Rated 15 sources of satisfaction and 15 sources of conflict for nine relationships of adults (N=52). Results showed three clear satisfaction factors (instrumental reward, emotional support, shared interests) and two conflict factors (emotional conflict, criticism). Shared interests seemed to be a universal satisfaction source. (WAS)

Survey data indicates that neither marital status nor marital happiness is related to anomia. Suggests a moderately strong negative relationship exists between education and anomia with a weak negative relationship between overall life satisfaction and anomia. Results indicate socioeconomic status remains the primary determinant of anomia for most…

Examined relationship among four types of leisure-activity patterns and marital satisfaction of 318 married persons, and at five marital career stages and at high and low levels of stress. Results indicated direction and strength of relationship between leisure and marital satisfaction were contingent upon perceived communication during leisure…

Presents a model of extramarital sexual permissiveness, focusing on several aspects of the marital dyad and dyadic independence. While autonomy of heterosexual interaction, the comparison level of alternatives, and marital satisfaction each play some role in accounting for permissive attitudes, the strongest predictor is the diffuseness of…

Examined relationship of family life satisfaction to division of household work between men and women among married Black adults. Found women almost twice as likely as men to feel overworked by household work; people who felt overworked had lower levels of family life satisfaction. Found interactions among family life satisfaction, division of…

Examined relative contributions of stress, social support, and family resources to quality of family life in domains of marital quality, parental satisfaction, and life satisfaction. Data from 810 adults revealed that demographic factors, support, and resource variables, and stress factors made significant and unique contributions to explanation…

Examined the role of initiator status on adjustment to marital disruption (N=144). Findings suggested that there were not overwhelming differences in marital dissatisfaction or preseparation discomfort between initiators and noninitiators but that initiators consistently perceived more benefits to the separation. (JAC)

Studied effects of occupational status differences between spouses on the wife's employment and on her occupational achievement in European countries. Results show a tendency toward similarity in occupational status within marriages. Labor force participation of a wife is highest when her potential occupational status equals her husband's…

Analyzed the 1972-1980 General Social Surveys to develop models accounting for changes in patterns of marital structure over time. Results did not indicate that the young and least educated contribute disproportionately to increased family instability. Cohort membership and educational attainment must be considered. (JAC)

Examined strategies married couples used to maintain quality relationship. Assessed relationship of women's perceptions of maintenance activities within marriages to marital satisfaction. Found little relationship between marital satisfaction and strategy valuation. Wives' marital satisfaction was most strongly related to perceptions of frequency…

Examines the relationship between the quality of marital interaction, both as perceived by spouses and as reported by outside observers, and marital instability and divorce in long-time married couples (n=436). Finds that hostility and marital warmth were fairly accurate predictors of which couples would divorce or be extremely stable or unstable.…

Uses self-verification and self-discrepancy theories to test a model of subjective and objective self-disconfirmation, self-efficacy, depression, and marital happiness. Expands issues of self-validation by evaluating self-efficacy in the relationship between self-disconfirmation and depression, and the effect of self-concept disconfirmation of…

Studied 32 secular urban communal households to discover conditions of their relative success. Success was measured by duration of commune and satisfaction of members. Elements of conventionality (economic prudence, voluntary time limitation, regular housework, perception of sufficient private time) enhanced satisfaction. (Author/RC)

Presents analyses of data from the National Comorbidity Survey to assess the extent to which problems within marriage spill over to produce work loss. Results indicate that marital distress is positively associated with work loss. Suggests family interventions targeted at prevention of marital problems may result in important psychosocial and…

Used the investment model to predict relationship status and satisfaction among a sample of heterosexual dating couples. On several dimensions, females had cognitions that were more relationship maintaining than males. Findings suggest that females may be more invested in their relationships than males. This greater investment may provide them…