Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • 2020
  • Working Paper
  • HBS Working Paper Series

Buying Time Promotes Relationship Satisfaction

By: A.V. Whillans, Jessie Pow and Michael I. Norton
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:64
ShareBar

Abstract

Six studies (N = 2,285) highlight the role played by time-saving purchases—such as housecleaning and meal delivery services—in promoting relationship satisfaction. Study 1a provides initial survey evidence that time-saving purchases protect relationship satisfaction from the negative impact of stress. Study 1b provides a conceptual replication in a six-week longitudinal study, demonstrating that members of couples are less negatively impacted by stress on days when they make time-saving purchases. Next, we assess the role of time-saving purchases in changing how couples spend their time as a key mechanism driving the stress-buffering benefits of these purchases. For couples who do not make time-saving purchases, higher levels of stress are associated with spending less quality time together which in turn undermines relationship satisfaction. In contrast, couples who make time-saving purchases spend more quality time together—even under high levels of stress—thereby facilitating greater relationship satisfaction (Studies 2a and 2b). We offer further support for this mechanism by using experimental methodology to document that using money to buy quality time spent jointly is a necessary condition for time-saving purchases to benefit relationship satisfaction (Studies 3a and 3b). Together, these studies suggest a solution to the inevitable stress faced by couples: spend money to buy quality time, together.

Keywords

Time; Money; Couples; Social Support; Relationship Satisfaction; Marriage; Household; Spending; Relationships; Satisfaction; Conflict and Resolution

Citation

Whillans, A.V., Jessie Pow, and Michael I. Norton. "Buying Time Promotes Relationship Satisfaction." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 18-072, January 2018. (Revised January 2020.)

Supplemental Information

SOP
Supplemental Information
  • Read Now

About The Authors

Ashley V. Whillans

Negotiation, Organizations & Markets
→More Publications

Michael I. Norton

Negotiation, Organizations & Markets
→More Publications

Related Work

    • 2020
    • Faculty Research

    Buying Time Promotes Relationship Satisfaction

    By: A.V. Whillans, Jessie Pow and Michael I. Norton
Related Work
  • Buying Time Promotes Relationship Satisfaction By: A.V. Whillans, Jessie Pow and Michael I. Norton
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College