Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 530

Proceedings of the International Conference on Psychological Studies (ICPSYCHE 2020)

Marital Distress and Satisfaction

During the COVID-19 Pandemic:
A Systematic Review
Ignasia Epifani1, Shinta Wisyaningrum2, & Annastasia Ediati3*
1
Fakultas Psikologi, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia
2
Fakultas Psikologi, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia
3
Fakultas Psikologi, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia
*
Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT
COVID-19 pandemic brings tremendous impact on families, particularly on marital relationship. This paper
reported findings on systematic review concerning the stressor and psychological problem encountered by
married couples. We search in the Google Scholar database using the following keywords "marital satisfaction"
and pandemic. We selected articles that met the inclusion criteria: original article, written in English, and full-
text available. From six articles that had been reviewed, we found out that either husband or wife are prone to
domestic violence, working from home increase marital conflict because couples spend more time together every
day and begin to know each other which often led to conflict. Fear of COVID-19 transmission influence sexual
relationships and intimacy which subsequently reduce marital satisfaction. Marital distress and marital
dissatisfaction were higher in couples who thoughts their spouses were irresponsive to their situation as marital
conflict increased. Couples who believed that their spouses were responsive to their situation reported less
marital distress and conflict and higher marital satisfaction. We conclude that during the COVID-19 pandemic,
marriages are at risk and need psychoeducation supports designed for couples, particularly to improve their
marital adjustment and communication, emotion regulation, managing conflict, problem solving, and building
intimacy during crisis.

Keywords: COVID-19 Pandemic, Marital Distress, Marital Satisfaction.

1. INTRODUCTION
Around the world nowadays, countries are struggling problems such as anxiety, depression and stress [2].
to fight the spread of the disease (COVID-19) which Drastic changes occur where the ability to connect
later became a pandemic. The death rate due to the socially and carry out daily activities is reduced or even
COVID-19 pandemic has reached 763,390 [1]. One of absent [3]. Humans, as social beings, who have a need
the steps used by the government to prevent the spread to relate to other people, become traumatized, the
of this virus is by implementing a social isolation policy, emergence of psychological problems such as anxiety,
where social isolation covers all aspects of life, from depression and stress when this social isolation is
closing places of worship, recreational facilities, work, determined by the local government [4]. Changes in the
schools to shopping centres [2]. The lockdown has situation at work due to the spread of the COVID-19
various sociological and psychological consequences pandemic, which made most workers lose their jobs,
resulting in disturbances in everyday life. It creates reduced activity at work, and uncertainty in the
financial instability [3][4]. Due to the increasing number economic sector made people become depressed.
of people with COVID-19 and the death cases that Relatives or acquaintances who become COVID-19
follow, people experience psychological patients also contribute to the high level of anxiety
experienced due to fear of contracting [5].

Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press SARL.

This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license -http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/. 109
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For couples living together, social isolation that

removes other contacts facilitates an exclusively dyadic 2. METHOD
relationship, where critically, the rise in domestic We conducted systematic review study by
violence since the implementation of movement following the guideline for conducting systematic
restrictions suggest that this is not healthy for all review studies for psychological research [6] and
romantic relationships [6]. Stay-at-home orders have PRISMA guideline for reporting systematic review [7].
forced many people in relationships to spend more time We search in the Google Scholar database using the
at home with their partner, either working or caring for following keywords: "Marital satisfaction" AND
children [7]. Maintaining a high-quality romantic pandemic OR "Marital Distress" AND pandemic. We
relationship during times of heightened stress, such as in used the following inclusion criteria: original articles,
the case of the Covid-19 pandemic, is very challenging written in English, full text is available and accessible,
[8]. and published in 2020. Articles reporting outside the
A person's subjective feelings about their marital scopes of couples, marital distress, marital satisfaction,
relationship regarding roles, privacy preferences, COVID-19 pandemic were excluded.
prosperity, interpersonal relationships, and reciprocity, We performed the literature search by putting all the
the existence of factors that give rise to conflict, inclusion criteria as filter, then screening on titles and
motivation, understanding of the partner's mood and abstracts of the articles. Subsequently, we read the full-
attributions can be termed marital satisfaction. A person text and selected articles that unmet the inclusion
is said to be satisfied with marriage if that person criteria. From six articles that relevant for review, we
achieves one's goals in married life. Partner interaction extracted the data and presented in the form of matrix
and the level of consensus between one's anticipation of table that present the study focus, countries where the
marriage and what benefits marriage provides about study was conducted, study design and instrument used,
marital satisfaction. A healthy marriage is an honourable and results on marital distress and marital satisfaction.
life experience. This can help a person feel supported, The article selection process can be seen in Figure 1.
approved, wanted, and complete at a certain level where
it is impossible to happen in other forms of human
relationships [5]. From an international study involving
33 countries, it was known that India is a country with a
higher level of marriage satisfaction than other countries
[9]. In some cases, persons who experience
dissatisfaction with their marriage, they reported stress
which affects their mental health [10], as well as their
physical health [11], and often impact on their parenting
for children [12]. Previous studies revealed that couples
who experience prolonged financial distress, lack of
social relationships (loneliness), and have a high level of
stress, were at a high risk of marriage dissatisfaction and
marital conflict [13-15].
The way of thinking plays an important role in
determining marital satisfaction. There are two types of
ways of thinking: individuals who have a fixed or
inflexible way of thinking and individuals who have
flexible way of thinking [16]. A study was conducted to
investigate stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic Figure 1 Flowchart of article selection process
(social isolation, financial problems, tension, stress)
associated with marriage satisfaction and conflict 3. RESULT
experienced by partners, through moderating variables
The literature search resulted in six studies reported
in the form of the partner's perceived response, to what
distress on marriage and satisfaction with marriage by
extent people believe that their partner understands,
married couples during the COVID-19 pandemic, which
care, and understand [17]. The findings led us to wonder
began to hit the world in early 2020. Data were
about what we have learned from studies assessing
collected online using social media in 57 countries
marital distress and marital satisfaction during the
whereas 27 countries with all or most of the participants
COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to review studies
are married. The socio-economic status, flexibility of
reporting marital distress and marital satisfaction during
thinking to adapt to the current situation, loss of work
the COVID-19 pandemic.
may associate with violence by the partner. However,

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sexual behavior intensity could reduce stress levels in pandemic than unmarried individuals. For detailed data
married women. Responsivity between husband and extraction results can be seen in Table 1.
wife can make couples satisfied with their marriage and
reduce stress during COVID-19 pandemic. Married
couples had lower stress due to the COVID-19

Table 1. Data extraction results

No Study focus / Participants Instruments Results
Country [Ref] Marital stress Marital satisfaction

1 The effect of 172 married The Couple Individuals who have a Individuals who
socioeconomic couples, aged Satisfaction fixed perspective tend to have a dynamic
status and 25-60 years. Index (CSI-4) have low marital perspective tend to
perspectives on satisfaction have marital
marital satisfaction (90 married Kuppuswamy Low socioeconomic status satisfaction.
during the period of couples have Socioeconomic tends to have low marriage
social isolation been married Scale satisfaction High socioeconomic
during the pandemic for <10 years) status tends to have
The Growth high marital
in Thrissur District, Mindset Scale
Kerala, India [5] satisfaction

2. The role of social 356 married The Composite Violence committed by a Work status that has
pressure on violence couples, 215 Abuse Scale partner regardless of financial security,
by partners, socio- women and (Revised)- gender, male or female can low violent
demographic factors 141 men; aged Short Form become victims of violence behaviuor towards
and economic 18-68 years. (CASR-SR) committed by a partner. partners.
difficulties that can Social status is significantly
trigger violence 176 couples associated with violence
against partners live with the committed by partners, the
during the nuclear lower the income level, the
imposition of social family; 180 more violent behaviour
isolation in Nigeria couples live towards partners occurs
[8] with the during the COVID-19
extended pandemic.
family
3 Relationship 296 married Short Form Anxiety, depression and Married women with
between quality of women, aged Health Survey anxiety related to the a high level of
life of married 18-45 years. (SF-12) COVID-19 pandemic have sexual activity tend
Iranian women on Additional The Female a negative impact on health. to have satisfaction
levels of anxiety criteria: no Sexual On the other hand, health with their marriage,
and depression, history of Function Index does not directly affect which then has an
anxiety due to chronic (FSFI) sexual behaviour. effect on the married
COVID-19 diseases or Hospital woman's quality of
pandemic, sexual else causing Anxiety and life for the better.
function and marital sexual Depression
satisfaction. [9] problems, not Scale
taking drugs Marital
affecting Satisfaction
sexual Scale (MSS)
response, not General Health
addicted to Questionnaire
nicotine and (GHQ)
alcohol, have Corona
had sexual Anxiety Scale
intercourse in
the last month

4 The causes of stress 3593 married UCLA Distress during the Individuals who feel
associated with the couples (82% Loneliness COVID-19 pandemic was that their partner is

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COVID-19 heterosexual Scale caused by the social responsive to the

pandemic due to the couples, isolation and financial stress they
determination of 13.2% Single item to problems leading to marital experienced, tend to
social isolation, bisexual assess financial dissatisfaction. be satisfied with
financial pressure couples, 4.3% strain their marriage and
and stress gay / lesbian Individuals who feel their do not experience
Perceived partners were irresponsive
associated with the couples). Age Partner conflict with their
quality of marital in early 30 to the stress due to the partners due to the
Insensitivity COVID-19 pandemic,
relationships in 57 years. Scale COVID-19
countries [10] couples with social pandemic, which
Living Perceived isolation and financial affects social
together Relations difficulties, reported isolation and
83.7%, living Quality Scale dissatisfied and tend to financial difficulties
separately have more conflicts with
9.4% and Marital conflict their partners.
sometimes
living together
6.9%

5 Psychosocial factors 356 married Big Five Personality dimension is

influence violence couples (141 Inventory Scale significantly related to
perpetrated by males, 215 (BFI-10) violence perpetrated by a
partners during the females). partner. Personality
COVID-19 Traits characteristics and
pandemic taking Emotional emotional immaturity
place in Nigeria, Intelligence associated with the violent
[11] Questionnaire behaviour towards partner.
(TEIQue-SF) There are significant
The Composite correlations between living
Abuse Scale conditions and job status,
(Revised)- but violence by partner is
Short Form not associated to gender,
(CASR-SF) religion and type of family.

6 The family size, 53,524 Perceived Married individuals

age, sex, marital participants. Stress Scale reported lower stress
status, and number 18,288 (PSS) than singles. In line
of children, the (34.2%) men; with previous
existence of a 34,475 findings that
culture of (64.6%) highlight the benefits
individualism and women. Aged of intimate
Collectivism are 18-110 years. relationships from
associated with the 26,429 married couples,
stress level caused married intimate interactions
by social isolation couples between two people
during the COVID- (49.4%), can make up for the
19 pandemic in 26 divorced deficiencies that
countries [12] (6.8%), exist in a
relationship. This
45.8% were protective factor
isolated. plays a very
48.7% felt life important role,
had changed a especially in difficult
little; 5.4% situation where
felt life was as many married
usual. couples having
financial difficulties.

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3.1 Discussion not have a significant relationship with cases of

violence against partners. Emotional maturity levels
Research on socioeconomic status and the
can go along with personality traits or walk on their
perspective that a person has in assessing the quality
own. This means that the two do not influence each
of their marriage shows that middle to lower
other. There is still limited research on the effect of
socioeconomic status tends to be low in marriage
emotional intelligence on violent behaviour towards
satisfaction, while individuals with middle and upper
partners, especially those related to the COVID-19
socioeconomic status tend to judge that they are
pandemic, so this study was conducted and found that
satisfied with their marriage. Besides, a person who
low emotional intelligence triggers violence against
has a character with a relatively fixed ways of
partners. Individuals who commit violence against
thinking tends to have low marriage satisfaction.
their partners lack of skills in managing emotions,
During this period of social isolation in the COVID-
especially when stress occurs due to a pandemic [11].
19 pandemic, those who have this way of thinking
have become more observant of the lack of partners Socioeconomic status has a significant effect on
due to more time at home. Seeing that the conflict violent behaviour towards partners, during the social
that occurred with the partner was a failure in the isolation period in the COVID-19 pandemic. Spouse's
relationship. Those who have this trait see marriage income status can be a protective factor to reduce this
to share the perfect relationship, if it turns out that the behaviour [8]. Demographic factors such as gender,
existing relationship is messy then they think that this religion, age, family type and quality of life did not
is fate, so they don't feel the need to try to make this have a significant relationship with cases of violence
messy relationship better. In addition, those who have against partners. Only the type of work has a
a sedentary perspective tend to find it difficult to significant relationship. Those who work in the
adapt, so that the lack of partners who were not government tend not to show violent behaviour
visible before the social isolation period often irritates towards their spouses, the types of work that have a
and creates conflict. Marriage satisfaction is also seen significant relationship are entrepreneurial jobs,
from the socioeconomic status of the individual. craftsmen, private employees, where they are directly
Individuals with low socioeconomic status tend to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. cases of violent
dissatisfied with their marriages while individuals behaviour against partners. There is no significant
with middle and upper socioeconomic status tend to difference between gender and violent behaviour
be satisfied with their marriages. Found that towards partners because both men and women can
economic hardship can have an impact on the be the perpetrators or victims of this violence [8].
emergence of psychological symptoms such as stress,
Marital satisfaction is defined as subjective
anger, traumatic, which in turn can reduce
feeling that a person has for certain elements in his
satisfaction in marriage [13]. The stress model in the
marriage. It includes role functions, personal
family developed by Conger et al, states that
preferences, welfare, interpersonal relationships and
economic pressure makes more bitterness and less
interpersonal relationships, factors of disputes that
comfortable in interacting between partners. With the
occur in marriage, motivation, understanding of the
implementation of social isolation during the
partner's mood and attributions. It can be said that
COVID-19 pandemic, many people have lost their
someone is satisfied with their marriage when that
jobs and they tend to project their problems caused by
he/she can achieve their marriage goals, has
economic hardship into their interpersonal
successfully build interactions with his/her partner,
relationships. This may be the basis for the low
understands each other about the meaning of
satisfaction of marriage with economic status [5].
marriage and benefits from marriage, makes the them
Personality type also influence the individual’s feel satisfied with their marriage [5]. Satisfaction
stress level during the COVID-19 pandemic which towards marriage can be a tremendous resource when
may lead to violent behaviour towards a spouse. faced with stress or problems due to pandemic. A
Based on five types of personality traits warm and intimate relationship with a partner is one
(extraversion, consciousness, neuroticism, agreeable- of the strongest predictors of health and well-being
ness, and openness to experience), neuroticism [14][15][16].
personality predicts violent behaviour towards
partners. Furthermore, it was found that personality
traits did

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Research on marital satisfaction during the with good sexual function show satisfaction in
COVID-19 pandemic found that more stressors marriage which is then associated with a good quality
related to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in of life [9].
feelings of dissatisfaction with marriage and reduced
3.2. Conclusion
commitment between partners which resulted in
frequent conflicts with partners. Couples with the COVID-19 pandemic impacts many aspects of
determination of the status of social isolation and life, including marital relationship. Financial
economic hardship, this has increased dissatisfaction insecurity, job insecurity, and social isolation emerge
with marriage and low commitment, which has as potential threats to the family due to reduced or
resulted in more frequent conflicts. Furthermore, the loss of income that led to distress and aggression
couple's response to this negative relationship is also towards partner. Couples with inflexibility tend to
seen due to stress caused by the COVID-19 encounter marital adjustment problems and perceived
pandemic, such as social isolation, economic marital conflicts as failure to maintain relationship.
hardship and other pressures. Overall, it is reported Distress during the pandemic were reported among
that there is an effect of the partner's response to married women due to fear of their health. Distress
negative conditions as a result of the emergence of on married women impacts their sexual relationship
stress due to the pandemic which creates economic and subsequently influence their marital satisfaction
hardship and social isolation. Individuals who feel and quality of life. Distress couple tend to have low
their partner's response is low, in the face of this commitment, low marital satisfaction, and frequent
negative condition, tend to have low marital conflicts with their partner. Couple who are
satisfaction which is also due to more frequent responsive to their partner tend to have less conflict
conflicts. On the other hand, individuals who feel that and higher marital satisfaction toward their partner.
their partner is more responsive to these negative Based on these findings, we conclude that during the
conditions, feel satisfaction in their marriage and tend COVID-19 pandemic, marriages are at high risk and
not to experience ongoing conflicts. However, the couples need supports in maintaining their marital
response of the couple due to the effect of social relationships. A psychoeducation intervention that
isolation, financial difficulties on the commitment of specifically designed for couples to survive their
the partner is not related [10]. marriages are strongly needed, particularly to
improve their marital adjustment and communication,
Women are more at risk of experiencing it, marital
emotion regulation, managing conflict, problem
status has a lower stress level than single due to the
solving, and building intimacy during crisis.
COVID-19 pandemic. This is in line with previous
study that highlighted the benefits of intimacy in
partners [17], where the intimate interaction of two AUTHORS’ CONTRIBUTIONS
people in a relationship is able to cover up the IE and AE designed the study, drafting and
shortcomings of their partner. It can be concluded finalizing the manuscript. IE and SW involved in data
that intimate interaction brings more benefits than search, data analysis, drafting and finalizing the
harm [18]. This protective factor plays an important paper.
role, especially in times of difficulty, such as times of
financial difficulty [19], with higher levels of ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
education, stress levels are lower, and children who
live with other people have high stress levels due to We thanked Fakultas Psikologi Universitas
the pandemic [12]. Study revealed that quality of life Diponegoro for supporting the study. We declared no
in married women is associated with stress due to the conflict of interests.
COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, pandemic-related
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