New findings by Ashley B. LeBaron-Black and her co-authors show that’s not the whole story. They found that money beliefs are far more determining to relationship satisfaction between couples than money itself. An important new study exploring Money Avoidance Recently published research in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships has examined Money Avoidance. This canard serves as a cover for the belief that money is inherently evil or corrupting. These initial findings show that attitudes toward money, such as Money Avoidance, are key to understanding relationship dynamics.
The team of researchers used a national sample of 1,153 married couples to examine these patterns. Through surveying couples’ beliefs surrounding finances, they found that attitudes can be broken down into four clear, separate types. The goal of this study is to further elucidate the role of negative attitudes in relationship satisfaction. Moreover, it is based on dyadic analysis, which investigates the connection between partners’ attitudes.
Money Scripts and Relationship Dynamics
The study also points to the concept of “money scripts,” which are subconscious rules that people develop about money. Money Avoidance is the first of these seven categories. It suggests that those who believe money is evil are likely to experience tension in their own relationships. For each belief category, the study’s authors determined the average score of each partner. This process allowed for an in-depth examination of instances where couples’ attitudes are in agreement or opposition.
The researchers found an unexpected influence of partners’ financial mindsets on relationship satisfaction. When partners have the same attitudes about Money Avoidance, their relationship satisfaction surges. On the other hand, large gaps in these attitudes can fuel resentment and distrust. From this later perspective, we gain a richer understanding of what financial communication practices help, or hinder, the flourishing of romantic relationships.
In order to support follow-on study and application, the research offers a scoring matrix located on pp. 54–55 of the published article. In doing so, this tool will help couples to identify their respective money scripts, as well as provide an overall understanding of their financial beliefs. The scoring system allows people to identify where there may be future conflicts. Beyond that, it sets the foundation for safer financial conversations between partners.
The Broader Implications of Financial Beliefs
The findings of this study speak beyond just one-on-one relationships. Researching how societal perceptions of money affect one-on-one interactions would have profound implications for financial education and counseling efforts. Mental health professionals need to work money script discussions into pre-martial and couples counseling. These elements are central to emotional health and security.
Additionally, the study highlights the importance of transparent fiscal discussion among stakeholders. By fostering discussions about each partner’s beliefs regarding money, couples can work toward aligning their views and mitigating potential conflicts. These kinds of preventive steps can help you create more relational happiness and fiscal feng shui.
Here are some interesting studies I discovered via phys.org for the week of May 7, 2025. The research is unfortunately behind a pay wall, it digs into the nuanced relationship between fiscal mindsets and interpersonal relationships. These new findings highlight the need to address attitudes toward money as a key piece of relationship wellness.
