Global Mobility and Dual-Career Marriages: Effects on Marital Stability in Christian and General Populations

Abstract

Background: Globalization is accelerating cross-border mobility and mainstreaming dual-career marriages, reshaping family life—most acutely in the Global South. International migrants now number ~281 million and global female labor force participation is ~47%, altering the conditions under which marriages are formed and sustained. Objective: To synthesize contemporary evidence on how global mobility (study abroad, labor migration, missions) and dual-career patterns relate to marital stability in Christian and general populations, and to interpret mechanisms through Attachment, Social Exchange, and Work–Family Boundary theories alongside a covenantal theological lens. Methods: Systematic integrative review of secondary data and peer-reviewed studies (emphasis on Q1/Q2 outlets) combined with global datasets (UN, World Bank, OECD, Pew). Narrative synthesis and descriptive comparisons were used to identify macro trends and micro mechanisms; findings were interpreted through the stated theoretical and theological frameworks. Results: Unaccompanied labor migration consistently elevates risks to marital quality (conflict, mistrust, dissolution) by reducing presence and increasing exposure to alternatives; financial gains can buffer these effects when migration is temporary and role expectations align. Dual-career arrangements heighten work–family conflict and time scarcity; equitable division of domestic labor and supportive policies (childcare, flexible work, limits on travel) mitigate strain. Across contexts, secure attachment, shared investments, and robust faith communities moderate risk. Christian couples oriented to marriage as covenant demonstrate greater endurance, though endurance without presence may mask diminished relational quality. Conclusions: Mobility and dual careers produce a recurring trade-off between economic benefit and relational presence. Marital stability is strengthened where covenant commitment, equitable role negotiation, and boundary management are explicit. Implications: Policymakers should prioritize family co-location (family visas, rotation caps); employers should design family-centered mobility and scheduling; churches should provide structured support for migrant and dual-earner households. Couples should enact intentional practices that preserve embodied presence and shared purpose.