The relationship of intimacy to use of leisure time in dual-career couples

Typescript (photocopy).The major purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between intimacy and use of leisure time in dual-career couples. Five research hypotheses were tested: (1) there is no correlation between intimacy scores and amount of shared leisure time; (2) there is no correlation between intimacy scores and amount of shared leisure time as a percentage of total leisure time; (3) there is no correlation between intimacy scores and satisfaction with shared leisure time; (4) there is no difference in means for the amount of shared leisure time between couples sharing the same profession and those not; (5) there is no relationship between intimacy scores and age, sex, years married, hours of shared leisure time, shared leisure time as a percentage of total leisure time, number of leisure activities, and satisfaction with shared leisure time. Questionnaires were mailed to 300 women who held graduate degrees. Recipients (and their husbands, if married) were asked to complete and return the questionnaire. Completed questionnaires were received from 38 dual-career couples. The Miller Social Intimacy Scale (Miller & Lefcourt, 1982) was used to assess the intimacy currently experienced in the relationship. An assessment of leisure time developed by the researcher determined amount, use, and satisfaction with shared leisure time. The first three hypothesis were tested by means of correlational analysis. The test of Hypothesis 1 found a significant positive relationship between intimacy scores and amount of shared leisure time. The test of Hypothesis 2 indicated a significant positive relationship between intimacy scores and percentage of shared leisure time. The test of Hypothesis 3 revealed a highly significant positive relationship between intimacy scores and satisfaction with shared leisure time. Hypothesis 4 was not tested due to an insufficient return by couples sharing the same profession. Multiple regression was performed to test Hypothesis 5, and it was found that the combination of satisfaction with shared leisure time, hours of shared leisure time, age, and years married accounted for 32% of the variance in the prediction of intimacy scores. Implications for counseling were discussed, and recommendations for further research were presented