Top Predictors of Marital Happiness in Women (In order of Importance)

1. Husband’s Emotional Engagement – Women married to men who make an effort to listen to them, who express affection or appreciation on a regular basis and who share quality time on a regular basis (date night, frequent conversation on mutual interests are happiest.

2. Fairness – Women who feel that housework and other family responsibilities are fairly divided appear happier.

3. A Breadwinning Husband – American wives, even feminists, are typically happier when their husbands earn 68% or more of the household income. Husbands who are successful breadwinners probably give wives an opportunity to make choices about work and family.

4. A Commitment to Marriage – Wives who share a strong commitment to their husbands and to the lifelong marriage paradigm are happier. Shared commitment generates a sense of trust, emotional security and a willingness to sacrifice for one’s spouse.

5. Staying Home – Wives who stay home rather than work outside the home appear to be happier. Study finds that working women are less likely to spend quality time with their husbands.

6. Shared Religious Attendance – Wives who attend church or some other worship service with their husbands are happier than those who do not.

7. Traditional Gender Attitudes – Wives who hold more traditional gender attitudes, e.g., believe that wives should focus on nurturing/homemaking and husbands should focus on breadwinning. These women are happier than those who hold more feminist attitudes.


Study by W. Bradford Wilcox, Director, National Marrige Project at the Univ. of VA.