T.R., Lown, J.M., & Allgood, S.M. (2000). Financial management, financial problems and marital satisfaction among recently married university students. Financial Counselling and Planning, 11(2), pp.55-6.
Koe, J., & Yeoh, K. (2021). Factors Influencing Financial Planning for Marriage amongst Young Malaysian Couples. International Journal of Business and Society, 22(1). 33-54. https://doi.org/10.33736/ijbs.3161.2021.
Lau, K. (2014). How to plan a saving for your wedding, to save you from wedding day misery. KCLau.com Personal Finance and Money Tips. Retrieved from https://kclau.com/blogging/saving-for-wedding/
Lawrence, F.C., Thomasson, R.H., Wozniak, P.J. & Prawitz, A.D. (1993). Factors relating to spousal financial arguments. Financial Counselling and Planning, 4, pp.85-93
Lewis, R. A., & Spanier, G. B. (1982). Marital quality, marital stability, and social exchange. In Nye FI (Ed.), Family relationships: Rewards and costs (pp. 49–65). Beverly Hills: Sage.
Li, T., & Fung, H. H. (2011). The dynamic goal theory of marital satisfaction. Review of General Psychology, 15(3), 246–254. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024694
Li, X. (2019). The association between transition pattern of marital conflict resolution styles and marital quality trajectory during the early years of Chinese marriage. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36(1), 153–186. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407517721380
Lin, L., Guo, H., Duan, L., He, L., Wu, C., Lin, Z., & Sun, J. (2022). Research on the relationship between marital commitment, sacrifice behavior and marital quality of military couples. Frontiers in psychology, 13, 964167. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.964167
Malouff, J. M., Mundy, S. A., Galea, T. R., & Bothma, V. N. (2015). Preliminary findings supporting a new model of how couples maintain excitement in romantic relationships. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 43(3), 227–237. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926187. 2015.1034634
Marshall, C. and Rossman, G. (2016). Designing Qualitative Research. 6th Edition, SAGE, Thousand Oaks.
Marshall, C., & Rossman, G. B. (2011). Designing Qualitative Research (5th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications
Mehta, A., Cohen, S. R., & Chan, L. S. (2009). Palliative care: a need for a family systems approach. Palliative & supportive care, 7(2), 235–243. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1478951509000303
Meuser, M., & Nagel, U. (2009). The expert interview and changes in knowledge production. In A. Bogner, B. Littig, & W. Menz (Eds.), Interviewing experts (pp. 17–42). Palgrave Macmillan UK.
Milberg, A., Liljeroos, M., Wåhlberg, R., & Krevers, B. (2020). Sense of support within the family: a cross-sectional study of family members in palliative home care. BMC palliative care, 19(1), 120. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-020-00623-z
Morelli, S. A., Lee, I. A., Arnn, M. E., & Zaki, J. (2015). Emotional and instrumental support provision interact to predict well-being. Emotion (Washington, D.C.), 15(4), 484–493. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000084
Nakonezny, P. A., & Denton, W. H. (2008). Marital Relationships: A Social Exchange Theory Perspective. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 36(5), 402–412. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926180701647264
Navarra, R. J., & Gottman, J. M. (2017). Sound Relationship House in Gottman Method Couples Therapy. Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy, 1–4. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-15877-8_208-1
New, K. and Pan, X.R. (2024) ‘Exploring Romantic Relationship Attitudes among University College Students, American Research Journal of Humanities & Social Science (ARJHSS), 7(4), pp. 47–56. E-ISSN: 2378-702X.
Nurhayati, S. R., Faturochman, F., & Helmi, A. F. (2019). Marital quality: A conceptual review. Buletin Psikologi, 27(2), 109. https://doi.org/10.22146/buletinpsikologi.37691
Olofintoye, T. T., & Faluyi, M. A. (2020) Influence of Parents In-Law’s Interference on Marital Stability among Young Couples in Ondo State, Nigeria. Social Science Education Journal (SOSCED-J), 4(2). https://soscedj.eksu.edu.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SOSCED-JOURNAL-VOL-4-2-A-98-105.pdf
Özad, B. E., Jamo, M. S., & Uygarer, G. (2022). Covid-19 restrictions, lifestyles, and marital conflicts: An empirical analysis of marital sustainability. Sustainability, 14(18), 11249. doi:10.3390/su141811249
Reich, N., & Kalantar, S. M. (2018). The role of praying for the spouse and sanctification of marriage in reducing infidelity. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 21(1), 65–76. doi:10.1080/13674676.2018.1447555
Sakizadeh, F., Zahrakar, K., & Sanaee Zaker, B. (2014). Effectiveness of training marital skills based on Gottman's model on marital happiness. Counselling Researches, 52, 37-50.
Schieman, S., Ruppanner, L. & Milkie, M.A. (2018). Who Helps with Homework? Parenting Inequality and Relationship Quality Among Employed Mothers and Fathers. J Fam Econ Iss 39, 49–65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-017-9545-4
Shapiro, A. F., Gottman, J. M., & Fink, B. C. (2015). Short-term change in couples’ conflict following a transition to parenthood intervention. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 4(4), 239.
Shapiro, M. (2007). Money: A therapeutic tool for couple’s therapy. Family Process, 46(3), pp. 279- 290. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1545-5300.2007.00211.x
Shita, N. G., Zeleke, L. B. (2024). Predictors of divorce and duration of marriage among first marriage women in Dejne administrative town. Scientific Report 14(1), 8728. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-59360-5
Singh, P., Saini, V., Kaushik, R., Malik, P., Kumari, R., & Khusbhu. (2022). Chapter 3: Role of Guidance and Counselling in Marital Relationships. Research Trends in HomeScience and Extension, 8, pp. 39–49). AkiNik Publications. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.22271/ed.book.1712.
Sorgente, A., Lanz, M., Tagliabue, S., Wilmarth, M. J., Archuleta, K. L., Yorgason, J., & James, S. (2023). Yours, mine, or ours: Does bank account status in early marriage affect financial behavior and financial satisfaction? Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 40(12), 4023-4049. https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075231201554
Stearns, P. L. (2014). Kelly, Douglas L.: Marital Communication. Communication Research Trends, 4, 24
Taylor, R. J., Brown, E., Chatters, L. M., & Lincoln, K. D. (2011). Extended family support and relationship satisfaction among married, cohabiting, and romantically involved African Americans and Black Caribbeans. Journal of African American Studies, 16(3), 373–389. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12111-011-9205-y
Taylor, R. J., Brown, E., Chatters, L. M., & Lincoln, K. D. (2012). Extended Family Support and Relationship Satisfaction Among Married, Cohabiting, and Romantically Involved African Americans and Black Caribbeans. Journal of African American Studies, 16(3), 373–389. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43525425
Terwee, C. B., Dekker, F. W., Wiersinga, W. M., Prummel, M. F; Bossuyt, P. M. (2003) On assessing responsiveness of health-related quality of life instruments: guidelines for instrument evaluation. Quality of Life Research. 12(4):349-62.
Thompson-Hayes, M., & Webb, L. M. (2008). Documenting mutuality: Testing a dyadic and communicative model of marital commitment. The Southern Communication Journal, 73(2), 143–159. https://doi.org/10.1080/10417940802009533
Van Audenhove, L., & Donders, K. (2019). Talking to People III: Expert Interviews and Elite Interviews. In H. Van den Bulck, M. Puppis, K. Donders, & L. Van Audenhove (Eds.), The Palgrave Handbook of Methods for Media Policy Research (pp. 179–197). Springer.
Varey, R. J. (2015). Social exchange theory. Wiley Encyclopedia of Management, 1(3). https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118785317.weom090245
Wright, M. & Leahey, M. (2005). Nurses and Families. A Guide to Family Assessment and Intervention. (4th ed.) Philadelphia: F.A. Davis.
Yunchao, C., Yusof, S., Amin, R., & Arshad, M. (2020). The Association Between Household Debt and Marriage Satisfaction in the Context of Urban Household in Klang Valley Malaysia. Journal Of Emerging Economies and Islamic Research, 8(1), 12-22. doi:10.24191/jeeir.v8i1.7122
Zakaria, S. M., Nen, S., Badayai, A. R. A. & Lazim, N. H. M. (2019). Kualiti Perkahwinan Pada Fasa Pertama Perkahwinan (1-10 Tahun): Pengaruh Gaya Komunikasi dan Penyesuaian Hidup. E-Bangi Journal, 16(7), 1-11
Zulkarnain, N. M., & Ramli, Z. (2021). Financial Planning Towards Marriage Among the Millennial Generation. Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (MJSSH), 6(1), 255 - 267. https://doi.org/10.47405/mjssh.v6i1.607.
Zafri, A. V., Juhari, R., Madon, Z., Arshat, Z., & Hasbullah, M. (2024). Exploring Expert Insights on Early Years Risk and Protective Factors for Long-term Marital Sustainability. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 14(10), 1573–1597.
Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s)
Published by Knowledge Words Publications (www.kwpublications.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode