Results of a statistical analysis of a study of battered wives in shelters indicated that the wives' economic dependence on their husbands almost always ensured that they would return to their husbands and that respondents who considered the shelters useful had a higher probability of returning to their husbands. (Author)

Studied rates of family breakdown in families of New Zealand children (N=1,002) from birth to five years. By five years nearly one child in eight had experienced a family breakdown. Rates were related to family formation and social factors. Risk factors were modeled using the proportional hazards model. (JAC)

Tested the usefulness of Lewis's and Spanier's theory of marital quality and marital stability for the prediction of divorce adjustment, in a study of 216 recently divorced persons. The quality of the marriage, external pressure to remain married, and level of alternative attractions were all useful predictors. (JAC)

Longitudinal data, comparing couples who had a child with those who did not, showed related changes in questionnaire measures of "marriage satisfaction." The clearest finding was that women who have a child become more likely to report that their husbands are not paying enough attention to them. (Author)

This paper discusses the role of income in altering the risk of unstable marriages among white and nonwhite men. A causal model in which education and occupation are seen as causes of income is examined but research concluded that income rather than other indicators has the direct effect on marriage stability. (Author/CG)

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)

Investigated the perceptions of 42 abused wives about their husbands and marital situations during counseling immediately following incidences of wife abuse. Results showed wives generally perceived their husbands as extremely possessive and often irrational. Wife abuse was often symptomatic of other marital problems. (JAC)

Investigated the effectiveness of communication training in treating marital discord for conjoint and conjoint group modalities. Results showed that conjoint couples (N=16) improved on five of seven outcome variables, while conjoint group couples (N=13) improved on two. One-year follow-up showed substantial reduction in treatment gains. (WAS)

Investigated the usefulness of Arnold's Signs in examining marital discord among married couples (N=72) who were parents of children brought to a mental health facility seeking marital counseling, or in the process of divorce. Results revealed that the counseling group was consistently higher on all signs that reached significance. (Author/JAC)

Data from a sample of 2,143 adult men and women were used to explore the relationship between wives' dependency on marriage, and wife abuse. Results indicated that it is economic and not psychological dependency which keeps women in severely abusive marriages. (Author)

Examined psychological symptoms among 310 recently separated men and women. Analysis indicated that socio-demographic variables generally are unrelated to symptom expression. Results suggest that the symptomatology of divorcing persons can be partitioned into disruptive conditions encountered in divorce and those which may reflect characteristics…

The dual career couple is forced to make a series of choices and compromises that impact the realms of marriage and career. The dilemmas that confront dual career marriages can be overcome only by compromise, accommodation, and mutual understanding on the part of the individuals involved. A revamping of human resources and recruitment programs is…

Compared two behavioral treatments for marital discord with a nonspecific control and waiting-list control. Behavioral treatments combined problem-solving skills with contingency management procedures, differing only in contracting form, good faith contracts, and quid pro quo contracts. Both behavioral groups improved significantly more than…

Investigated the relative effectiveness of therapeutic components common to behavioral marital therapies: procedures designed to change behavior and attitudes, and nonspecific therapeutic effects. Ordering produced three treatment conditions--nonspecific, behavioral, and behavioral-attitudinal. The behavioral-attitudinal group showed significantly…

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was completed by 42 fathers and 71 mothers of pediatric cancer patients and 26 fathers and 29 mothers of hemophilic children. MMPI profiles were examined for signs of emotional disturbance. Results indicated both groups of parents suffered more distress than a normal group. (Author)