Using a multistate sample of marriages that took place in the 1990s, this study examined associations between premarital cohabitation history and marital quality in first (N = 437) and second marriages (N = 200) and marital instability in first marriages (intact N = 521, divorced N = 124). For first marriages, cohabiting with the spouse without…

Premarital cohabitation has consistently been found to be associated with increased risk for divorce and marital distress in the United States. Two explanations for this "cohabitation effect" are discussed: selection and experience. We present an empirically based view of how the experience of cohabitation may increase risk for…

Introduces social judgment theory as a potentially useful theoretical and methodological tool for understanding marital conflict. A computerized procedure is described for identification, measurement, and reporting of judgmental sources of marital conflict and for differentiation of apparent and actual conflict, illustrated by a case study. (JAC)

Examined four- and five-year follow-up data from evaluation of effects of Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program, marital distress prevention program which teaches couples effective communication and conflict management skills. At five-year follow-up, intervention, as compared with control, couples had higher levels of positive and lower…

The attributes of couples planning to marry can affect their future relationship satisfaction. To study this phenomenon, a social exchange model was applied to a sample of couples planning to marry to assess the predictive validity of a measure of positive exchange. The longitudinal design of the two-and-a-half year investigation provided direct…

Applied a behavioral model of marriage to premarital couples to assess predictive validity of an exchange measure. Results provide evidence that unrewarding communication patterns precede development of relationship distress. Implications for the behavioral model of marriage and development of programs designed to prevent marital distress are…

Mexican American women have higher fertility rates and higher divorce rates than does the general population of the United States. In light of these data and the documented negative effects of marital distress and divorce on spouses, Mexican American women appear to be at risk for psychological stress. To provide some insight into the marital…

Examined couples' and observers' perspectives of marital interaction. Nondistressed (N=10) and distressed (N=6) couples and objective observers (N=10) evaluated couples' interactional behaviors. Spouses' ratings of their partners' behavior were not consistent with observers' ratings of partners' behaviors but were consistent with observers'…

Examined impact, on couples planning marriage, of a cognitive-behavioral marital distress prevention program emphasizing communication and problem-solving skills, clarifying and sharing expectations, and sensual/sexual enhancement. Compared to controls, participants showed higher levels of relationship quality at the 18-month and three-year…

Used meta-analyses to determine the effectiveness of behavioral marital therapy (BMT) and premarital intervention (BPI) studies. Found gains that were generally maintained over time, and equal for couples in Europe and the United States. Demonstrated higher effect sizes for comparisons of BMT with no treatment placebo control groups, whereas the…