本研究旨在探討家庭生命週期與婚姻滿意度的關係。研究設計採分層隨機抽樣法，以「多面向婚姻滿意量表」為蒐集資料的工具，共抽取台灣地區八個縣市的221對夫婦(442位)為研究樣本。本研究以最小子女的年齡將家庭生命週期劃分為五個階段：第一階段為子女尚未出世的新婚期；第二階段為學齡前期；第三階段為學齡期；第四階段為青少年期；第五階段為子女離家就學或成家期。研究結果顯示，在家庭生命週期不同階段的婚姻滿意度呈現逐步下降的模式。婚姻滿意度在結婚初期最高，爾後開始緩步下降，到了青少年時期則有顯著的落差，一直到最小子女離家後，夫妻的婚姻滿意度降至最低。此結果與國外的研究多呈現U型曲線分配的結論差異頗大。本研究除了探討整體婚姻滿意度在家庭生命週期不同階段的變化之外，亦檢視了不同婚姻面向的變化，包括親密程度、彈性程度、個人特質、性愛關係、財務管理、休閒活動、子女教養、親友關係、價值觀等九個面向。研究發現，夫妻對婚姻生活中不同層面的滿意度亦多呈現逐漸下降的模式。以夫妻整體而言，其對於配偶的個人特質和子女教養的滿意度會隨家庭生命週期的不同階段而呈現逐步下降的模式。就男性和女性分別來看，男性對於子女教養的滿意度會隨家庭生命週期的不同階段而逐漸下降；至於女性的彈性程度以及對配偶個人特質的滿意度會隨家庭生命週期的不同階段而有顯著差異。此項結果支持發展學的理論，突顯出婚姻關係的動態本質及其不同階段的變化。

This study aimed to examine the relationship between family life cycle and marital satisfaction. In this study, quantitative data was collected from a proportionate stratified community sample of 221 married couples in eight major cities in Taiwan by using the instrument of “Multi­Dimensional Marital Satisfaction Inventory." The family life-cycle variable is composed of five stages based on the age of the youngest child, including beginning families without children, preschool stage, school stage, teenager stage, and the launching stage. Research results indicated that marital satisfaction followed a declining linear trend across family life cycle, which was inconsistent with previous western research findings showing a U-shape, curvilinear pattern. The present study also examined the marital relationship across family life cycle in various important areas of marriage, including closeness, flexibility, personality, sexual relationship, financial management, leisure activities, parenting, families and friends, and values. Research results also indicated that marital satisfaction followed a declining linear. trend across family life cycle in various important areas of marriage. These findings supported the development theory and highlighted the dynamic and changing nature of marital relationship.