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Two Sides of the Same Coin? The Differing Roles of Assets and Consumer Debt in Marriage

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  • Jeffrey Dew

Abstract

This study examines whether assets and consumer debts relate to change in marital satisfaction and conflict in opposing ways or in independent ways. It also tests whether these relationships are direct or mediated. Using a nationally representative longitudinal sample, the results indicate that assets and consumer debt influence change in marital outcomes in mostly independent rather than complementary ways. Consistent with prior literature, assets work indirectly by decreasing feelings of economic pressure. Consumer debt, however, directly predicts changes in marital conflict, even after controlling for variables in the family stress model. Debts also act indirectly by decreasing depression once economic pressure is included in the model. This unexpected suppressor effect suggests that the meaning of debts may not be straightforward. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2007

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  • Jeffrey Dew, 2007. "Two Sides of the Same Coin? The Differing Roles of Assets and Consumer Debt in Marriage," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 28(1), pages 89-104, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jfamec:v:28:y:2007:i:1:p:89-104
    DOI: 10.1007/s10834-006-9051-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ferber, Robert & Lee, Lucy Chao, 1980. "Asset Accumulation in Early Married Life," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 35(5), pages 1173-1188, December.
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    3. Linda Waite, 1995. "Does marriage matter?," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 32(4), pages 483-507, November.
    4. Drazen Prelec & George Loewenstein, 1998. "The Red and the Black: Mental Accounting of Savings and Debt," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 17(1), pages 4-28.
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