Question

When Mary and Ted's children leave home, which of the following is likely to happen to their marital satisfaction?

A. They are not likely to experience any changes
B. Ted's marital satisfaction is likely to increase, but Mary's marital satisfaction is likely to decrease
C. Marital satisfaction is likely to increase for both
D. Marital satisfaction is likely to decrease for both

Answer 1

Marital satisfaction may increase for both Mary and Ted when their children leave home as they have more time to focus on each other, although individual experiences can vary.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertaining to marital satisfaction post-children leaving home does not come with a one-size-fits-all answer. However, based on studies that look into marital satisfaction and changes in family structure, it might be inferred that marital satisfaction could indeed change when children leave the home.

Research suggests a general pattern where marital satisfaction may decrease during the years of raising children and then increase after the children have left the home, often referred to as the 'empty nest syndrome'. This change comes as couples have more time to dedicate to each other and rekindle their relationship after years focused on parenting.

While the experience is subjective and dependent on individual couple dynamics, studies generally suggest that without the stresses and challenges of hands-on parenting, many couples find an opportunity to strengthen their bond, potentially leading to increased marital satisfaction for both partners. However, this does not exclude the possibility of marital dissatisfaction if underlying issues are present that were masked by the focus on childcare.