Quality Over Quantity? Couple Financial Communication and Relationship Satisfaction

Abstract

The present study examined the reciprocal associations between both couple members’ reports of financial communication and relationship satisfaction over the course of a month ( N = 136 couples). Both partners reported more subjectively frequent and higher-quality financial discussions when their initial relationship satisfaction was higher, though these links appeared particularly strong for women. The quality of financial communication during the month was, in turn, associated with their own and their partner’s relationship satisfaction at the end of the month, even after accounting for baseline satisfaction. In contrast, greater frequency of financial communication did not show similar benefits for the relationship. Household income and income disparity between partners did not moderate the links between satisfaction and financial communication. However, the link between communication quality and satisfaction was moderated by financial integration (stronger among couples who fully pool their finances), and the link between communication frequency and satisfaction was moderated by subjective financial stress (positive link among those who felt stressed, negative link among those who did not feel stressed). Overall, these findings suggest short-term, reciprocal associations between financial communication quality and relationship satisfaction, whereas communication frequency appeared to somewhat reflect initial relationship satisfaction rather than also predict later satisfaction.