Explores the hypothesis that spouses involved in couples counseling will present similar intimacy complaints. Couples (N=100) described their expectations and perceptions of current marital intimacy. Results show that husbands and wives came to counseling with different intimacy complaints. Discusses implications of these results for case…

This study employed data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to examine the consequences of marital disruption for youth prospectively. Using a diverse sample of 6,416 youth, we examined pre- and postdisruption group differences among youth in subsequently disrupting and continuously intact homes. We also examined the extent…

Research on divorce has found that adolescents' feelings of being caught between parents are linked to internalizing problems and weak parent-child relationships. The present study estimates the effects of marital discord, as well as divorce, on young adult offspring's feelings of being caught in the middle (N=632). Children with parents in…

In this experiment, the authors investigated the influence of exoneration from blame on children's overt behavioral distress and physiological reactivity following the presentation of overheard adult conflict. The participants were 48 children (48-71 months of age) and their mothers. Through random assignment, the authors presented 16 children…

Understanding characteristics specific to alcoholics' marriages could help therapists to more effectively address the needs of alcoholic clients. To identify some of these characteristics, 26 married couples with an alcoholic husband (ALC) were compared with 26 maritally-conficted (MC) and 26 nonconflicted (NC) couples without alcohol problems.…

This report discusses battered women and the role of their previous victimization. After a literature review on family violence in general, these topics are discussed: (1) family violence and the patriarchy; (2) the historical background of family violence; (3) intergenerational cycle of violence; and (4) psychological literature's four ways…

Differentials in separation and divorce among blacks are compared to those among whites. Differences in marital instability depend heavily on the variables included for study. The paper concludes with a methodological analysis of alternative definitions of instability with a focus on the measurement of black white differences. (EH)

This article is a descriptive account of a married couples workshop led by two psychiatric social workers in the psychiatric division of a university student health service. (PD)

According to a study of 256 black married women between the ages of 26 and 60 living with their spouses, marital happiness is more common among black women than marital unhappiness. This finding is based on the secondary analysis of a sample of data collected in Detroit in 1968-1969. Variables statistically significant to the marital happiness of…

It has been argued that extending welfare benefits to two-parent families may reduce marital disruptions by increasing the absolute level of males' earnings. The premise behind this assertion is that an increase in the absolute level of male earnings will reduce economic strain in the marriage, and the wife will perceive more gains from remaining…

An instrument labeled the Personal Report of Spouse Communication Apprehension was developed and found to have adequate internal consistency, face validity, and predictive validity. Results of its use indicate that spouse communication apprehension is conceptually and factorially distinct from general communication apprehension. (Author)

This article describes one exploratory treatment approach designed to help hostile marital partners reach a point at which each is motivated to solve problems rather than seek revenge. (Author)

Exploring the marital dissolution experience of women interviewed in the 1970 National Fertility Study, this article documents the effect of race, religion, and education upon marital stability. (JC)