Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Sooner, The Better? Couples' First Financial Discussion, Relationship Quality, And Financial Conflict In Emerging Adulthood, Matthew T. Saxey, Ashley B. Lebaron-Black, Melissa A. Curran

Journal of Financial Therapy

In couple relationships, discussing finances is often considered taboo. Specifically, emerging adult couples experience several unique financial challenges that may contribute to poorer financial communication and pose relational risks. Utilizing structural equation modeling with a sample of 1,950 U.S. emerging adults, the current study tests associations between the time of a couple’s first financial discussion, financial communication, relationship quality, and financial conflict. Results indicate that initiating financial discussion earlier in a romantic relationship may benefit relationship quality—through financial communication. However, having an earlier first financial discussion as a couple was also positively associated with financial conflict. Financial therapists might consider …