THE EFFECT OF DUAL INCOME CLINIC COUPLES' RELATIVE INCOMES ON PARTNERS' ATTEMPTS TO EXERT POWER, DEPRESSION, AND RELATIONSHIP SATISFACTION, AS MODERATED BY GENDER IDEOLOGIES

Abstract

This study compared 149 dual income full-time employed heterosexual couples in which the female partner earns more with those in which the male partner earns more, regarding the degree to which partners perceive each other as making attempts to exert power, the severity of their depression symptoms, and their levels of relationship satisfaction. It was hypothesized that men who make less money than their female partner will make more attempts to exert power, more depressive symptoms, and lower relationship satisfaction. It was also hypothesized gender role ideology will moderate the association between income discrepancy and the 3 dependent variables. Furthermore three research questions were explored. The hypotheses were tested with two-way ANCOVAs, Pearson correlations, and paired t-tests. One significant interaction effect was found for female depression, which was a reverse pattern then expected. Gender role ideology did not moderate the association between income discrepancy and the 3 dependent variables.