This study examined self-reported marital conflict behaviors and their implications for divorce. Husbands and wives (N = 373 couples; 47% White American, 53% Black American) reported conflict behaviors in Years 1, 3, 7, and 16 of their marriages. Individual behaviors (e.g., destructive behaviors) and patterns of behaviors between partners (e.g.,…

Study contrasts male-female behavior in official initiation and completion of divorce proceedings before and after implementation of "no-fault" divorce law. Passage of no-fault law was followed by reversal in male and female filing and completion patterns, with males filing and completing more frequently under "no-fault"…

Presents typical reactions of adolescents to parental divorce. School based groups for adolescents of divorce can ameliorate the stress and act as a container for reactive impulsive behavior. Educators with a family studies/home economics background are ideally suited to lead such school-based groups. Techniques for establishing and developing…

Data from seven recent American national surveys found that persons remarried after divorce had rather high levels of reported well-being, but never-remarried women reported lower aggregate marital happiness than never-divorced married women or never-remarried men; the difference was not explained by race, age, or socioeconomic variables.…

Data from 180 divorced and remarried men and women suggest lack of normative integration of two relationships established by remarriage after divorce. Women were less acceptant; they preferred greater social distance in former spouse-current spouse interaction. Comparisons of expectations for men and women showed no differential standards by…

The proposition that age at first marriage is inversely related to the risk of divorce was examined by means of detailed age-duration-specific divorce rates for California 1969. A strong inverse relationship was found for male ages at marriage 18 through 25 and female ages at marriage 16 through 24. (Author)

Compared communications patterns and conflicts over psychological distance in 25 nondistressed couples, 15 clinic couples, and 22 divorcing couples. Compared with nondistressed couples, both distressed groups had less mutual constructive communication, more avoidance of communication, more demand/withdraw communication, and more conflict over…

This article examines effects of separation and divorce on children in the context of possible psychological maltreatment. Common behavior patterns of children in this situation are discussed in terms of those that are acceptable and those that must be considered harmful. (Author/DB)

Childbirth during marital disruption is found to be a surprisingly frequent occurrence. Both prevalence of intermarital fertility and social policy issues which are involved suggest this phenomenon may be similar in importance to illegitimacy. (Author)

In Nigeria, various forms of polygamy and monogamy are practiced; however, monogamy is more or less practiced by many Christians and a greater percentage of younger men. A survey of marital success and failure was conducted with samples of Nigerian Diploma students and selected educated community members. Subjects completed two instruments, the…

Recent studies have investigated the transition of relationships from a more intimate to a less intimate state--the depenetration process. Various phases of interpersonal conflict in the dissolution of marital dyads have been described, and factors indicating that a marriage might be "in trouble" have been identified. Processes that are…