Used data from longitudinal Retirement History Study to compare widowed, divorced or separated, and never-married women and men aged 60 to 65 on 3 dimensions of friendship contacts. Results showed that contact with friends could not be distinguished solely by respondents' gender or marital status. Suggests that adequate attention must be paid to…

Married (N=50) and unmarried (N=50) cohabiting couples were asked to describe four problems which occurred in their relationship. Despite overall similarity of the kinds of problems reported by married and cohabiting couples, married women were particularly likely to complain that their husbands did not give them sufficient attention. (Author)

This study is concerned with examining the structural and interactional features of the person's childhood family of orientation as they relate to never marrying as an adult. Separate analysis is carried out for males and females throughout the paper. (Author)

Investigated gender differences in extent to which individuals are altruistically other-oriented in their intimate heterosexual relationships. Data from married and single college students suggest that men are more altruistically other-oriented toward their partners than are women. Altruistic other-orientation appeared to be encouraged by…

Suggests that the finding that successful women regularly involve themselves with men who they believe are more successful may have central significance in at least partially explaining women's failure to win top distinction in most fields. (Author/AM)

It is suggested that it is often in intimate relationships that people seek to develop and maintain both a sense of personal identity and a sense of stability. By outlining some of the major conditions required for the carrying out of these two activities it is shown that they are in potential conflict. (Author)

Explored the nature of informal support given to older persons, depending upon gender and marital status. Random samples of 488 residents of retirement communities were interviewed. Data indicated the married had more primary relations than the nonmarried; married women had the most and spouseless men the fewest. (Author)

Reactions to 4 versions of a vignette describing a successful manager were obtained from 233 management students, including 50 executives in an extension course. Career success was perceived as a major cause of personal failure. The personal price paid by successful people was perceived differently depending on gender and marital status. (SK)

Although some people fantasize about their spouse's possible death, the literature contains no reports of research on widowhood fantasies. The incidence, characteristics, and possible function of these fantasies were examined in individual interviews with 28 divorced and married men and women. Interview data were analyzed by calculating chi-square…

Marriage attitudes were correlated with gender and premarital sexual activity. Females exhibited more favorable attitudes toward marriage than did males. Virgins perceived marriage more positively than did nonvirgins who had multiple sex partners. No significance found between interaction of gender and virginity status. (RJM)

Previous writers have presumed that widowhood is more stressful for one sex or the other. Hypotheses derived from demographic considerations and sex role developmental theory compared the needs and resources of 147 widows and 42 widowers, relative to 190 married persons. All subjects were non-institutionalized urban residents aged 62 or over. The…

The three papers in this symposium explore various aspects of communication apprehension. The first paper develops a theoretical model which attempts to explain the causes of oral communication apprehension, in terms of family structure and levels of communication skill development. A study of high school students indicates that children from…

Examines research literature relating to aging and ties of interpersonal support. Points to two areas yet to receive systematic research attention: male sex role in older age and variant life styles of older people. Suggests that research is needed for better understanding of the aged of the future. (Author)

Results of a campus study of (1) the relationship between students' perceived stress level and two possible support indicators (marital status and living arrangement), (2) sex differences in this relationship, and (3) the effect of marital status and gender on students' preferences for support services are reported. (MSE)

Large numbers of foreign students attend United States colleges and universities, and the institutions can play a major role in facilitating the students' adjustment to life in a new culture. The foreign students' most common problems include homesickness, finances, housing and food, English language proficiency, understanding lectures and…