Investigating the Path Analysis Model of Interpersonal Trust, Controlling Behaviors, Marital Distress, and Job Satisfaction of Dual-Earner Couples

Due to the employment of female partners in the workforce, the number of couples who are both employed has increased recently. This problem has an impact on marital life and even job performance, even if it helps to improve family income. This study aimed to investigate the path analysis model of interpersonal trust, controlling behaviors, marital distress and job satisfaction in the dual-earner couples.

The research is the correlational and structural equations type, and the statistical population of the research includes dual-earner couples working in the city of Isfahan in 1402, from which 120 people were selected by convenience sampling method. To measure the variables, the interpersonal trust scale (Johnson George and Swap, 1982), the controlling behavior scale (Graham Kwan and Archer, 2005), the marital distress questionnaire (Schneider, 1979) and the job satisfaction scale (Judge and Bono, 2000) were used. For data analysis, Pearson's correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling were used using SPSS software version 25 and Smart-Pls software version 3. The mediation analysis was done by bootstrap test.

The findings show that based on the value of 0.465 for the index G.O.F., the path analysis model of interpersonal trust, controlling behaviors, marital distress and job satisfaction is suitable, and the bootstrap test and confidence interval showed that controlling behaviors mediates the relationship between interpersonal trust and marital distress, and marital distress mediates the relationship between interpersonal trust and controlling behaviors with job satisfaction.

It is recommended that in order to lessen marital misery and enhance work satisfaction, couples should get training aimed at fostering trust and reducing controlling tendencies.