Examined the negative impact of economic hardship on a spouse's marital instability in White, middle-class couples (N=76). The results indicated economic pressures had an indirect association with married couples' evaluation of the marriage by promoting hostility in marital interactions and curtailing the warm and supportive behaviors spouses…

Investigated whether effectiveness of behavioral marital therapy would be increased by addition of cognitive restructuring and/or emotional expressiveness training for maritally distressed couples. Results from 60 such couples randomly assigned to a variety of treatment combinations revealed that the addition of cognitive restructuring and…

Provides methodological critique of Jason T. Li and Robert A. Caldwell's article "Magnitude and Directional Effects of Marital Sex Role Incongruence and Marital Adjustment" (Journal of Family Issues 8:97-110). Cites Li and Caldwells' failure to first consider simpler first-order effects of husband/wife sex role preferences and outlines additional…

Defends authors' methodological approach to examining incongruity of marital sex role attitudes and satisfaction in their "Journal of Family Issues" (JFI) article, "Magnitude and Directional Effects of Marital Sex Role Incongruence and Marital Adjustment," from Gary Bowen's critique (JFI l0:416-419). Asserts that methodological approach used,…

Tested hypothesis that spouses' shared leisure time is form of pleasurable interaction that strengthens attachment between them and helps prevent marital dissolution. Empirical tests supported attachment hypothesis and suggest that, because couples with children have less shared leisure time, children can contribute to marital dissolution as well…

Presents Couples' Seminar, designed to help spouses confront the new context for the family resulting from professional job loss, to help them adapt to that context, and to make restructuring of their obsolete patterns possible. Notes that this preventive approach recognizes the reluctance of professional workers to seek professional help to deal…

Examined lifetime prevalence of suicide ideation and attempts in 1,425 Hispanics and 1,309 non-Hispanic Whites. Compared to non-Hispanic Whites, fewer Hispanics reported ideation or attempts. More women of both ethnic groups reported suicide attempts than did men. Individuals with psychiatric disorder diagnoses were more likely to report suicide…

Reviews and evaluates 1994 text summarizing Gottman's research efforts to understand marital processes and to identify predictors of dissolution. Describes concluding chapter as attempt to integrate all research concepts and findings into a comprehensive theory of marital stability. Suggests volume is essential for professionals and required for…

Examined hypothesis that adolescent problems are positively associated with overt and covert forms of parental conflict. Compared observed marital interactions in families of adolescents with problems to those in families of adolescents without problems. Findings suggest that both overt parental conflict and some forms of covert conflict play…

Examined four- and five-year follow-up data from evaluation of effects of Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program, marital distress prevention program which teaches couples effective communication and conflict management skills. At five-year follow-up, intervention, as compared with control, couples had higher levels of positive and lower…

A counselor describes feelings and attitudes of two young adults who see their marital problems as having begun with the birth of their severely disabled child. Counseling led to improved communication, better coping, and shared planning for the future. (DB)

Examined data from 419 parents and their adult children to assess impact of parental marital quality and divorce while child is residing with parents on parent-child relations 12 years later. Low marital quality and divorce appeared to have independent effects on adult child-parent relations. Fathers' relationships suffered more than mothers';…

Used data on 1,298 married persons to examine effect of change in health over 3-year period on marital quality. Analysis suggests that decrements in health have adverse influence on marital quality. Changes in financial circumstances, shifts in division of household labor, declines in marital activities, and problematic behavior of afflicted…

Evaluated ability of premarital assessment instrument, PREParation for Marriage (PREP-M) Questionnaire to predict marital satisfaction and stability one year after marriage. Findings suggest that higher premarital PREP-M scores, higher marital satisfaction and stability. Means for most satisfied and stable individuals were usually significantly…

Examined effects of dysphoria on husbands' and wives' later marital adjustment among 264 couples about to marry. Assessed relationship satisfaction and level of dysphoria in both spouses prior to marriage, 6 months after marriage, and 18 months after marriage. Premarital dysphoria was associated with later marital dissatisfaction. Gender…