How Materialism Influences Marital Satisfaction
Mariah Y. Gonzales, Carly L. Miller, Celsey G. Selland, B.S. David B. Allsop, Ph.D
September 14, 2026
This blog is a summary of our published article:
LeBaron, A. B., Allsop, D. B., Hill, E. J., Willoughby, B., & Britt-Lutter, S. L. (2017). Marriage and materialism: Actor and partner effects between materialism, importance of marriage, and marital satisfaction. Journal of Financial Therapy, 8(2), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.4148/1944-9771.1145
Photo by Max Pixel
The attachment to worldly possessions referred to as materialism [1] negatively affects financial well-being [2;3]. Further studies have suggested that excessive materialism negatively affects marriage [4]. These findings can help couples navigate through the interactions that financial well-being can have on relational well-being.
What Did We Want to Know?
The researchers were interested in three main areas:
How materialism affects an individual’s own marital satisfaction.
How materialism affects their partner’s marital satisfaction.
How the importance placed on marriage helps explain the connection between marital satisfaction and materialism.
What Did We Do?
706 heterosexual couples were assigned to each complete the RELATionship Evaluation (RELATE) assessment individually. The assessment measured materialism, the importance of marriage, and marital satisfaction.
What Did We Find?
Researchers found that when either spouse places a high value on money and possessions there is a shift that begins to impact the value of their marriage. The changes that occur within those who express high values of materialism, may exert more time and energy in pursuit of money and possessions rather than extending this effort towards building relationships and connection [5]. Because there is less time and effort spent fulfilling relational needs, the relationships are less warm [6] and intimate [7], and are likely to experience more conflict [8]. This shift is reciprocal in both partners feeling less likely to be satisfied in their marriage.
What Does This Mean?
The study illustrated how materialism in one partner can influence less satisfaction within marriage. This is evident by the value placed on money and possessions competing with the value placed on marriage. The results of high materialistic attitudes leads both partners feeling that marriage has become less important, contributing to lower marital satisfaction. Thus, suggesting that marriage and materialism may be incompatible
These findings can contribute towards helping couples mediate the effects of material values, both individually and within the relationship. By understanding how materialism can influence feelings and priorities, couples can work together to achieve shared financial goals and recognize the association between materialism and well-being. Additionally, the need to fill the roles of financial therapists is made apparent. Financial therapists can guide couples in navigating financial motivations and foster relationship satisfaction by promoting the importance of marriage over materialism.
Photo by Mofles
References
[1] Belk, R. W. (1984). Three scales to measure constructs related to materialism: Reliability,
validity, and relationships to other measures of happiness. In T. Kinnear (Ed.),
Advances in consumer research (Vol. 11, pp. 291-297). Provo, UT: Association for
Consumer Research.
[2] Garðarsdóttir, R. B., & Dittmar, H. (2012). The relationship of materialism to debt and
financial well-being: The case of Iceland’s perceived prosperity. Journal of Economic
Psychology, 33(3), 471-481. doi:10.1016/j.joep.2011.12.008
[3] Watson, J. J. (2003). The relationship of materialism to spending tendencies, saving, and debt. Journal of Economic Psychology, 24(6), 723-739. doi:10.1016/j.joep.2003.06.001
[4] Klontz, B., Britt, S. L., Mentzer, J., & Klontz, T. (2011). Money beliefs and financial behaviors: Development of the Klontz Money Script Inventory. Journal of Financial Therapy, 2(1), 1
[5] Solberg, E. G., Diener, E., & Robinson, M. D. (2004). Why are materialists less satisfied? In T. Kasser, A. D. Kanner, T. Kasser, & A. D. Kanner (Eds.), Psychology and consumer culture: The struggle for a good life in a materialistic world. (pp. 29-48). Washington, DC, US: American Psychological Association.
[6] Richins, M. L., & Dawson, S. (1992). A consumer values orientation for materialism and its measurement: Scale development and validation. Journal of Consumer Research, 19(3), 303-316. doi:10.1086/209304
[7] Kasser, T., & Grow Kasser, V. (2001). The dreams of people high and low in materialism. Journal of Economic Psychology, 22(6), 693-719. doi:10.1016/S0167- 4870(01)00055-1
[8] Kasser, T., & Ryan, R. M. (2001). Be careful what you wish for: Optimal functioning and the relative attainment of intrinsic and extrinsic goals. In P. Schmuck & K. M. Sheldon (Eds.), Life goals and well- being: Towards a positive psychology of human striving (pp. 116-131). Goettingen, Germany: Hogrefe & Huber Publishers.
