Minimal differences were found in the amount, and direction, of changes. Differences in dissolution rates were found, as expected, but court-ordered counseling did appear to have a positive effect with some couples. (Author)

The no-fault provisions of the California Family Law Act of 1969 recognized the reality of marital breakdown by removing from the substance and language of the law its strong overtones of moral condemnation. The divorce rate itself remained unaffected. The frequency of spousal support awards declined significantly. (Author/JAC)

Refines the concept of attachment by distinguishing it from generalized distressed responses to divorce. Among separated adults, characteristics of the marital situation account for feelings of loss of attachment but do not contribute to the explanation of generalized distress. (Author)

The reinforcers that are most potent in affecting the day-to-day satisfaction levels of married couples differ according to the level of distress. Marital distress is characterized by a tendency to react strongly to the delivery of punishers and to respond in kind. (Author)

Considers variations in use of social supports among persons in the process of divorcing. Most frequently turned to for help were friends, spouse, and counselors. Perceptions of the degree of stress evoked by the divorce appeared to be a major force behind use of social supports. (Author)

A model for a brief, focused group psychotherapy experience for women, led by women therapists, is suggested as an effective means to ease the transition from marriage and to allow a redefinition of the self as a single individual. (Author)

Presents a form of insight therapy based upon systems theory and suggests that this has much to offer in marital therapy. Categories of relationship problems with which a couples therapist must deal are described. (Author)

Examined the relationship of instrumental and affectional behavioral events to short- and long-term marital satisfaction. Results showed a significant negative relationship between frequency of displeasurable instrumental events and ratings of marital satisfaction. The most important finding was the degree to which wives' self-esteem correlated…

Responses to a questionnaire pertaining to discrepancies between an individual's ideal and actual marital role behaviors and level of sexual satisfaction indicated lower levels of role strain in nonpatient couples. A higher level of role strain correlated with increased sexual dissatisfaction. (Author)

Subjects were 27 married couples. The purposes of this study were: (a) to implement an interpersonal-skills training paradigm for training married individuals to exhibit increased self-disclosive behavior in their marital relationships; and (b) to determine the efficacy of experiential and modeling procedures in such training. (Author)

Examined marital noncohabitation for reasons other than marital discord. Percentage of currently married persons living apart was highest for ages 18-24 and for Blacks. Two most common reasons for living apart were military service and incarceration. Spouses living apart in 1976 were nearly twice as likely as cohabiting spouses to experience…

In a study of 1,000 New Zealand children from birth to 10 years, risks of family breakdown were found to vary inversely to the number of preschool children in the family. These results persisted when many fixed and time-dependent variates were controlled, suggesting that the presence of preschool children reduces risks of family breakdown.…

Presents updated information on recent changes in selected stages of the family life cycle and in social developments that have contributed to these changes. Closes with differing outlooks regarding marital stability in the United States. (Author)

Assessed predictive validity of telephone version of Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test in couples (N=120) who varied in marital happiness, social class, and other demographic characteristics. Found Locke-Wallace scores predictive of husband/wife marital adjustment scores and distressed/nondistressed marital status. (Author/CM)

Investigated child rearing attitudes of parents of 128 Swedish preschoolers to determine associations of parental agreement. Results suggest that the impact of parental agreement on psychological functioning in Sweden may be less general and gender-differentiated than the impact in the United States, which was demonstrated in Brock and others'…