Brian Monsma

Abstract This study examines the relationship of various leisure activity patterns to individuals' overall satisfaction with time spent with their spouse and to global marital accord. Two hundred fifty-one married individuals in a nonclinic sample completed modified versions of two leisure activity measures previously described in the research literature. Results confirmed the importance of leisure activity patterns for marital satisfaction; time spent either in individual activities or with others excluding the spouse was significantly correlated with marital distress. However, factor-analytically derived dimensions of spousal time together accounted for nearly twice the variance in marital distress for wives as they did for husbands. Additional analyses indicated the importance of leisure patterns for marital satisfaction across the family life cycle, in contrast to previous findings. Clinical implications are discussed.

Abstract This study examines the relationship of various leisure activity patterns to individuals' overall satisfaction with time spent with their spouse and to global marital accord. Two hundred fifty-one married individuals in a nonclinic sample completed modified versions of two leisure activity measures previously described in the research literature. Results confirmed the importance of leisure activity patterns for marital satisfaction; time spent either in individual activities or with others excluding the spouse was significantly correlated with marital distress. However, factor-analytically derived dimensions of spousal time together accounted for nearly twice the variance in marital distress for wives as they did for husbands. Additional analyses indicated the importance of leisure patterns for marital satisfaction across the family life cycle, in contrast to previous findings. Clinical implications are discussed.