title: Cultural dynamics and marital relationship quality in Mexican-origin families.
abstract: Prior research suggests that acculturation may influence relationship outcomes among Mexican-origin married couples, including marital adjustment and distress. Despite much theory and research on parent-child cultural differences and disruptions in the parent-child relationship, no previous research has investigated possible associations between husband-wife cultural differences and marital relationship quality. With a sample of Mexican-origin married couples (N = 398), the current study investigated the relations between husband-wife differences in acculturation (American orientation) and enculturation (Mexican orientation) with husband and wife reports of positive marital qualities (warmth and relationship satisfaction). To clarify and extend previous research, the current study also investigated within-person models of cultural orientation domains as related to positive marital quality. Results provide partial evidence showing that dyadic cultural differences are associated with lower positive marital quality while cultural similarity is associated with higher positive marital quality; however, the relations are complex and suggest that the associations between wife cultural orientation and positive marital quality may depend on husband cultural orientation (and vice versa). Findings also implicate the importance of assessing spouse bidimensional cultural orientation by showing that the relation between spouse acculturation level and relationship quality may depend on his or her enculturation level. Additional nuances in the findings illustrate the importance of assessing multiple domains of cultural orientation, including language use and cultural values. We highlight several future directions for research investigating nuances in spouse cultural dynamics and relationship processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Rick A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Arizona State University.
authors.forename: Nancy A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Gonzales
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Marissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corona
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Washington.
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Washington.
authors.forename: Ana Mari
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cauce
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California.
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Robins
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California.
authors.forename: Keith F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Widaman
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Ecology, University of California.
authors.forename: Rand D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Conger
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D002140:California; D002648:Child; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000208:ethnology*; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010287:Parent-Child Relations / Q000208:ethnology