Heterogeneities and Dynamics in Couples’ Relationship Satisfaction After Migration: A Study of Recent German Emigrants and Remigrants

This study explores migration-specific heterogeneities and dynamics in the relationship satisfaction of couples with at least one internationally mobile partner. We are specifically interested in the association of post-migration relationship satisfaction with migration-related characteristics, such as the direction of migration (emigration vs. remigration), the ‘synchronicity’ of partners’ migration, migration intentions and motives, or time since migration. Longitudinal data from Waves 2–5 of the German Emigration and Remigration Panel Study (GERPS) provide us with the opportunity to identify predictors of relationship satisfaction at post-migration ‘baseline’ as well as dynamics therein over a period of two years, estimating fixed-effects regression models. Two main findings emerged from our analysis: First, migrants’ relationship satisfaction is associated with the circumstances of the migration process as well as the situation in the destination country. And, second, whether or how migration-specific characteristics are associated with relationship satisfaction are partly gendered. We conclude that social circumstances, but not economic conditions, constitute the primary stressors shaping relationship satisfaction in the context of international migration.