Academic literature on the topic 'Marriage – Psychological aspects'

Studies on the effects of divorce on children often focus on the event of the divorce as being detrimental to the children. It is becoming more evident, however, that it is not the physical loss of a parent in itself that leads to later adjustment problems, but rather the type of environment in which the child lives. The present study examined the relationship between current and past familial conflict, as perceived by college students, and their current attitudes toward marriage. This study also explored the relationship between the family structure in which the students lived (intact vs. divorced) and their current attitudes toward divorce.Two hundred four students from a midwestern university participated in this study. Participants completed four questionnaires: (1) the Family Environment Scale -current; (2) the Attitudes Toward Marriage scale; (3) the Attitudes Toward Divorce scale; and (4) the Family Environment Scale - past. The following hypotheses were tested: (1) Students who perceived high levels of conflict in their families currently or while growing up will have less favorable attitudes toward marriage; (2) Students who experienced parental divorce will have more favorable attitudes toward divorce than students from intact homes. Analyses included multiple regression analyses predicting attitudes toward marriage and attitudes toward divorce from conflict and family structure.Contrary to expectations, perceived levels of conflict were not significantly related to attitudes toward marriage, and family structure was not a significant predictor of attitudes toward divorce. Compared to students from intact homes, students from divorced homes reported significantly higher levels of conflict in their homes while growing up. Implications of these findings and limitations and recommendations for future research are discussed.<br>Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

The relationship between adult attachment style and romantic relationship quality in marriage relationships was explored. Romantic relationship quality was measured at the working model (or perceptual) and the behavioral levels. No previous research had investigated romantic relationship quality as reflecting specific attachment related perceptions of self and spouse or as attachment related behaviors. Two hundred and six married subjects were recruited from university campuses, churches, and on an individual basis. Most of the subjects were white, middle class, and had children. Subjects completed self-report questionnaires measuring adult attachment style, working model of self and romantic partner, and reports of relationship behaviors of self and romantic partner. The first hypothesis proposed that attachment style differences would be seen in specific attachment related working models of self and romantic partner. The second hypothesis proposed that attachment style differences would be seen in reports of attachment related behaviors for self and romantic partner. Hypotheses were tested using multivariate analysis of variance.

One hundred twenty African-American and Euro-American married individuals were asked to complete inventories measuring marital distress, dysfunctional beliefs about marital relationships, and socioeconomic status (SES). It was hypothesized there would be a negative relationship between the dysfunctional beliefs that married individuals held and their level of marital satisfaction; there would be no significant difference between the dysfunctional beliefs that married individuals held across gender and race; and finally, the dysfunctional beliefs of married individuals would provide a better prediction of marital satisfaction than SES, gender, age, or race.Results indicate that Disagreement is destructive (D), Mindreading is expected (M), Partners cannot change (C), Sexual perfectionism is a must (S), and The sexes are dramatically different (MF) each obtained a statistically significant negative association with marital satisfaction. Examining the relationship between gender and marital satisfaction, males reported higher levels of marital satisfaction than females. Furthermore, statistically significant differences were obtained for gender but not for race when considering all five dysfunctional marital beliefs simultaneously. Finally, the various factors considered in this study accounted for 30% of the variance in marital satisfaction.<br>Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Little research to date has focused on personal accounts of psychological aspects of the aging process of elders and their relationship with adult-children in an urban Chinese setting. The present study aimed to explore such aspects in Chinese elders. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 3 varied samples of elders (aged 70 to 87), with those living with their family (study 1), those in a residential setting (study 2) and those in a sheltered community (study 3). Grounded Theory, was used as the method for data collection and analysis, and in addition to the interviews, focus groups and a written account also provided data. The overarching theme of “family communication” was highlighted in the studies, reflecting the central position of participants’ concerns with their relationship with adult-children, and their understanding of their roles in the family. The variety of responses seemed to be connected with whether the person was self-reliant or dependant as well as with individual personality. The study’s findings suggest that this small sample of older people in a large urban city in China generally live closely with their families and take great pride in retaining their independence and supporting families and friends.

Male batterers -- Paternal custodial challenges -- Support payment arrearage -- Income levels of fathers -- Violent fathers -- Nonviolent fathers -- Initiation of court appearances -- Gender of children.

The relationship of self-monitoring processes and causal attributions to choice of conflict resolution strategy among married clinic couples was examined. Thirty-five couples and nine individual spouses who were currently receiving marriage counseling completed four questionnaires: the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Scale; Snyder's Self-Monitoring Scale; a Marital Conflict Questionnaire, a measure of attributions; and a Conflict Strategy Scale measuring the frequency with which spouses used Integrative (cooperative), Distributive (uncooperative), and Denial-Avoidant conflict resolution strategies. The following hypotheses were tested: 1) self-monitoring differences between spouses would be positively associated with attributional conflicts and uncooperative modes of conflict resolution; 2) responsibility attributed to the partner would be associated with increased dispositional attributions for the partner's behavior, increased use of Distributive strategies, and lower overall marital satisfaction. Analyses included bivariate correlations and multiple regression analyses predicting conflict strategy and marital satisfaction from self-monitoring and attributions.Contrary to expectations, self-monitoring differences were not related to attributional conflict or conflict strategy endorsed. However, high self-monitoring spouses made more situational attributions for their partners' behavior and endorsed more frequent use of Dental-Avoidant strategies. Responsibility attributed to the partner had a positive relationship to dispositional attributions for the partner's behavior but no relationship to use of conflict strategy. Regression analyses indicated that self-monitoring, Intent to have an impact, and resolvability of conflicts accounted for significant amounts of variance in use of Distributive (uncooperative) strategies. Importance of conflicts, own control, and use of Denial-Avoidant strategies predicted more than three-fourths the variance in marital satisfaction.Results contradict previous research Indicating that partner responsibility Is associated with Increased uncooperative behavior. Present results suggest that self-presentational concerns are prevalent In marital conflicts and may enhance the likelihood of uncooperative/avoidant behavior. Possible modifications in the attributional model of marital conflict to account for the Impact of self-monitoring on conflict resolution in distressed relationships are proposed. Implications for therapy with distressed couples and future research on attributional processes in close relationships is discussed.

The present study examined the relationships among similarity, interpersonal perception and communicative behaviors in marriage. It was hypothesized that greater understanding, feelings of being understood, and realization of understanding would be associated with greater self-disclosure, use of more direct person control strategies, and use of less attention control strategies. It was further hypothesized that measuring feelings of being understood and realization of understanding, in addition to measuring understanding, would improve prediction of behavior. Finally, it was hypothesized that the contextual measure of understanding would better predict self-disclosure and interpersonal control than would global measures of understanding.

This study was designed to investiate the relationship between marital satisfaction and adherence to dysfunctional beliefs concerning the marital relationship among married couples in their twenties and retired married couples 65 years of age and older. Additionally, adherence to socially desirable response sets was also measured.Marital satisfaction among older couples was significantly higher than that of younger couples (p < .001). Older men demonstrated significantly greater adherence to dysfunctional beliefs about marriage than younger men (p < .01), while these beliefs were not significantly different for older and younger women. Older couples also demonstrated significantly greater adherence to socially desirable response sets than younger couples (p < .001 for women and p < .01 for men).Increased marital satisfaction was significantly correlated with decreased adherence to dysfunctional beliefs for all subjects (p < .001 for older women and p < .01 for all others) and with greater social desirability responding for all subjects except younger women (p < .01). Level of marital satisfaction among older couples was most influenced by that of one's spouse, while the satisfaction of younger couples was most affected by one's adherence to the belief that disagreement is destructive to the marriage.<br>Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Many women reporting PMS symptoms state their symptoms affect their mood, social, and family functioning. This study attempted to provide clinicians with information to assist in psychotherapeutic intervention, by determining the effect PMS has on marital satisfaction. Nineteen female subjects reporting PMS symptoms and their partners completed the study. The Marital Satisfaction Inventory - Revised (MSI-R) and the Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire-Form T (MDQ-form T) were used to determine if the nineteen couples reported marital distress as a result of the women's cyclical premenstrual symptoms. The results of the study suggested that the women and their partners, report high levels of marital distress that is not reflective of the cyclical nature of the PMS symptomatology. Scores on the MSI-R for the subjects and their partners indicated the couples perceived level of distress in the t-50 to t-70 range on scales 3-8 is consistent throughout the menstrual cycle. The couples reported higher levels of marital distress than would be the expected norm, suggesting that PMS may be a contributing factor to the level of distress they reported experiencing. This study did not include a control group, which would have provided a norm for couples who do not report PMS by which to compare the MSI-R scores.