Can this marriage be saved…by the recession?

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A recent study by TIME magazine and the Pew Research Center found that more than 40% of Americans think marriage is obsolete. — Can blaming the economy for your marital issues curb finger pointing at your spouse?

Agreeing to blame the economy for your financial woes is a surefire way to solidify your marriage. According to an innovative study conducted with the National Center for Marriage and Family Research, partners who maintain a positive view of each other and keep a collaborative approach to economic stress are those who are most satisfied in their relationships. Usually when a couple is struggling with money there’s no outside force to blame. But in the case of the recession, scapegoating the big bad economy can keep the finger-pointing out of the equation.

Agreeing to blame the economy for your financial woes is a surefire way to solidify your marriage. According to an innovative study conducted with the National Center for Marriage and Family Research, partners who maintain a positive view of each other and keep a collaborative approach to economic stress are those who are most satisfied in their relationships. Usually when a couple is struggling with money there’s no outside force to blame. But in the case of the recession, scapegoating the big bad economy can keep the finger-pointing out of the equation.

WEIGH IN:

Is blaming the economy saving your marriage? How has the meta issue of the recession kept the peace in your household?

Guest:

Lisa Diamond PhD, , Associate Professor of Developmental Psychology at University of Utah in Salt Lake City and author of the study