RRL CHAPTER 4

AGE AND PERSONALITY TRAITS

The results indicated that age does not have a significant correlation with personality traits. This
was supported by the 2021 research of Bleidorn et al., which observed that individual differences
in personality traits tend to remain stable in adulthood, and any changes that do occur typically
reflect a progression towards greater maturity.
SEX AND PERSONALITY TRAITS
The results revealed that there is no relationship between sex and personality traits except for
neuroticism. This is supported by the study of Sharma (2022), revealing that women scored
higher in the neuroticism trait than men but had similar scores with males when it comes to other
personality traits.
MONTHLY INCOME AND PERSONALITY TRAITS
This result is supported by Hughes et al (2021) in which they evaluated the measurement
invariance of the Big Five Inventory across indicators of educational attainment, income, and
occupational prestige. The results showed that personality and monthly income were largely
independent, with most correlations being less than 0.11.
Although results revealed that there is no significant relationship between the personality traits
and monthly income, the study of Alderotti et al (2021) and Boers (2015) proved otherwise. Both
studies found a positive relationship between the earnings of a person and the traits of Openness,
Conscientiousness, and Extraversion, while simultaneously revealing a negative correlation
between earnings and the traits of Agreeableness and Neuroticism.
LENGTH OF RELATIONSHIP AND PERSONALITY TRAITS
This was supported by the study of Igbo et al (2015), which revealed that although personality
traits play a significant role in shaping conflict resolution approaches of couples, the length of
relationship did not necessarily have a significant relationship with personality traits.
NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND PERSONALITY TRAITS
This is contradicted by the study of Jokela et al (2011), as cited by Allen (2019), in which they
found that having high extraversion, low neuroticism, and low openness personality traits were
linked to having more children in both genders. Additionally, high agreeableness and low
conscientiousness were predictors of having more children specifically for women.
AGE AND EMOTIONAL / INSTRUMENTAL SUPPORT
This result is supported by Guariglia et al. (2023) in which they found that relationship is not
direct but rather mediated by empathy. They further suggested that empathy plays a significant
role in the relationship between age and perceived emotional and instrumental support.
The meta-analysis study of Bühler et al. (2021) revealed that the perceived emotional and
instrumental support tends to decrease from age 20 to 40, reaches a low point at age 40, then
increases until age 65, and plateaus in late adulthood. This shows that although emotional and
instrumental support received from a partner may vary with age, it does not necessarily diminish
as couples grow older.

SEX AND EMOTIONAL/INSTRUMENTAL SUPPORT

No significant relationship has been found between sex and emotional/instrumental support. In
line with this, the study of Xu and Burleson (2016) found that men and women did not differ
systematically with respect to the levels of support they experienced from their spouses, but
women reported desiring significantly higher levels of support.
MONTHLY INCOME AND EMOTIONAL/INSTRUMENTAL SUPPORT
The study conducted by Wheeler (2023) suggests that marital status (i.e., married or cohabiting)
was unrelated to financial management behaviors. This could imply that the level of support
couples provide to each other may not be directly related to their income levels or financial
concerns
LENGTH OF RELATIONSHIP AND EMOTIONAL/ INSTRUMENTAL SUPPORT
According to Bühler et al. (2021), the perceived emotional and instrumental support of couples
tended to decrease within a given relationship, with the largest declines in young adulthood and
in the early years of a relationship. It generally decreased from age 20 to 40, hit a low point at
age 40, then increased until age 65, and plateaued in late adulthood. In terms of length of
relationship, satisfaction decreased during the first 10 years, reached a low point at 10 years,
increased until 20 years, and then decreased again.
NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND EMOTIONAL / INSTRUMENTAL SUPPORT
Contrary to the premise of no significant relationship of the gathered data, the study of Kowal et
al. (2021) suggests that the relationship between the number of children and the support that
couples give to each other has a negative medium correlation, indicating that the higher the
number of children, the less the perceived emotional and instrumental support of couples.
AGE AND MARITAL SATISFACTION
Agarwal (2022) reveals that there is no association between the age of getting married and a
woman’s happiness and marital satisfaction1. It states that women above 35 who got married
before or after 25 years of age are equally happily and maritally satisfied, suggesting that
happiness and satisfaction are positively correlated regardless of age.
SEX AND MARITAL SATISFACTION
The research study of Jackson et al (2014) indicated very small gender differences in marital
satisfaction, with wives slightly less satisfied than husbands. However, this difference was
primarily found in clinical samples, with wives in marital therapy being less likely to be satisfied
compared to their husbands. No significant gender differences were found in nonclinical
community-based samples or when comparing dyadic data of husbands and wives in the same
relationship.
MONTHLY INCOME AND MARITAL SATISFACTION
This is supported by the study of Orhe et al. (2023) and Jackson et al. (2017) in which they found
that the association between marital satisfaction and monthly income was not significant,
indicating that finances may not have a straightforward relationship with marital satisfaction.
LENGTH OF RELATIONSHIP AND MARITAL SATISFACTION
This has been supported by the study of Dobrowolska (2020) in which they found that factors
such as marriage duration were not found to be predictors of marital satisfaction for the countries
represented in the sample. This suggests that the length of the relationship does not necessarily
correlate with how satisfied partners are in their marriage.
NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND MARITAL SATISFACTION
Contrary to the premise of no significant relationship of the gathered data, the studies of
Sorokowski et al (2017) and Kowal et al (2021) revealed that the number of children negatively
predicts marital satisfaction. The global study of Ellwood (2021) also highlighted that mothers’
marital satisfaction declines with more children in the family, but this was not true for fathers.
MARITAL SATISFACTION AND PERSONALITY TRAITS
The relationship between marital satisfaction and personality traits is supported by the study of
Sayehmiri (2020) and Long (2024) where they found that positive personality traits such as
conscientiousness, agreeableness, extraversion, and openness can enhance marital satisfaction,
while neuroticism tends to have a detrimental effect. More specifically, individuals high in
Neuroticism tend to experience lowest levels of marital satisfaction (Javanmard and Gargozlo,
2014), whereas those high in Conscientiousness are more satisfied with their marital life.
MARITAL SATISFACTION AND EXTRAVERSION
Those who are more extraverted generally report higher marital satisfaction. Extraversion is
associated with sociability and positive emotions, contributing to a happier and more fulfilling
relationship. (Sayehmiri, 2020)
MARITAL SATISFACTION AND AGREEABLENESS
Agreeable individuals are typically more cooperative and compassionate, leading to higher
marital satisfaction. This trait fosters a supportive and understanding environment within the
marriage. (Sayehmiri, 2020; Javanmard and Gargozlo, 2014)
MARITAL SATISFACTION AND CONSCIENTIOUSNESS
This trait has the strongest positive correlation with marital satisfaction. Conscientious
individuals are reliable and organized, which can contribute to a stable and harmonious marital
life. (Sayehmiri, 2020)
 MARITAL SATISFACTION AND NEUROTICISM
Individuals with higher levels of neuroticism tend to have lower marital satisfaction. This
trait is characterized by emotional instability and negativity, which can lead to conflicts and
dissatisfaction in a marriage. (Sayehmiri, 2020; Javanmard and Gargozlo, 2014).
MARITAL SATISFACTION AND OPENNESS
Openness to experience is positively correlated with marital satisfaction. This trait
involves a willingness to try new things and think creatively, which can enhance the dynamics of
a marital relationship. (Sayehmiri, 2020)
MARITAL SATISFACTION AND EMOTIONAL / INSTRUMENTAL SUPPORT
Yedirir and Hamarta (2015) found that there is indeed a significant relationship between all the
sub-dimensions of spousal support (emotional and instrumental support) and marital satisfaction,
indicating that spousal support is a significant predictor of marital satisfaction.

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