Previous research has indicated amoderate to strong level of positive
assortative mating on ethnicity/race, religion, and education in couples
(for a review see Watson et al., 2004). Moreover, sharing a similar background
with the spouse tends to be associated with positive marital outcomes.
For example, same-race relationships are more stable than their
interracial counterparts (e.g., Zhang & Hook, 2009). Mixed-faith marriages
experience more challenges and lower satisfaction (e.g., Myers,
2006). Findings with regard to the role of education similarity are less
consistent: discrepancy in education level predicted higher satisfaction
for husbands in one study (Watson et al., 2004), but lower satisfaction
for wives in another (Groot & Van Den Brink, 2002).