Young And Old Couples at the Poles of Satisfaction: A Comparative Analysis of Dyadic and Relational Strengths

Abstract

The present study, entitled “Young and Old Couples at the Poles of Satisfaction: A Comparative Analysis of Dyadic and Relational Strengths”, aimed to examine differences in dyadic adjustment, resilience, and perceived partner responsiveness among young (22–32 years) and old (50–60 years) married couples who reported the highest and lowest levels of couple satisfaction. A total of 76 couples (38 young and 38 old) from Hisar, Haryana, participated in the research. Utilizing a comparative correlational design, the data was collected through standardized instruments: Couple Satisfaction Index (CSI-32), Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and Perceived Partner Responsiveness Scale (PPRS). The findings revealed significant differences in all three domains, i.e. dyadic adjustment, resilience and perceived partner responsiveness. Couples with higher satisfaction scores demonstrated significantly better dyadic adjustment (M = 129.58), resilience (M = 80.07), and perceived partner responsiveness (M = 80.13) compared to their low-satisfaction counterparts (M = 113.58, 67.06, and 74.27) respectively. The results suggested that satisfaction in couples is closely linked to emotional coordination, adaptive coping, and mutual responsiveness across marital life stages. The study offered important implications for marital counselling and relationship-strengthening interventions tailored to different age groups.