Marital Relationships Following the Korean Economic Crisis: Applying the Family Stress Model

Autor: Martha A. Rueter, Sun Wha Ok, Hee-Kyung Kwon, Seonju Koh, Mi-Sook Lee
Rok vydání: 2003
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Marriage and Family. 65:316-325
ISSN: 1741-3737
0022-2445
Popis: In response to the recent economic crisis in Korea and its negative effects on families, the current study examined the interrelationships among economic pressure, emotional distress, marital conflict, and marital satisfaction for 236 Korean couples. The family stress model (Conger & Elder, 1994; Conger, Rueter, & Conger, 2000; Conger, Rueter, & Elder, 1999) was tested using structural equation modeling. The results generally supported the theoretical model, showing that economic pressure negatively affects marital satisfaction via emotional distress and marital conflict. The results also implied cultural differences in the process of family stress. Korean husbands' emotional distress did not affect marital conflict or marital satisfaction, suggesting that Korean husbands may differ from their wives in their reaction to emotional distress from economic pressure. Key Words: economic pressure, emotional distress, family stress model, Korean family, marital conflict, marital satisfaction. In the late 1990s, Korea experienced a sudden economic downturn that dramatically affected everyday life. Many families experienced job loss, decreased income, emotional distress, and marital conflict because of high unemployment rates and company bankruptcies (Chung, 1998; Kim & Lee, 1998; Kwak, Song, & Kim, 1999; Lee, Koh, & Kwon, 2000; Park, 1998). Most of the research studying the effect of this economic crisis on families has been exploratory and descriptive rather than theory based. This study examined the effects of the Korean economic crisis, focusing on the interrelationships among economic pressure, emotional distress, marital conflict, and marital satisfaction as specified in the family stress model developed by Conger and colleagues (Conger & Elder, 1994; Conger, Rueter, & Conger, 2000; Conger, Rueter, & Elder, 1999). Perceptions of both husbands and wives were used to create dyadic-level data, and structural equation modeling was used to test the theoretical model. THE ECONOMIC CONTEXT OF KOREA AT THE TIME OF THE RECESSION The Family Stress Model, as well as other family stress theories (e.g., Boss, 2002), describes how economic conditions create an important external context for families. These economic conditions influence job opportunities, income, and income stability (Rettig, Leichtentritt, & Danes, 1999), which may be sources of stress for family members. Changes in the Korean economy during the sudden 1990s recession included decreased currency and stock market values and increased consumer prices. Company bankruptcies and restructuring also resulted in workforce reductions and increased unemployment. The unemployment rate reached the highest level ever recorded (Choi, 1998; Chung, 1998), and total family income from almost every source was significantly reduced. In response to this unexpected economic context, many families cut food, clothing, housing, medical care, and education expenditures (Kwak et al., 1999; Park & Cho, 1998). As we describe later, families likely experienced high levels of economic pressure that, in turn, led to emotional distress at the individual level and relationship conflict at the dyadic level. EFFECTS OF THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN ON INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES Economic Pressure and Emotional Distress Economic pressure is an indicator of a family's response to its economic circumstances (Conger & Elder, 1994). It has been measured as problems with paying bills, problems making ends meet financially, and the general recognition of family financial difficulties (Conger & Elder; Conger et al., 1990, 1999; Elder, Conger, Foster, & Ardelt, 1992; Hraba, Lorenz, & Pechacova, 2000). Studies in the United States have documented significant relationships between economic pressure and depressive symptoms (Conger & Elder; Elder et al.), hostility (Conger et al., 1990; Lorenz, Conger, Simon, Whitebeck, & Elder, 1991), and emotional distress (Conger et al. …
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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