Presents theory and typology of marital quality. Outlines three-corners model--systems theory of the self-in-marriage. Describes seven types of marital relationships in terms of systems theory, including four variants of high-quality marriage. Highlights model through critical assessment of Lewis and Spanier's (1979) essay on marital quality and…

Analyzed 1968 mortality data and comparable 1970 census data for women. Found that women married to younger men tended to live longer than expected while women married to older men tended to die sooner than expected. Two possible explanations are considered: mortality outcomes are predetermined by mate selection, or psychological, social, and/or…

Used archival data on individuals identified as shy and reserved in late childhood in 1954 to trace the continuities and consequences of the individuals' behavioral style for the subsequent 30 years of their lives. Childhood shyness did not produce pathological or extreme outcomes, but did have significant consequences for later development,…

Reviews research on premarital factors associated with later marital quality and stability in first marriages. Three major categories of factors are described, including background and context, individual traits and behaviors, and couple interactional processes. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal research are summarized. Recommendations for…

Describes the impact of economic stressors on marriage. Discusses how Adlerian marital therapy strategies can be tailored to help middle-income couples deal with such stressors. Identifies problems facing middle income families experiencing financial hardship, describes Adlerian counseling for financial conflict in marriage, and delineates…

A sample of married and cohabitating women is used to examine the impact of cohabitation on fertility. The transition from cohabitation to marriage does not appear to be influenced by childbearing desires. Once nonpregnant cohabitators marry, the timing of marital first birth is similar to that of women who never cohabitated. (JPS)

Examines whether a new instrument for measuring couple functioning would differentiate couples in therapy for sexual dysfunction from couples in therapy for other problems. While the other-problems group had greater sexual satisfaction than the sex dysfunction group, the groups were similar in experiencing moderate marital distress. (JPS)

Forty-year study of 169 college men and their wives examined marital satisfaction prospectively and retrospectively. Examined retrospectively, marital satisfaction followed weak curvilinear patterns with lowest point of marriage at approximately 20 years. Studied prospectively, U-curve disappeared and marital satisfaction remained relatively…

Responds to previous articles by Avis, Kaufman, and Bograd on role of marital and family therapists in dealing with family violence among clients. Considers articles' emphasis on neutrality, asserting that abusers must both be understood and held accountable. Discusses shortcomings of previous articles and concludes that multiple approaches are…

Used data from National Longitudinal Surveys to investigate patterns and determinants of marital dissolution for first marriages. Found that risk of marital instability was highest among couples with heterogamous education and nontraditional employment patterns. Couples who equalized their original education and conventionalized employment status…

Clarifies concepts of linearity and circularity as applied to marital and family therapy. Defines distinct and theoretically legitimate meanings of linearity (proportionality, unilaterality, temporality). Redefines circularity into two distinct meanings (recursivity and holicity). Concludes with call for continued deconstruction of social systems…

Forty-eight married couples completed Snyder's Marital Satisfaction Inventory and were categorized with Bem Sex-Role Inventory as androgynous, gender role congruent, gender role incongruent, or undifferentiated. Found that androgynous couples featured more wives who were dissatisfied regarding child issues. Conceptualized results in terms of…

Describes current trends in training marriage and family counselors. Raises training issues related to individual counseling, working with systems beyond families, focusing on concrete outcomes, and programs giving adequate attention to the therapist as an individual. Discusses COAMFTE and CACREP accreditation standards. (CRR)

Describes marriage and family counselor training model utilizing family-of-origin work for personal growth. Reviews theoretical base, application to training, parallel process, and isomorphic process. Suggests that counseling and supervision are intense interpersonal experiences which are likely to reactivate learned patterns of behavior and…

Examines the effects of long-term unemployment on families, marital relationships, and children. Discusses impact of financial hardship, stress, and emotional upheaval as they affect family systems. Presents counseling interventions for addressing needs of children in these families. Includes 54 citations. (Author/CRR)