Age and the Architecture of Marriage: Expectations and Satisfaction Across Generations

Abstract

This study examined the interplay between marital attitudes and satisfaction across gender and generational cohorts, employing a multivariate framework to capture their interdependence. Hotelling’s T² test confirmed that marital attitudes and satisfaction jointly form a significant profile, (T² = 7.10, F (1, 41) = 7.10, p = .011), underscoring the theoretical proposition that expectations and satisfaction are mutually reinforcing constructs. Correlation analyses revealed a moderate positive association in the overall sample (r = .39, p = .011), with notable gender differences: men demonstrated a strong, significant correlation (r = .79, p < .001), whereas women’s relationship was weak and non-significant (r = −.08, p = .727). Generational analyses further highlighted variability, as Gen Z participants exhibited a moderate, significant correlation (r = .38, p = .024), while Gen Y participants showed a moderate but non-significant association (r = .45, p = .310), likely reflecting sample size limitations. Regression analysis confirmed that marital attitudes significantly predicted satisfaction (beta = .39, p = .011), accounting for 15% of the variance.

These findings suggest that marital attitudes provide a cognitive framework influencing satisfaction, but the strength of this relationship is contingent upon gender and generational

context. Men’s satisfaction appears more closely tied to expectations, while women’s satisfaction may be shaped by relational dynamics beyond attitudes. Generationally, younger cohorts (Gen Z) demonstrate moderate alignment between expectations and satisfaction, reflecting evolving cultural norms, whereas Gen Y illustrates transitional variability. This study contributes to marital research by clarifying how cognitive and cultural factors intersect to shape satisfaction, offering implications for both theory and practice in relationship counseling and family studies.