• Self-described Happy Couples and Factors of Successful Marriage in Iran
  Presented by: Iman Dadras, Manijeh Daneshpour, Mohamad Asoodeh

• Characteristics of International Marriages Compared to Marriages between US-Born Spouses
  Presented by: Polina Levchenko, Catherine Solheim

• The Effect of Marital Quality on Work Satisfaction in China
  Presented by: Hsin-Yao Chiu, Richard B. Miller, David A. Nelson, Jonathan G. Sandberg

• How Love Emerges in Arranged Marriages: A Follow-Up Cross-cultural Study
  Presented by: Mansi Thakar, Robert Epstein

Abstracts

Self-described Happy Couples and Factors of Successful Marriage in Iran

Presented by: Iman Dadras, Manijeh Daneshpour, Mohamad Asoodeh

In order to identify the qualities of successful marriage in Iranian culture, this study asked happy couples who scored high in Four ENRICH Couple Scales (ECS) to share their marital experiences. This multipart research focused on the perceptions of those married for more than 10 years. This presentation will focus on themes that emerged with respect to couple's marital success and how these themes are related to theories explaining marital satisfaction. It will also compare factors of marital success in Eastern versus Western cultural context. Cross cultural and clinical implications in working with couples and families will be discussed.

Characteristics of International Marriages Compared to Marriages between US-Born Spouses

Presented by: Polina Levchenko, Catherine Solheim

The occurrence of 'international marriages' has increased over the past several decades as globalization has expanded marriage markets through international travel and communication systems. Yet relatively little is known about the individuals who enter into this type of marriage arrangement. This study aims to describe general demographic characteristics of international marriages in the US using a nationally representative sample from the American Community Survey, 2008-2009. Differences in age, income, and number of previous marriages were found among Eastern European-US, Asian-US, Latin American-US, and US-US couples. Results show that international marriages differ in important ways from marriages between two US spouses.

The Effect of Marital Quality on Work Satisfaction in China

Presented by: Hsin-Yao Chiu, Richard B. Miller, David A. Nelson, Jonathan G. Sandberg

It has been established that negative spillover from family life to job satisfaction exists in the United States and Western Europe.  Yet, little has been done in examining the effect of marital quality on job satisfaction in Asian countries. The purpose of this study was to understand the family-to-work spillover in a Chinese sample (n = 578) by examining the direct effect of marital distress on work satisfaction and the mediating effect of depression. Findings suggest that negative marital satisfaction had an effect on work satisfaction through the mediating variable of depression.

How Love Emerges in Arranged Marriages: A Follow-Up Cross-cultural Study

Presented by: Mansi Thakar, Robert Epstein

In a quantitative follow-up to a recent qualitative study on how love emerges in arranged marriages, individuals in 19 arranged marriages were evaluated. Subjects were of seven different countries of origin, and the length of marriage ranged from 1.3 to 27.3 years (mean: 14.3 years). On a 10-point scale, love grew in these marriages from a mean of 5.2 at the time of marriage to 9.3 at the time of the evaluation. Thirty-six factors that might contribute to the growth of love were assessed, with sacrifice and commitment emerging as the most powerful factors. A causal model will be suggested.