Dual-Earner Dynamics: How Emotional Intimacy Shields Marital Satisfaction from Role Conflict

Abstract

This study investigates how emotional intimacy moderates the relationship between dual-role conflict and marital satisfaction among working mothers in dual-earner families in Batam City, Indonesia. Through purposive sampling, data were collected from 151 working mothers (mean age = 28.5 years, SD = 3.2) using validated Indonesian versions of the Work-Family Conflict Scale (α = .941), ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale (α = .854), and Emotional Intimacy Scale (α = .847). Structural equation modeling revealed that dual-role conflict significantly predicted lower marital satisfaction (β = −.355, p < .001), while emotional intimacy demonstrated a positive direct effect (β = .174, p < .05). The interaction between emotional intimacy and dual-role conflict (β = −.231, p < .01) explained 24.3% of the variance in marital satisfaction (R² = .243, Q² = .243). Simple slopes analysis revealed that emotional intimacy's protective effect was most substantial at low to moderate levels of role conflict but diminished at higher conflict levels, suggesting a threshold effect. This study uniquely demonstrates how collectivist cultural values reshape emotional intimacy's role in marital outcomes, offering a non-Western lens to work-family theory. These findings extend the work-family interface theory by demonstrating how psychological resources interact with structural demands to shape marital outcomes in a non-Western context. The results inform evidence-based interventions for marriage counselors working with dual-earner couples, emphasizing the importance of strengthening emotional bonds before conflict reaches critical levels. Future longitudinal research should examine how cultural factors influence the stability of these relationships over time.