The Impact of Spousal Satisfaction on Family Role Values in Married Women: Focused on the Multiple Mediating Effects of Stress and Depression and Multiple Group Path Analysis by Employment Status and Presence of Children

This study examined how married women’s satisfaction with their spouse influences their values regarding family roles, focusing on the mediating effects of stress and depression. Using data from the 9th wave of the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Families (2022), structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted. Bootstrapping was used to assess the statistical significance of indirect effects, and user-defined estimands enabled precise analysis of specific mediation paths. The analysis found no statistically significant direct effect of spouse satisfaction on family role values; however, significant indirect effects through stress and depression supported a full mediation effect. Multi-group path analysis revealed significant differences based on employment status and the presence of children: the path from spouse satisfaction to stress varied by employment status, and the path to depression varied by parental status. These findings suggest that sociodemographic characteristics of married women may influence the formation of family role values. The study provides empirical evidence that the quality of spousal relationships indirectly affects family role values through psychological factors, and it underscores the need for targeted mental health interventions and strategies to support the development of equitable family values.