Journal of Positive School Psychology http://journalppw.

com
2022, Vol. 6, No. 4, 5831 – 5844

A Systematic Review of Marital Satisfaction and Psychological

Well-Being Among Career Women

1Wan Norhayati bt Wan Othman, 2Zaida Nor Zainudin, 3Yusni Mohamad Yusop, 4Wan
Marzuki Wan Jaafar, 5Muhammad Yasin Omar Mokhtar

1
Faculty of Educational Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia, [email protected]
2
Faculty of Educational Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia, [email protected]
3
Faculty of Educational Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia, [email protected]
4
Faculty of Educational Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia, [email protected]
5
Faculty of Islamic Studies and Humanities, Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah, Malaysia,
[email protected]

Abstract
Marital satisfaction is always related to the psychological well-being of career women. Career women
with a high level of work satisfaction will have better marital satisfaction and psychological well-
being. This review aims to look for the relationship between marital satisfaction and psychological
well-being among career women. Scopus, ScienceDirect and PubMed database was selected to
identify relevant articles. Research published between the year 2012 to 2021 was selected to look at
the effect of employment on marital satisfaction and psychological well-being and the relationship
between marital satisfaction and psychological well-being. The finding shows that employed women
will have better marital status compared to those who are housewives. They have greater financial
freedom and self-direction. Additionally, emotional stability affects women’s marital satisfaction and
psychological well-being. Additionally, marital intimacy is critical for marital satisfaction and
psychological well-being maintenance. The article’s implications are also discussed in terms of how
the counsellor might enhance their counselling service to assist career women in achieving optimal
psychological well-being and marital satisfaction.

Keywords: Marital satisfaction, psychological well-being, career women.

INTRODUCTION stage that consists of contentment, satisfaction,

and pleasure shared by each member of a
Throughout the decades, extensive research has married couple when all parts of their shared
been conducted to determine the relationship life are considered (Bilal & Rasool, 2020;
between a person’s marital relationships and Tavoni & Anisi, 2005). This mental stage will
the overall quality of that person’s mental not automatically be fulfilled. It needs
health and well-being. Many studies have been commitment from both sides of the couple.
carried out in an attempt to determine the Marital satisfaction is critical in the early year
directionality of this relationship. While of marriage, and this is because the early-stage
evidence exists to support depression both prior marital relationship and satisfaction are still in
to and following low marital quality, the unstable stage (Gorbanzadeh et al., 2013).
empirically supported evidence is a link The concept of marital satisfaction
between the two factors. Marital satisfaction is encompasses numerous components, including
frequently defined as individuals’ attitudes sexual fulfilment, getting support from a
toward their marital relationship (Fincham & partner, participating in decision-making
Beach, 2010). Marital satisfaction is a mental
Wan Norhayati bt Wan Othman 5832

processes, relationships with a partner’s family, stability are employment achievements that
social support, psychological well-being, and contribute to sexual and marital satisfaction in
overall life satisfaction (Bilal & Rasool, 2020; their relationships with their partners (Abadian
Javanmard & Garegozlo, 2013). et al., 2021). However, they are some negative
impact of working women in their relationship.
There has been extensive research into One of the reasons is the extra-marital role that
marriage satisfaction, with many studies career women play in their families. It is not
finding a link between marital pleasure and uncommon for role expectations and limits
psychological well-being. The term between family and profession to be out of
“psychological well-being” refers to an image sync, resulting in tensions and challenges
of a person’s psychological health that is based between work and family life (Netemeyer et al.,
on their ability to perform psychological 1996). Females frequently juggle multiple roles
functions (Bradburn, 1969; Muqodas et al., in their families, including daughter, wife,
2020). Psychological well-being is a wide mother, sister, and daughter-in-law, while also
concept that incorporates all aspects of one’s juggling the roles of subordinate, colleague,
daily life that are affected by one’s emotions. and leader in the job at the same time (Lin et
Individual self-reporting can be used to assess al., 2013). Besides, some research also found
negative psychological well-being in a that Women will have higher working stress
straightforward manner (Warr, 1978). and pressure than working men (Lundberg,
Psychological well-being is enhanced by 1996).So, the working stress will be combined
feelings of fulfilment and contentment in one’s with family stress, which will positively impact
life. In the concept that health is more than only women in their life satisfaction, including
the absence of physical illness, psychological marital satisfaction. Past research indicated that
well-being has developed due to the the joint effect between work and family stress
development of psychological health (Ryff, would lead to poor health (Loerbroks et al.,
1989). As Deci and Ryan (2008) explain in 2017; Zhou et al., 2018). Career women will
their study Psychological Well-Being, it is have a positive and negative impact on their
typically defined as a combination of positive relationships and psychological well-being.
emotional experiences such as contentment and
optimum performance in one’s personal and As a result, the reviewer examined the
social life. Psychological well-being has been association between marital satisfaction and
divided into six dimensions, which are psychological well-being among career women
autonomy, environmental mastery, personal in this review study. The aims of the study will
growth, positive relationships with others, a be explored in greater detail in the following
sense of purpose in life, and self-acceptance, in section.
order to concentrate on what it takes to be
emotionally thriving at one’s highest potential
level (Ryff, 1989; Muqodas et al. 2020). Objectives
Marriage satisfaction was found to be an
essential and influential component of This study aims to investigate the level of
emotional and psychological well-being. The marital satisfaction and psychological well-
level of marital satisfaction has a favourable being among women who work full-time. In
relationship with overall happiness and overall this study, the level of marital satisfaction and
personal health (Renne, 1970). psychological well-being among women will
be examined in greater detail. Following that,
Career or employed women always relate with different cultural or country studies were used
marital satisfaction and psychological well- in this review to determine whether or not there
being. Career women who have a certain is a relationship between marital satisfaction
financial situation will have a good impact on and psychological well-being in the general
their marital circumstances. This is because population. In addition, the factors that
their skills outside of the home can help them influence the psychological well-being of
have a more vital interpersonal interaction with career women will be identified in this review.
their partner when they return home (Abadian Following completion of this study, the reader
et al., 2021). Besides, working women have should identify specific strategies and
demonstrated that job happiness and job suggestions that a counsellor can use to assist
5833 Journal of Positive School Psychology

women in coping with their emotional distress or retrieve high-quality literature relevant to the
and maintaining their psychological well-being. subject. It is advantageous to conduct a
Based on objective research results, the systematic review when conducting basic
findings were tabulated systematically. The research because it minimises author prejudice.
point of view refers to marital satisfaction and Furthermore, systematic reviews assist scholars
career women’s psychological well-being. in exploring new concepts that emerge from the
vast amount of literature that reviewers have
Following are some suggestions for an analysis combed through. This guide is intended to
of the contest based on the question: assist reviewers in determining which journal
1. What is the psychological well-being article or other literature would be the best fit
of working women? for the subject under consideration. The
problem described above helps reviewers better
The focus was given to the impact of career on understand what they are looking for in a
women’s psychological well-being. What journal or the literature.
influences of job on women’s psychological
well-being? We examine the findings of The Search Strategy
different studies. First, UPM subscribes database was used for
2. What is the relationship between retrieved articles. Three databases were chosen
marital satisfaction and psychological well- which is Scopus, ScienceDirect and PubMed.
being among career women? To create a list of relevant literature in the
database, the key terms marital satisfaction,
The purpose of this question is to examine the psychological well-being, and working women
critical relationship between marital were used. To obtain relevant literature, a few
satisfaction and psychological well-being in inclusions and exclusion criteria were included
career women. We simply extracted data from in the search process. Initial inclusion criteria
a portion of the introductory section’s literature were based on the year in which the literature
review. The findings section will examine the was published. We’ve chosen the most recent
study’s findings and data from other studies to ten-year journal to publish in. The years 2012
determine whether there is a correlation to 2021 were chosen as the study period. Since
between marital satisfaction and psychological most reviewers write in English only, the
well-being, and if so, how strong it is. vocabulary is limited to English words. The
social sciences and psychology were the most
3. What considerations should a
popular fields of study during the hunt. Only
counsellor keep in mind when assisting career
journal articles and academic papers were
women in sustaining marital satisfaction and
considered for inclusion in the literature search.
psychological well-being?
The inclusion of only quantitative papers would
Finally, emphasis is placed on the fact that a be appropriate given that this is a quantitative
counsellor should be aware of the importance synthesis.
of assisting career women in sustaining marital
At the outset of the search, a total of 13211
satisfaction and psychological well-being. This
articles were discovered using the key terms
may be more descriptive or less obvious in the
marital satisfaction, psychological well-being,
study, but most articles will include a
and working women. The number of papers
recommendation.
was reduced to 5928 after the publication year
was restricted. The following restricted
criterion was the availability of research
Methodology articles written in the English language. After
excluding all non-English research articles
The first step in conducting this systematic
review is establishing a starting point by from consideration, there were 4770 remaining.
selecting a few key terms. The most frequently Table 1 below contains a list of all of the
used terms are marital satisfaction, inclusive criteria. The exclusive criterion is
presented in the following table. 2619 articles
psychological well-being, and working women,
all of which are discussion topics. A specialised were excluded from consideration because they
search technique is employed in order to locate were in a non-relevant subject area. After the
Wan Norhayati bt Wan Othman 5834

search, only 20 articles have been selected for Table 2. Exclusive criteria
review.
Exclusive Particular Literature Remaining
Table 1. Inclusion criteria criteria identified literature

Inclusive Particular Literature Remaining Subject Non- 2619 2151

criteria identified literature type relevant
area
Key Marital 13211 13211
Terms satisfaction,
psychological
well-being, When the index contains 30 of the best-fit
and working journal articles, the reviewer is no longer
women interested in looking for more. However, after
screening the abstracts, it is discovered that
Years 2012-2021 5928 5928 there are only 20 articles in the search results.
After the information was filtered, it was
Article journal 4678 4678
type articles and
entered into Table 3, which can be seen in the
academic
following section. Figure 1 depicts the search
papers
flow for the article that the author is looking for
in a systematic review from beginning to end.
Language English 4670 4670 A more simplified representation of how a
systematic review search was conducted using
the PRISMA figure is visualised in Figure 1,
allowing the reader to understand better how
the articles were selected.
5835 Journal of Positive School Psychology

Identification
Records identify through UPM Additional Through Science
SCOPUS database (n=461) Direct & PubMed (n=12650)

Records after duplicate removed (n=13211)

Screening

Records Screened by title

(n=13211)

Number of records excluded

after screening of abstract:
Eligibility

Abstracts accessed for (n=8441)

eligibility (n=13211) Non-English (n=8)
Article type (n=1250)
Within 10 years (n=7183)

Full-text articles accessed

for eligibility (n=4770)

Non-relevant subject area

(n=2619)
Included

Studies included in
quantitative synthesis of the
systematic review (n=2151)
Number of records excluded
after screening of full-text
articles: (n=2131)
Studies included in
quantitative synthesis of the
systematic review (n=20)

Fig 1. Flow diagram for selection review of studies

objective, the findings are presented in the
following sequences: author(s), year, title(s) of
Findings of Literature Review articles, country, and findings that are
Summaries of twenty articles were presented in following the review’s objective.
Table 3 below. Following the review’s
Table 3. Summary of Selection Literatures
Author & Year Title of Article Country Relevant Findings

Justin A. Lavner⁎, Workload and marital USA In comparison to partners of

Malissa A. Clark satisfaction over time: Testing individuals with lower
(2016) lagged workloads, partners of
individuals with higher
spillover and crossover effects workloads experience a bigger
during the newlywed years loss in marital happiness over
time.

Federica Facchin a,*, Quality of intimate relationships, Italy Intimate connections were
Laura Buggio b, dyadic coping, and psychological related with decreased
Paolo Vercellini b, health in women with psychological health,
Wan Norhayati bt Wan Othman 5836

Annalisa Frassineti c, endometriosis: Results from an relationship satisfaction, and

Sara Beltrami c, online survey dyadic coping ability.

Emanuela Saita
(2021)

Jaffar Abbasa,⁎, M. The moderating role of social Pakistani In married working and non-
Aqeelb, J. Abbasc, support for marital adjustment, working females, marital
B. Shaherc, A. depression, anxiety, and stress: adjustment has a negative
Jaffarc, J. Sundasb, Evidence from Pakistani working relationship with depression and
W. Zhangc (2019) and non-working anxiety.

women

Wei Lin, Hong Work stress, family stress, and China Women who had both high job
Wang, Lin Gong, suicide ideation: A cross- and family stress had a fivefold
Guiying Lai, sectional survey increased risk of suicidal
Xiaoshan Zhao, Hui ideation.
Ding, Yueyun Wang among working women in
(2020) Shenzhen, China

Julan Xie, Yanwei Relationship between similarity China Marital satisfaction was greater
Shi , HongyuMa in work-family centrality and when couple congruence was
(2017) marital satisfaction among dual- low-low (vs. high-high) in terms
earner couples of work-family centrality.

Mahmoud Bahmani a Equity and Marital Satisfaction Iran Correlations between equity and
*, Saber Aryamanesh in Iranian Employed and its components and marital
a, Mostefa Bahmani satisfaction that are both positive
b, Sareh Gholami Unemployed Women and substantial. Between
(2013) employed and jobless women,
employed women reported
greater marital disparity.

Javad Khalatbari a*, The Relationship between Iran There is a strong correlation
Shohreh Marital Satisfaction (Based on between marital contentment
Ghorbanshiroudi a, Religious and emotional stability.
Kiomars Niaz Azari
b, Nikta Bazleh a , Criteria) and Emotional Stability
Niayesh

Safaryazdi (2013)

Mehdi Rostamia* , The Effectiveness of Instructing Iran indicates that the emotion-
Azam Taherib, Emotion-focused Approach in focused intervention was
Mansour Abdic, effective at increasing marital
Nahide Kermanid Improving The marital satisfaction markers in couples.
(2013) Satisfaction in Couples

Ayumi Honda , The Impact of Multiple Roles on Japan Women had significantly more
Yasuyo Abe , Yutaka Psychological Distress among psychological distress (17.8
Date , Sumihisa percent) than men (11.5 percent
Honda (2015) Japanese Workers ). There was significantly less
psychological discomfort (OR,
0.27), and those with
childrearing or caregiving
obligations for elderly parents
experienced significantly less
psychological distress (OR,
5837 Journal of Positive School Psychology

0.38).

Jaunathan Bilodeau , Psychological distress inequality Canada By determining specific

Alain Marchand , between employed men and disparities in exposure to work
Andree Demers women: A gendered exposure and family stressors and
(2020) model resources contribute to working
women's greater psychological
discomfort than working males,

Tze-Li Hsu and The Association USA Women have a greater

Anne E. Barrett correlation between marital
(2020) between Marital status and psychological well-
Status and Psychological being than males do.

Well-being: Variation

across Negative and

Positive Dimensions

Seyyedeh Fatemeh Psychological Well-being, Iran While moms reported much

Mousavi (2020) Marital Satisfaction, and more parental exhaustion than
fathers, fathers reported higher
Parental Burnout in Iranian marital satisfaction and
Parents: The Effect of psychological well-being.
Home Quarantine during
COVID-19 Outbreaks

M. Pilar Matud, Gender and PsychologicalWell- Spain Men scored more on self-
Marisela López- Being acceptance and autonomy than
Curbelo and women, but women scored
Demelza Fortes higher on personal growth and
(2019) positive interpersonal
relationships. The most
significant factor affecting both
women and men's psychological
well-being was a high level of
masculinity.

Sudhinta Sinha Multiple roles of working women India Working women rated
(2017) and psychological well-being themselves as having a higher
psychological well-being than
homemakers or unemployed
women.

Su-Yeon Choi, The Mediating Effects of Marital Korea Marital intimacy had a
Hyoung-Ryoul Kim Intimacy and Work Satisfaction significant effect on job
and Jun-Pyo Myong in the Relationship between satisfaction, and both of these
(2020) Husbands’ Domestic Labor and variables were strongly
Depressive Mood of Married associated with decreases in sad
mood scores. Domestic labour
Working Women performed by husbands did not
directly affect married working
women's melancholy mood
scores, but did so indirectly via
impacts on marital closeness and
job satisfaction.
Wan Norhayati bt Wan Othman 5838

Lynn Germeys and Psychological Detachment Belgian Daily detachment is positively

Sara De Gieter Mediating the Daily Relationship associated with marital
(2017) between Workload and Marital satisfaction, with one's choice
Satisfaction for work-from-home
segmentation supporting this
link. Additionally, psychological
detachment moderated the daily
link between workload and
marital satisfaction in its
entirety.

Katja Margelisch, Marital stability, satisfaction and Switzerland In older couples, marital
Klaus A. well-being in old age: variability pleasure is positively connected
Schneewind, Jeanine and continuity in long-term with health and very well
Violette & throughout time, although
Pasqualina continuously married older psychological resilience and
persons marital strain are significant
Perrig-Chiello (2015) predictors of these outcomes.

Afsaneh Mehrara, The survey of quality of life, Iran In married, employed women,
Maryam Amidi perceived stress, and its perceived stress and quality of
Mazaheri, Akbar relationship with marital life can be major indicators of
Hasanzadeh (2019) marital satisfaction.
satisfaction in married women
working at health centers

Sang Ah Lee, Eun- The association between Korea When women were unsatisfied
Cheol Park, Yeong satisfaction with husband’s with their husbands'
Jun Jua, Kyu-Tae participation in housework and participation in housework,
Hana, Hyo Jung suicidal ideation among married those with an egalitarian gender
Yoona, working women in Korea ideology or low job satisfaction
were more likely to consider
Tae Hyun Kim suicide.
(2018)

Annette J Towler , Attachment styles, relationship USA Women in cohesive, personal

Alice F Stuhlmacher satisfaction, and well-being in relationships were more likely to
(2013) working women report job satisfaction, low
workplace conflict, and few
health symptoms.

The systematic review was created in order to and family caregivers, will have lower
provide answers to the questions posed by the psychological distress than those with only one
objectives. These are the findings where they life role. Workers who were exclusively
relate to the questions, summarised as follows: employed in their current position may have
experienced a high level of role submersion
Psychological well-being of working women (Honda et al., 2014). When they over-
Compare with working men & non-working committed to their task, they will cause
women individuals to fall into depression.

One research found that working women will Role’s conflict is essential to maintain
have high psychological distress compare to psychological well-being. According to
working men (Bilodeau et al., 2020). Bilodeau et al. (2020), women will higher
According to Honda et al. (2014), Men and psychological distress compare to men is
women may experience varying levels of stress because they expose to work-to-family conflict.
and psychological anguish due to their work Women’s work obligations interfere with their
and family roles. The study found that women family responsibilities more than men’s,
with multiple roles, such as working women increasing the level of psychological distress
5839 Journal of Positive School Psychology

experienced by women. Women who had research found that working women have three-
unequal roles in the family will have poor well- time odds of suicide ideation with family stress.
being such as stress, anxiety, and loss of The overload of housework and dissatisfaction
control over their lives (Mousavi, 2020). with husbands’ housework involvement could
Furthermore, Bilodeau et al. (2020) discovered influence women’s psychological distress and
that women in the workplace would have less predictor of suicidal ideation.
decision-making authority than men, resulting
in women experiencing psychological distress. A later study supported the result were done in
As a result of having less involvement in Korea. Lee et al. (2018), state that Women who
decision-making, they have less opportunity to adhered to an egalitarian gender ideology or
exert control over their work. It will result in reported low job dissatisfaction were more
women having low self-esteem indirectly likely to consider taking their own lives.
(Bilodeau et al., 2020). Women who are married and working who are
dissatisfied with their husbands’ participation
Following that, working women reported in housework are more likely to consider
greater psychological well-being than either suicide than women satisfied with their
homemakers or non-working women did husbands’ participation. To alleviate women
(Sinha, 2017). This is because women stress from the dual burden of work and family,
employed have two sources of gratification, they require an environment in which
such as work and family, which allows them to housework is fairly distributed (Lee et al.,
have greater psychological well-being. 2018). However, there is one contradictory
According to Sinha (2017), women who work result found in this review. Hsu and Barrett
as homemakers under traditional roles will be (2020) found that employed women and men
more stressed because of the poor reward linked with reduced depressive symptoms but
value. For working women, the positive effect not associated with any good well-being
is mostly from employment. The privileges of indicators.
job, status, power, position and economic
independence are sources for women to The relationship between marital satisfaction
maintain their psychological well-being (Sinha, and psychological well-being among career
2017). The result was similar with later women
research found that women with a higher level Marital satisfaction and career women
of job qualification would have greater well-
being than women with a lower level of In the review process, the reviewer found there
qualification (Matud et al., 2019). Women who are few articles regarding marital satisfaction
stay at home or work in a manual labour with career women. First, according to Towler
occupation, whether skilled or unskilled, report and Stuhlmacher (2013), Women who were in
lower levels of well-being than women with stable intimate relationships were more likely
higher job levels. to be satisfied with their jobs. Work satisfaction
was significantly influenced by marital
Low psychological well-being with Work stress intimacy (Choi et al., 2020). This is because the
& family stress satisfaction from the relationship will carry
The working women were linked with work over to the workplace and that there will be
stress and family stress. According to Lin et al. little conflict while working (Towler and
(2015), women with high work stress and Stuhlmacher, 2013). The possible reason found
family stress levels will have high thoughts of is that women who have a stable attachment
suicide. The stress for working women usually type are more likely to have excellent social
comes from the workplace. It is the critical skills, which allows them to operate effectively
factor for the high prevalence of suicide in personal and professional interactions. It is
ideation (Lin et al., 2015). This is because also found in another two-research show that
women put effort and high commitment into women Personal development and positive
their work but get low in rewards. The relationships with others are more successful
imbalance causes them to get into a depressive for women compare to men (Matud et al.,2019;
situation and easily link with suicide ideation. Hsu & Barrett, 2020).
Besides, Lin et al. (2015) also state that family Mahmoud Bahmani et al. (2013) found a
stress always came with work stress. The positive relationship between marital equity
Wan Norhayati bt Wan Othman 5840

and marital satisfaction. Married couples in discovered in the study’s findings regarding
equitable marriage will have better marital emotion-focused thinking. Women will benefit
satisfaction than those who are in inequity from emotional-focused thinking and have
marriage. Marital equity is the difference better marital satisfaction (Rostami et al.,
between employed and unemployed women. 2013). Mousavi (2020) reported that married
Women who were employed felt more equal in women as a mother would have a high burnout
their marital relationship than those who were rate compared to father. The mother who is low
not worked (Mahmoud Bahmani et al., 2013). emotional control will have lower marital
satisfaction compared to the father.
Another research found that Individuals’ work-
family centrality and couple similarity in work- Next, a marriage’s satisfaction is related to
family centrality were inversely associated with one’s health and well-being (Margelisch et al.,
the level of marital happiness experienced by 2015). When a couple is in good health, has a
dual-earner couples (Xie et al., 2017). The low level of emotional loneliness, and has a
research shows that Higher degrees of work- low level of hopelessness, they will be more
family centrality were associated with poorer happily married and have a higher level of
levels of marital satisfaction compared to psychological well-being. There was a similar
couples that were congruent at lower levels of result found by Facchin et al. (2021), the health
work-family centrality (Xie et al., 2017). This situation of women will influence their intimate
means that couples whom both are working relationship and will associate with
oriented will experience lower marital psychological well-being. The low level of
satisfaction. Results also show that working health situation will negatively impact intimate
women with higher work-family centrality than relationships and poor psychological well-
her husband will have lower marital being and health.
satisfaction (Xie et al., 2017). One similar
result was found in another research. The Mehrara et al. (2021). Research results show
research found that when comparing partners of that an inverse relationship between perceived
individuals with higher workloads at a one-time stress and marital satisfaction was statistically
point to partners of those with lower workloads significant. Individuals under tremendous stress
at the same time point. It is shown that the or who are confronted with petty life concerns
partners of individuals with higher workloads are more anxious, feel more powerless, harm
have more significant reductions in marital their mental health, and ultimately are
happiness by the following time point (Lavner dissatisfied with their marital relationship
& Clark, 2017). (Mehrara et al., 2021). The research found that
to maintain good martial satisfaction need to
Significant effect of marital satisfaction and maintaining women emotional side and
psychological well-being among career women perceived stress. Germeys and Gieter (2017)
found a similar result stated that psychological
Next, the reviewer was looking at the detachment such as relaxing and away from
relationship between marital satisfaction and stress is helping the married couple to increase
psychological well-being. There is some their marital satisfaction. This is because
research regarding the emotional stability of psychological detachment will help couples
couples and their psychological well-being. engage in positive relational functioning,
According to Khalatbari et al. (2013), there is a communication, and behaviour that indirectly
significant relationship between marital impact their marital satisfaction (Germeys &
satisfaction and emotional stability. The higher Gieter, 2017). The study also found that the
the emotional stability, the better the couple individual level of workload is related to
marital satisfaction. The couple who can detachment (Germeys & Gieter, 2017). The
control their emotional maturity and be calm greater the workload, the lower the detachment
and real will more easily meet their marital will be for the individual. The relationship can
needs (Khalatbari et al., 2013). The result was relate to marital satisfaction where workload
similar to Rostami et al. (2013) research. increases, psychological detachment will
Increasing the indices of marital satisfaction in decrease, and marital satisfaction will decrease.
couples is helpful when using an emotion-
focused intervention approach. A considerable There is also research that found that marital
difference between women and men was intimacy is affecting working women mental
5841 Journal of Positive School Psychology

health. According to Choi et al. (2020), Marital check the level of coping for their clients in
closeness has been a significant factor affecting emotional control.
women’s mental health and job satisfaction in
dual-income households. The husband in the Lastly, counsellors need to check on the marital
house plays a critical role in maintaining relationship between working women and their
working women mental health. When the husbands. The review found that marital
husband assisted with housework and intimacy is one of the boosters for marital
parenting, the transition between job and family relationships, which means the better the
was favourable (Choi et al., 2020). The relationship between the couple, the better the
depression and stress level of the working wife marital satisfaction. This is because when the
will be lower. Besides, Marital adjustment has relationship increases, they will be better social
a negative relationship with depression and support between the couple. When working
anxiety in married working women and non- women need help from emotional, mental or
working women. The finding shows that physical, they will quickly get it from their
women who had a greater sense of marital partner. So, marital satisfaction will not
cohesion and affection experienced less stress decrease. This is because the relationship
and despair due to social support (Abbas et al., between them is close and easy to share when
2019). the intimacy level is high.

Implications of the study Conclusion

There are few suggestions reviewers found in In this review, the reviewer can find that there
reviewing articles to help out working women is an effect of working women on their
maintain their marital satisfaction and psychological well-being. Workload, job stress,
psychological well-being. The first suggestion chance, and decision-making in the workplace
is to build up self-esteem among working have affected working women’s psychological
women. Greater self-esteem will help reduce well-being. They will become more depressed
psychological distress (Bilodeau et al., 2020). due to their increased workload and lack of
Self-esteem helps working women in building decision-making in their workplace, which will
up their confidence in facing problems. When correlate with low relationship satisfaction.
their self-esteem is high, they will have more Employed women psychological well-being
confidence to control their work to help will be affected by their work and will be
decrease their psychological distress. So, when different with unemployed women and men.
working women have lower working Besides, reviewer also found that marital
psychological distress, it will indirectly satisfaction is related to working status.
increase their marital satisfaction. Therefore, as Working women will have better marital status
a counsellor in the counselling session, women compare to those who are as a housewife.
need to help working women build up their Women who stay at home or work in a manual
self-esteem to face their working stress. labour occupation, whether skilled or unskilled,
Besides, emotional stability is another target for report lower levels of well-being than women
counsellors to help our working women with higher job levels. This is because working
maintain their marital satisfaction and women will be felt equity in their married.
psychological well-being. Emotional loneliness They enjoy greater financial independence and
and emotional calm affect marital satisfaction have the ability to direct their own lives.
(Margelisch et al., 2015; Khalatbari et al., Additionally, women’s marital satisfaction and
2013). Working women will be benefiting psychological well-being is influenced by
from an emotion-focused approach (Rostami et emotional stability. The stronger one’s
al., 2013). The emotional focus will help emotional control, the more satisfied one is in
women to control their emotions and have marriage. Husband relationship or marital
better emotional stability. Better emotional will intimacy also serve an important role in marital
have more excellent in marital satisfaction and satisfaction and maintaining psychological
working relationship. So, counsellors need to well-being.
Wan Norhayati bt Wan Othman 5842

In conclusion, marital satisfaction is a part of Mediating Role of Sexual Satisfaction in

maintaining working women psychological Married Women. Journal of Psychosexual
well-being. Lower marital satisfaction will Health, 2(1), 77–86.
cause low psychological well-being and vice https://doi.org/10.1177/263183182091287
versa. Work stress, workload, marital intimacy, 3
social support emotional control are essential [6] Bilodeau, J., Marchand, A., & Demers, A.
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one needs to aware when helping employed gendered exposure model. SSM -
women in their marital satisfaction and Population Health, 11.
psychological well-being. This paper also https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2020.1006
discussed the implication of this study on 26
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Acknowledgement relationship between husbands’ domestic
labor and depressive mood of married
This research was sponsored under Putra Grant working women. International Journal of
Project ID: GP-IPM/2021/9695900 Environmental Research and Public
Health, 17(12), 1–12.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17124547
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