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Marital Quality in Interracial Relationships

The Role of Sex Role Ideology and Perceived Fairness

University of Maryland, College Park

Leigh A. Leslie

University of Maryland, College Park, lleslie{at}umd.edu

Bethany L. Letiecq

Montana State University, Bozeman

African American/White interracial couples are a rapidly growing segment of the population. However, little is known about factors related to marital quality for these couples. The authors examine the relationships between sex role ideology, perception of relationship unfairness, and marital quality among a sample of 76 married African American/White interracial couples from the mid-Atlantic region. The results indicate that interracial couples are similar to same-race couples in some ways. In particular, women, regardless of race, report their marriages to be more unfair to them than do men. Unique experiences in interracial marriages based on one's race or race/gender combination are also identified. African Americans experience more ambivalence about their relationship than their White partners. Furthermore, sex role ideology has a moderating effect on perceived unfairness and marital quality for African American men. Similarities and differences among interracial and same-race marriages are discussed, with recommendations for future research.

Key Words: interracial couples • marital quality • sex roles • perceived fairness

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This version was published on December 1, 2007

Journal of Family Issues, Vol. 28, No. 12, 1538-1552 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0192513X07304466


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Forry, N. D. Articles by Letiecq, B. L. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?