Meta-analysis of the relationship among approach and avoidance motives for sacrifice and marital quality

In pursuing approach motives for sacrifice, spouses sacrifice to create a sense of increased happiness or intimacy with their spouse, whereas in pursuing avoidance motives for sacrifice, spouses sacrifice to avoid conflicts and disapproval. Approach motives for sacrifice lead to positive emotions and increase marital quality but avoidance motives for sacrifice are related with reductions in marital quality. The results of studies on the association between motives for sacrifice and marital quality are different and contradictory. The purpose of this study was to estimate the overall effect size of this association. To achieve this purpose, we searched the literature for dissertations and research articles published in scientific journals from 1998 to 2018. Based on our research inclusion criterion, 6 research studies, including 4 dissertations and 2 articles, were included in a meta-analysis measuring 18 estimates of effect size for the association between approach motives and marital quality and 18 estimates of effect size for the association between avoidance motives and marital quality. Investigating publication bias showed that studies on the association between approach and avoidance motives for sacrifice and marital quality were not biased. The results also showed a significantly positive correlation (r=0.385, p<0.01) between approach motives for sacrifice and marital quality and a negative correlation (r= - 0.185) between avoidance motives for sacrifice and marital quality. According to Cohen's criteria, the effect size for the association between approach motives for sacrifice and marital quality is a modest effect and the association between avoidance motives for sacrifice and marital quality is a small effect. Investigating the role of moderator variables indicated that the magnitude of the effect size for approach motives for sacrifice is influenced by social and cultural context. Theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed in detail.