utne used self report method on newly wed couples who had been together for at least two years
utne et al 1984 equity in marriage
questionnaire recorded their perceived level of equality and measure of their relationship stability and distress
utne et al 1984 equity in marriage
found that partners who felt they were treated with more equity thought the relationship was more stable, and were happier in it
utne et al 1984 equity in marriage
found no sex differences in concern for equality
utne et al 1984 equity in marriage
suggests that as predicted by equity theory feelings of equality are important in stability of relationships
utne et al 1984 equity in marriage
however, research is correlational rather than lack of equality resulting in dissatisfaction in relationship, may be that dissatisfaction results in partner perceiving that their relationships is unequal
