Abstract

Couple satisfaction is a central construct in measuring relationship quality, which in turn affects the couples’ and the family’s dynamics, their cognitive, physical, and emotional well-being, and by extension, the society’s. This research was conducted to find out if a happy couple will endure in their relationship, and what factors may affect their happiness, amidst the declining trend of marriage in the Philippines and rising pro-divorce sentiments. Using the 4-item version of the Couple Satisfaction Index, the study measured the level of mean couple satisfaction of respondents grouped by sex, age, type of relationship, and length of relationship. Results revealed that scores as a whole were satisfied, with some notable differences: males, younger respondents, those in boyfriend/girlfriend relationships, and couples in shorter relationships were more satisfied than their counterparts. Spearman rank-order correlation and eta coefficient analyses showed that age and length of relationship could be determinants of couple satisfaction, whereas sex and type of relationship are not. The results suggest that marriage counselling and therapeutic interventions may have to be specifically tailored to sub-groups that are likely to experience relationship distress and be made accessible to them at critical stages in their relationship to strengthen their ability to resolve conflicts, improve their level of couple satisfaction, and enhance their overall well-being..