Relationship maintenance and marital satisfaction among wives in Indonesia: The mediating role of marital commit

Rahmita Laily Muhtadini (Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada I Yogyakarta I Indonesia)
Tina Afiatin (Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada I Yogyakarta I Indonesia)

Jurnal Psikologi
Vol 25, No 2 (2026): Oktober 2026

Background: Marital dissatisfaction is associated with family dysfunction and divorce risk, while Indonesian wives tend to report lower marital satisfaction than husbands.Purpose: This cross-sectional study examined the association between relationship maintenance and wives’ marital satisfaction, with marital commitment as a mediator.Method: Participants were 414 wives married for 1–10 years and living with their husbands, recruited online through convenience and snowball sampling. Participants completed the Marital Satisfaction Scale, Relational Maintenance Behavior Measure, and Marital Commitment Scale. Data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and mediation analysis.Findings: Relationship maintenance was significantly associated with marital commitment and marital satisfaction. Marital commitment partially mediated the association, accounting for 18.4% of the total effect (indirect effect, b = .0996, 95% CI [0.070, 0.131], p < .001), while the direct effect remained significant (b = .4412). However, the Marital Commitment Scale showed poor CFA fit (CFI = .724, RMSEA = .147), warranting caution in interpreting the mediation results.Implication: Relationship maintenance had a stronger direct association with marital satisfaction than its indirect contribution through marital commitment. Family programs may therefore prioritize relationship maintenance skills while addressing marital commitment.