Investigated the ability of the Child Abuse Potential Inventory to screen for child abuse in a group of spouse abusers. The completed, valid protocols revealed that 36.5 percent of the spouse abusers had elevated child abuse scores, while only 9.1 percent of the nonabusers had elevated abuse scores. (Author/BL)

Administered personality tests to groups selected to represent the various stages of the divorce process. Results indicated intensified feelings of depression, anxiety, and hostility as subjects entered marriage counseling. However, by the sixth to twelfth month after the divorce, most of these negative feelings had disappeared. (Author)

Evaluated the influence of stress on the factor structure of symptoms in persons (N=299) while divorcing. Analyses of symptoms provided evidence that stress does affect symptom structure. Ruminative Depression was the only stable factor. A factor suggestive of stress response syndrome was evident among the highly stressed participants. (Author)

Presents two articles which examine the relationship between intimacy and self-disclosure in 10 clinical and 10 nonclinical couples using the Self-Disclosure Coding System (SDCS). Results suggested positive self-statements, time spent talking, and affective manner discriminated between the two groups and were related to intimacy. (JAC)

Contrary to prior assumptions, matched groups differed from each other nearly as much as they did from the unmatched group. This has implications for the ability to generalize from interspousal data even when comparison groups are matched on several traditional variables. (Author)

Examined the relationship between the qualitative aspects of marital intimacy among 20 couples and a quantitative microanalysis of their self-disclosing behavior. Results suggest that, although self-disclosure and intimacy are not synonymous, self-disclosing behavior is a major determinant of various aspects of marital intimacy. (Author/JAC)

Examined impacts of brief group psychotherapy on the marital and sex roles of five volunteer couples. Results show interactional correlates of traditional marital and sex role variations are attenuated, that communication between spouses is improved, and that the therapeutic quality of verbal behavior is enhanced over the course of therapy.…

Reports on the associations between personality factors and spouse mental health, happiness, and communication. Lower Affiliative Drive and higher Sensitivity to Rejection emerge as being associated in wives with increased psychological morbidity. Wives had higher levels of both Need for Affiliation and Sensitivity to Rejection than husbands,…

Used the Family Environment Scale to study order effects and nature of differences between subjects' (N=66) ratings of their current and past families. Results indicated that the order of administration is significant and that differences are due to intergenerational differences rather than to differences in current-past family functioning. (LLL)

Investigated communication in happy and distressed married couples (N=58) in two studies. Problem-solving behaviors were evaluated by the spouses and observers. Half of the distressed couples received written feedback. Results indicated both happy and distressed wives engaged in more negative behaviors than husbands, and videotape and written…

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)

Developed eight independent content scales to assess components of marital intimacy (Conflict Resolution, Affection, Cohesion, Sexuality, Identity, Compatibility, Autonomy, and Expressiveness). Measures were designed to be relatively free from social desirability and acquiescent responding. Test retest and internal consistency reliabilities were…

Used a mathematical simulation procedure adaptable to an interactional concept of personality to predict the interpersonal compatibility of couples. Strife scores derived from computer simulation of interactional personality data correlated significantly with partner ratings for the quality and the stability of their relationship. Significance…

Treated a sample of 77 distressed middle- and lower-class couples using conjoint therapy. Couple and therapist therapy behavior were assessed. A variety of sex and social class differences were found, suggesting that no one marital therapy technique will be appropriate for both sexes and different SES backgrounds. (JAC)

Identified wives (N=56) of hemodialysis patients at risk for problems adapting to their husband's illness, and explored personality variables that might enhance coping. Results showed greater external locus of control was related to poorer adjustment, but greater internal locus of control was not related to better adjustment. (Author/JAC)