Investigated three types of extramarital relations in married and cohabiting subjects (N=378): (1) emotional (in love) but not sexual (intercourse); (2) sexual but not emotional; and (3) emotional and sexual. Results showed that 43 percent of the subjects indicated having at least one of the defined extradyadic relations. (LLL)

Used data from probability sample of 10,472 ever-married Canadians to examine effects of premarital cohabitation on later marital stability. Results suggest that premarital cohabitation has a positive effect on staying married. Positive effect remained when length of marriage and age at marriage were controlled. (Author/NB)

Developed interval scale to measure deviation from the normative sequencing of first job, marriage, and birth of first child. Scale scores had predictive utility for marital instability and work interruptions. Use of scale score as independent variable provided more information than that provided by Hogan's (1978) temporal sequence categories as…

Divorce rates in North America have increased sharply during the last century. Though this fact may best be understood as the result of many factors, one of them is the law. This paper provides a brief history of Canadian divorce laws and their relationship to divorce rates. (Author)

Evaluated effectiveness of marital therapy designed to enhance intimacy through self-disclosure of personal constructs. Couples in therapy (n=22) and controls (n=19) showed significant reduction in symptoms of nonpsychotic emotional illness. Couples in therapy subjectively reported improvement. Found significant pattern of improvement for wives in…

A nonrandom sample of 86 cases of Israeli separation and divorce cases was compared with a Canadian sample (N=369). Sex-role conflicts were more frequent in Israel, as were violence in separation and divorce. (Author)

Used an exchange theory model to examine the remarriage behavior of 26 financially secure and insecure women. Results showed financially secure women had more opportunities to date but were more likely to be independent in their relationships with men and less anxious to remarry. (JAC)

Notes when long-standing marriage suddenly becomes conflictual, one precipitant can be the recent death of parent on one of partners. Claims main goal of therapy is to facilitate bereaved partner's mourning and choosing an effective therapeutic method depends on couple's capacity for mutual empathy and support and their need for insight.…

Data from two research studies in Newfoundland, Canada are summarized. The first study examined divorced persons and their family patterns. It was found that numbers and timing of children did not affect marital stability, and neither did whether children were born before or during the current marriage. But whether the children were planned had a…

Investigated relation between marital distress, therapeutic alliance formation, and treatment outcome in group marital skills training program in which 63 couples met for 9 weeks. Results indicated that levels of marital distress neither impaired nor facilitated alliance formation. Strength of alliance appeared to be more powerful predictor of…

Compared relative effectiveness of two interventions in treatment of marital discord: a cognitive-behavioral intervention (teaching problem-solving skills) and an experiential intervention (focusing on emotional experiences). The effects of emotionally focused treatment were found to be superior to problem-solving treatment on marital adjustment,…

Studied the risk-taking behavior (i.e., smoking, intemperate drinking, and failure to fasten seat belts) of 4,539 Canadian adolescents. Results showed adolescents who lived in intact families engaged in less health-risk behavior than adolescents from separated or divorced families. Results from widowed families were mixed. (JAC)

The role of adolescents' family relationships as moderators of the negative associations between early steady dating and adjustment was investigated. As predicted, negative associations between early steady dating and adjustment were moderated by family factors and gender. Findings suggest that success in prior relationships contributes to…

This research was conducted at a Canadian suicide prevention center. The object of the study was to find useful information concerning high school students in the perspective of developing a suicide prevention program in the schools. All 23 local high schools contributed to this study on suicidal ideation and behavior. Subjects (N=2,546) responded…

Describes group counseling program at large tertiary care teaching hospital aimed at recently separated men. Notes clinical experiences that challenge widely held beliefs regarding men's help-seeking behavior and capacity for emotional relatedness. Describes experiences of clinic founders as front-line mental health counselors in addressing…