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)

Based upon responses to questionnaires by 162 university married-housing couples, equity theory was used to explain the relations between affective self-disclosure and marital adjustment. Found that the greater discrepancy in partners' affective self-disclosure, the less was an individual's marital adjustment. (Author/RC)

Examines the operationalization of marital quality indices used as dependent variables and the functioning and construction of marital quality variables. Presents both semantic and empirical criteria to judge the development of a marital quality index and a Quality Marriage Index (QMI) based on the introduced criteria. (Author/RC)

Compared personality characteristics of couples in alcoholic and nonalcoholic marriages. Couples in which one spouse was alcoholic showed fewer personality interrelationships than nonalcoholic couples, raising questions about the hypothesis that alcoholic marriage partners complement each other. Alcoholic and nonalcoholic males differed…

Surveyed 575 newly married couples in 1972 and 425 divorced couples in 1975 to examine risk factors leading to divorce in Estonia, USSR. Found risk factors included an unstable parental home, unsuitable age at marriage, and duration of courtship. Incompatibility of value orientation and role expectation were other factors. (JAC)

Former spouses (N=129) in mother-custody postdivorce families participated in an in-depth, semistructured interview. Findings supported the basic General Systems Theory paradigm as applied to postdivorce families. The former spousal relationship emerged as a vital component of the organized, postdivorce family system. (Author/RC)

Using data from a random sample of currently married adults (N=316), log-linear techniques were used to examine five aspects of household division of labor between husbands and wives as these relate to sex of respondent, labor-force status of the wife, and other independent variables. (Author)

Using data on 682 couples from a national probability sample, demonstrated that a wife's perception of her husband's attitude toward her employment is moderately inconsistent with the husband's actual attitude. Found several couple characteristics significantly affect the level of inconsistency, indicating degree of couple communication. (Author)

Expands upon factor-analytic and rational methods and introduces a third method for determining content areas to be assessed in marital relationships. Definitions of a "good marriage" were content analyzed, and a number of areas were added. Demographic subgroup differences were found not to be influential factors. (Author)

Surveyed 2000 Texas residents about legislation for marital rape. Results revealed 35 percent of 1300 respondents favored a law in which a wife could accuse her husband of rape. Subsequent analysis indicated persons who were female, young, single, or educated were most likely to favor this law. (Author/RC)

Describes an exercise designed to help individuals and couples explore their attitudes toward extramarital relations, and analyze its causes and consequences. Presents several potential issues which typically develop. Provides guidelines for using the exercise. (RC)

Compared the effects of two types of instruction to investigate how proficiency in generating alternatives in marital problem solving can be improved, using a sample of 44 Canadian couples. Results showed increased generation of alternatives. Communication skills training did not enhance creativity in problem solving. (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.…

Applied a behavioral model of marriage to premarital couples to assess predictive validity of an exchange measure. Results provide evidence that unrewarding communication patterns precede development of relationship distress. Implications for the behavioral model of marriage and development of programs designed to prevent marital distress are…

Explores the effects of no-fault divorce laws on the motivations of husbands who file for divorce. Tested a resource model and a normative model on divorce records of couples receiving final decrees in California. Husbands' motives were more clearly revealed in their requests for divorce settlements, particularly child custody. (Author/RC)