The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship gender role attitudes, relational maintenance activities and marital happiness. 20 married persons who agreed to participate in the current study were asked to complete the survey, and then distribute the survey to other married individuals within their network. 146 married individuals returned completed surveys and constitute the sample. Results indicate that egalitarian gender role attitudes are a primary predictor of relational maintenance and that relational maintenance is significantly related to marital happiness.

Traditional gender role attitudes are negatively correlated with egalitarian gender role attitudes and relational maintenance. There is a strong negative relationship between egalitarian and traditional gender role attitudes, indicating the two are structured as opposites. More women reported an egalitarian gender role attitude than men, even though both sexes reported an egalitarian attitude. Women reported significantly higher scores for the relational maintenance activities of openness and shared tasks.

In general, results indicate that those respondents who self-reported egalitarian gender role attitudes also reported more relational maintenance activities than those respondents who self-reported traditional gender role attitudes. In addition, there is a strong positive relationship between relational maintenance and marital happiness, indicating that the more egalitarian an individual’s attitude, the more that individual will engage in relational maintenance activities, resulting in quality of married life.