Marital power relations, resources and gender role ideology: A multivariate model for assessing effects

The current paper analyzes the impact of several sets of variables, including resources, emotional commitment and background factors, on perceived marital power relations and anticipated dependence on one's spouse. The study, performed on a sample of elderly Israeli husbands, compared results between men with 'traditional' and 'modern' gender role attitudes. Findings indicate that normative context (i.e., 'traditional' versus 'modern') affects the variables explaining marital power relations: responses of 'traditional' husbands suggested a stronger relationship between power relations and instrumental as well as affective variables, whereas 'modern' spouses emphasized variables that are psychological in nature. Considerable differences were also found between the two groups with regard to the variables explaining anticipated dependence on the wife in various areas of life.