Personality Traits,Burnout Risks,and Marital Satisfaction: A Comparative Study of Single- and Dual-Career Couples

Abstract

The current study aims to explore the role of personality and burnout as a predictor of marital satisfaction among single and dual careers. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data was collected from couples in both single- and dual-career settings. Measure for the study variables as Big Five Inventory (Couple Satisfaction Index-32, and Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey, were given to a sample of a 200 single and dual-earner couples with the age range of 23–52 years (M = 34.58; SD = 6.51) by using purposive sampling strategy. The results showed that demographic variables, personality types (i.e., extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience) and burnout tendencies (i.e., cynicism) are determinants of marital satisfaction. The study highlights the variability in the influence of a particular set of personality traits and burnout predictors on marital satisfaction among single- and dual-career couples, providing important insight into culturally sensitive marital counseling. The findings may further guide the practitioners to develop specific interventions that can target both personal dispositions and work-related stress to improve the quality of relationships.