Modernity and the quality of marriage in Israel: The impact of socio-cultural factors on marital satisfaction

The impact of modernization on marriage has been acknowledged by social scientists, but the evaluation of this impact underwent several changes. While in the 1950s and early 1960s modernization (i.e. secularization, urbanization, affluence etc.) was considered to contribute to the specialization of the family in its emotional functions, the adverse impact of modernity on marital stability came into focus during the 1970s and 1980s. This study addresses itself to a reexamination of the impact of various facets of modernity on marital quality. A representative sample of 1500 Israeli married urban Jewish couples was interviewed regarding their marital satisfaction. Multiple regression analysis revealed that couples with modern attributes tended to have higher marital satisfaction. Most of the indicators of modernity can be interpreted as resources at the couple's disposal (e.g. schooling and employment. Thus, while an urban secular and affluent life-style probably causes marital instability it also contributes, through specialization and selection, to a more egalitarian as well as to a more satisfying marital relationship.