Comparative relationship satisfaction of individuals in same- versus mixed-ethnicity, French-Canadian/English-Canadian, dual-career, professional, heterosexual couples in Ontario
Year:
2007
Author :
Publishing Company:
, Fielding Graduate University, California
Abstract
Previous studies have not examined the effects of interethnic relationships on marital satisfaction of dual-career, professional individuals. As such, this quantitative study examined the effect of ethnic identity factors on individual marital satisfaction in 126 heterosexual French-Canadian/English-Canadian, dual-career, professional unions in Ontario. The sample was divided into eight comparison groups depending on their relationship makeup. Drawing upon independent research of interethnic, dominant/minority ethnicity, and gender differences in marital satisfaction (Carisse, 1971; Fu, Tora, & Kendall, 2001; Kurdek, 2005), the hypotheses for this study were that (a) both genders in same-ethnicity marriages will report higher levels of marital satisfaction as measured by the Dyadic Adjustment Scale than both genders in mixed-ethnicity marriages, and (b) English-Canadians will report higher levels of marital satisfaction as measured by the Dyadic Adjustment Scale than French-Canadians.
English and French are Canada's two official languages and ethnicities, which are often referred to as racial, not just ethnocultural differences, despite Canadians' shared, nominally White, European origins. In Ontario, English Canadians enjoy the majority/dominant culture and language, and French Canadians the minority/nondominant culture and language.
Overall, there was not a difference in marital satisfaction between individuals in same-ethnicity marriages (i.e., Groups 1, 4, 5, and 8) and individuals in mixed-ethnicity marriages (Groups 2, 3, 6, and 7). With regards to marital satisfaction, individuals from dominant culture ethnicity (Groups 3, 4, 7, and 8) reported lower levels of satisfaction than individuals with the nondominant culture ethnicity (Groups l, 2, 5, and 6), again only for dyadic consensus. In addition, the difference between dominant and non dominant culture males was larger than the difference between dominant and non dominant culture females, for the dyadic consensus scale.
When the level of ethnic identity between French Canadians and English Canadians was considered, it appeared that there was a difference between levels of identity. This level of ethnic identity was related to marital satisfaction.
English and French are Canada's two official languages and ethnicities, which are often referred to as racial, not just ethnocultural differences, despite Canadians' shared, nominally White, European origins. In Ontario, English Canadians enjoy the majority/dominant culture and language, and French Canadians the minority/nondominant culture and language.
Overall, there was not a difference in marital satisfaction between individuals in same-ethnicity marriages (i.e., Groups 1, 4, 5, and 8) and individuals in mixed-ethnicity marriages (Groups 2, 3, 6, and 7). With regards to marital satisfaction, individuals from dominant culture ethnicity (Groups 3, 4, 7, and 8) reported lower levels of satisfaction than individuals with the nondominant culture ethnicity (Groups l, 2, 5, and 6), again only for dyadic consensus. In addition, the difference between dominant and non dominant culture males was larger than the difference between dominant and non dominant culture females, for the dyadic consensus scale.
When the level of ethnic identity between French Canadians and English Canadians was considered, it appeared that there was a difference between levels of identity. This level of ethnic identity was related to marital satisfaction.
Theme :
AnglophonesCanadaFrancophonesLinguistic minoritiesPsychologySociology
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