Japanese Attitudes about Home and Children in Relation to Marital Happiness across Time

Abstract

The current study analyzes marital happiness in conjunction with attitudes about home and children within a Japanese population over the span of 18 years. Data was taken from the International Social Survey Programme from 1994, 2002, and 2012 with a total number of 3651 participants. Research on Japanese couples demonstrates a shift in individuals marrying increasingly later in life (Retherford, Ogawa, & Matsukura, 2001). Japanese women in particular are delaying or forgoing marriage because of the societal expectations for education and work (Raymo & Iwasawa, 2005). Traditional home and family continue to be important to Japanese culture, however they are becoming less valued (Retherford, Ogawa, & Matsukura, 2001). These factors could suggest a shrinking population due to attitudes on marriage and relationships changing over time, indicating a need to determine the possible influences of these trends. The current study examined relationship attitudes pertaining to traditional gender roles and the importance of children in marriage. The results suggest that non-married men believe that marriage is better if children are wanted and that watching children grow brings joy. In contrast, it is the married women who believe these statements significantly more than non-married women. In 1994 and 2002, married people reported that married people are generally happier than non-married people, however in 2012 the difference disappeared. Implications of these results include significant differences in the perceptions on marriage and children across the sexes and across time.

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Author Information
Rebecca Cierra Adams, Brigham Young University'Hawaii, USA
Su Kuan Chung, Brigham Young University'Hawaii, USA
Jisun Kim, Brigham Young University'Hawaii, USA
Alyxandra Stuehler, Brigham Young University'Hawaii, USA
Jared Peterson, Brigham Young University'Hawaii, USA
Rebecca Foster, Brigham Young University'Hawaii, USA
Richard B. Miller, Brigham Young University'Hawaii, USA
Ronald M Miller, Brigham Young University'Hawaii, USA

• Category: ACP ACERP 2016, ACP2016, Oral Presentation, Paper Available
• Tag: General Psychology,

Posted by James Alexander Gordon

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