Couples

Sex and money aren’t often mentioned in the same breath, even for married couples. Whether because finances aren’t a particularly romantic subject or because physical intimacy doesn’t seem to factor into the weekly budget, the common view seems to be that these two topics are totally separate. However, these topics do have something clearly in common: neither seems to be an easy topic for couples to discuss, especially when partners feel inexperienced or unhappy with their current situation. Two recent research articles reveal further connections between sex and money.

Have you ever made a plan for your day, but things kept popping up, leaving you with a larger to-do list at the end of the day than you started with? Or maybe you tried to budget, but then found you do not have enough money at the end of the month to pay the bills? Life does not always go as planned, and sometimes we find ourselves in situations which challenge us physically and emotionally. While stress hurts in the moment, there are also long-term consequences that come from stressors. Stress greatly impacts mental and physical health outcomes for individuals. There are many different types of stress that people experience, with a range of influence.

Do you ever feel like your voice and input for couple-based decisions counts for less than your partner or goes unheard? Maybe you have had a situation where your significant other took control of the decision-making process altogether and you felt powerless, frustrated, or ready to lash out at them? Maybe you’ve been the one to make a unilateral decision without your partner’s input or against their wishes? If so, maybe you also felt hurt by something your partner said to get back at you? If you can relate to any of these situations, know that you are not alone. There are reasons for these situations and solutions that can help you, your partner, and your relationship improve.

Feminism is a belief in equality, fairness, and respect between the sexes. These ideals extend to many different settings and often involve advocacy for women’s rights.1 The ideals of feminism can be seen when sexes are given the same liberties, opportunities, and privileges. In addition, ideals are seen on an individual level when a person treats all others with dignity and consideration. Although exact equality may not be possible in every case given some physical differences between the sexes, equity and the ideals of feminism can be present in every case, along with their benefits.

Being part of a couple relationship can be sweet...and sometimes sour. Sweet flavors caramelize when we comfort, support, and show love for our partner. Sour flavors ferment when we struggle to solve challenges together, succumb to stress, and feel defeated by depressive mental health symptoms. Making sure one ingredient does not overpower the others is a challenge every couple must face, especially after having a first child. To develop the family relationships that we want to savor, we must not let one ingredient spoil the others. This begs the question, “what spoils our family relationships?” Dr. Curran and colleagues investigated this in a recent study. They asked which of the common challenges (ingredients) that couples/parents face lead to an overwhelming relationship as a whole (spoiled).

If you were asked, “How often are financial matters a problem in your relationship?”, what would you say?

Forgiveness is important in every relationship, whether it be romantic or not. However, can being financially forgiving have a positive impact on romantic relationships? This is what Matthew Saxey and Dr. LeBaron-Black’s team set out to study[1].

Childhood experiences, especially experiences with parents or primary caregivers, have a lasting impact.

Why does financial deception plague 75% of romantic relationships?[1]

In their recent article, “Financial Communication as a Mediator between Financial Values and Marital Outcomes,”[1] leading financial scholars suggest that money itself may not be what predicts divorce.