Experiments were conducted to assess students' perceptions from written descriptions of voluntarily childfree women and men. Ratings of the childfree man were less favorable than those for the childfree woman, suggesting greater bias against childfree men than women. (Author)

Examined the relationship between an attitudinal and a behavioral measure of sex-preference for offspring. Contrary to prediction, androgynous and nonandrogynous persons did not differ significantly on preferred sex of child. Persons with a more positive attitude toward women's movement ideology showed significantly less male preference. (Author)

Examined the relationship of instrumental and affectional behavioral events to short- and long-term marital satisfaction. Results showed a significant negative relationship between frequency of displeasurable instrumental events and ratings of marital satisfaction. The most important finding was the degree to which wives' self-esteem correlated…

Interviews with divorced parents who have joint custody indicate that some parents divide parenting responsibilities equally. Most exhibit a variety of shared parenting patterns, with differential involvement of the nonresidential parent. (Author/BEF)

Responses to a questionnaire pertaining to discrepancies between an individual's ideal and actual marital role behaviors and level of sexual satisfaction indicated lower levels of role strain in nonpatient couples. A higher level of role strain correlated with increased sexual dissatisfaction. (Author)

Married couples engaged in discussion of actual problems. No effects of experimental instructions on communication styles were discovered. Results are compared with another study, suggesting the "fakability" of marital interaction data. (Author/BEF)

Examines differentials in divorce rates in Canada. Provinces with higher population turnover are characterized by lower degrees of social integration and lower social costs attached to divorce, reflected in higher divorce rates. The hypothesis that divorce rates are higher where more economic opportunities are available for women is explored.…

Married Australian couples possessing heterogeneous values involving religious principles and family relationship v vocational priorities were disadvantaged when solving problems for which such values were relevant. Data indicated that effects of dyad authority role expectations and value patterns were modified upon interaction by sex and…

Analyzes the marital role division between couples, in the Philadelphia area, concentrating on the division of household tasks, child care, and paid employment. Data support a marital power model with husband's income negatively related and wife's education positively related to shared roles. Blacks are more likely to share roles. (Author)

Explores trends in marital satisfaction over three generations using a two-dimensional measure. Findings do not indicate linear decline culminating in disenchantment. Youngest generations report high positive interaction and high negative sentiments; middle generations, low levels of both; and older generations, high positive interaction with…

Presents a rationale for counseling couples in groups and illustrates how people can be taught to pair up with counselors in order to help their spouses rather than hurt them. Specific steps in forming and facilitating the group are presented. (BEF)

Suggests goal development as an effective way to set the stage for change with couples in groups. It helps to clarify issues, opens channels of communication, change behaviors in desired directions, and evaluate that change. Spouses, group members, and counselors can benefit from goal-setting. (Author/BEF)

Data on marital satisfaction among those who remarry were examined. These individuals exhibit a high level of marital satisfaction. Traditional correlates of marital happiness among the first-married are poor predictors of marital happiness among the remarried. The problems are different from those in the marriage terminated by divorce.…

Explores the association between sex roles and relationship adjustment and communication skills. Baucom's sex role inventory was administered to couples who reported on relationship satisfaction and engaged in problem solving. Results suggest that clinical interests might be better served by studies less focused on validating Bem's model of…

Compared middle-aged married men's and women's contact and assistance to older parents-in-law and parents. Multivariate analysis shows that women contact and help parents more than in-laws, whereas for men there are no such differences. Findings suggest that although women give priority to relations with their own parents, men experience pulls in…