Factors Affecting Women’s Satisfaction With Their Marital Relationship in Japan: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Marital satisfaction, a key indicator of relational well-being, is influenced by individual and social factors. Few studies have examined how husbands’ childcare support during middle childhood affects women’s marital satisfaction in Japan. This prospective cohort study analyzed questionnaire data from 263 mothers in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS) who completed marital satisfaction surveys during their children’s 8-year checkups (2019–2021), along with pregnancy and early childhood data. Multiple logistic regression showed that 65.4% of women with postpartum depressive symptoms at 1 month reported marital satisfaction at 6 months (p < .05). Women perceiving husband childcare support had an adjusted odds ratio of 11.99 (95% CI, 5.82–24.67) for marital satisfaction versus those without. Findings highlight the critical role of shared childcare in enhancing marital satisfaction, suggesting that promoting paternal involvement may strengthen family bonds and relational quality.