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Financial matters affect not only financial satisfaction, but also marital satisfaction and quality of life. With the potential to influence so many aspects of everyday life, continued research in understanding the processes involved in this fundamental area of family studies is vital. Satisfaction with one's financial status can enhance marital satisfaction, and more broadly, life satisfaction. Conversely, financial difficulties and dissatisfaction with one's financial status can lead to marital conflict and divorce. How a person manages his/her personal finance has been shown to be a major factor contributing to satisfaction or dissatisfaction with one's financial status. It has been suggested that financial management skills may reduce the chance for marital disagreements, while the lack of such skills may actually create crisis situations. For this reason this study aims to examine the relationship between financial issues and marital relationship. The sample of study were 149 women and 153 men totally 302 public sector workers in Ankara, Turkey. The results of this study showed that 40.4 percent of individuals express "it is easier to make financial decisions when a couple's money is in a joint account." Also, 41.1 percent of individuals prefer to separate accounts for each spouse. Additionally, it was found that there was a significant relationship between financial satisfaction and marital relationship.
Keywords: Economic sociology, Family, Marriage satisfaction, Financial issues. Introduction
Marriage is more than an emotional relationship; it is also an economic partnership and social safety net. Income, employment, debt, assets, and the division of household labor all shape the quality and stability of married life. In other words, earning, spending, saving, and sharing money are integral dimensions of contemporary married life (Wilcox, 2009). Financial issues are a common source of discord in personal, marital, and family relationships (Hibbert & Beutler, 2001; Poduska & Allred, 1990; Voydanoff, 1990).
Satisfaction with one's financial status can enhance marital satisfaction, and more broadly, life satisfaction (Berry & Williams, 1987; Mugenda, Hira, & Fanslow, 1990). Conversely, financial difficulties and dissatisfaction with one's financial status can lead to marital conflict and divorce (Poduska & Allred, 1990). Also, couples who felt more in control of their lives felt more satisfied with their financial status (Parrotta & Johnson, 1998). Hibbert and Beutler (2001) found that quality of family life was...