The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between communication patterns and marital satisfaction of elderly men and women. The participants of this study were 206 elderly (60 years and older), and they were all recruited in Seoul. The major findings of this study are as follows: First, the communication patterns of elderly men and women were affected significantly by background variables, self-esteem, and personality style. Second, marital satisfaction was affected significantly by background variables, self-esteem, and personality style. Self-esteem was the major factor that had significant impact on the marital satisfaction for all respondents. Third, there was a gender difference in the impact of background variables, self-esteem, and communication pattern on marital satisfaction. For elderly men, the factors affecting marital satisfaction were, in decreasing order, constructive communication, destructive communication, self-esteem, and economic condition, whereas for elderly women, the factors were, in decreasing order, constructive communication, self-esteem and destructive communication.