Explored applications of the social exchange perspective of relationship satisfaction to educational and therapeutic interventions with those involved in close personal relationships, focusing on the role relationship expectations play in evaluations people make of their relationships. Explored educational implications of data contrasting…

Investigated how 657 fathers' job satisfaction and job stress were related to four domains: individual, parent-child, marital, and child. Results showed that the job affected all four domains. Job stress and job satisfaction were directly related to family functioning. Discusses implications for families with school-age children. (RJM)

Surveyed over 200 married adults from 20 major religious denominations concerning influence of religious belief and practice on family satisfaction. Most reported that religion was helpful to family life. Those who reported more social support and divine intervention reported higher levels of family satisfaction. (Author/NB)

Examined role of stress and resources in family satisfaction for two-generation farm families. Findings from 481 adults highlight the central role of family stress, unity, and power in the perception of family satisfaction; however, the role these variables played differed for each generation. (Author/NB)

Interviewed 32 registered family day care (FDC) providers concerning their evaluations of problems; satisfactions; how FDC affects their personal life; their children's experiences; and how families organize time, space, and personal belongings. Also considered providers' evaluations of FDC safety. Findings have implications for planning family…

When selecting a marriage education curriculum, educators can turn to programs that have been evaluated for effectiveness; however, few curricula have undergone such study. An alternative approach, consistent with best practices, is to ensure a research base for program content. A translation process model is offered as an initial attempt to…

This study examined the friendship experiences of 52 wives and mothers, with particular attention given to wives' marriage work (discussions about concerns and problems in the marriage) in 10 domains with friends and spouses. A series of within-subjects repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVAs) indicated that in all but two domains, wives…

This study investigated the link between daily health symptoms and spousal emotional well-being in a sample of 96 older dyads. Higher negative mood and lower positive mood were associated with spousal symptoms in couples wherein husbands or wives reported higher average levels of symptoms. For wives, partner effects were moderated by husbands'…

Examined data from survey of nonmetropolitan households (N=770 couples) to describe conjugal labor involvement of rural couples and to assess relationship between labor involvement and marital quality. Found that, when work situations of both spouses were considered, many couples either had no jobs or more than two jobs. (Author/NB)

Examined relationship between perceived stress resulting from job insecurity and marital and family functioning. Data from 111 married couples in which at least 1 spouse was working in insecure job environment showed that job insecurity stress was related in systematic way to marital and family dysfunction and number of family problems reported.…

Reviews research on premarital factors associated with later marital quality and stability in first marriages. Three major categories of factors are described, including background and context, individual traits and behaviors, and couple interactional processes. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal research are summarized. Recommendations for…

Examined data from 225 divorced fathers. Found that fathers who reported more positive relationships with their ex-wives were more satisfied with their custody arrangements; were more likely to blame themselves for marriage breakup; discussed greater number of topics with ex-wives; had higher educational levels; and reported greater feelings of…

This study reports on in-depth interviews with 57 highly religious, middle-aged married couples representing the major Abrahamic faiths (Christianity, Judaism, Islam) residing in New England and Northern California. The study uses grounded theory methods to create themes and a model describing the ways that religiosity influences marital conflict.…

In rural and urban samples of marital couples, a significant interaction effect between quantity of self-disclosure and quality of self-disclosure was found. Especially for wives, combinations of low quantity and low quality were found to be extremely detrimental for marital satisfaction. (Author/BL)

Evaluated self-esteem of 20 abusive husbands and made comparisons to two groups of nonviolent husbands: maritally discordant group; and satisfactorily married group. Results suggested association between wife abuse and low self-esteem in abusive husband. Abusive husbands were more likely to perceive their wives' behavior as threatening to…