Investigated the causes of happiness and unhappiness among spouses. Results indicated while marital happiness is the most important determinant of overall happiness, job satisfaction is the most important determinant of unhappiness. (Author/BL)

Examined 112 distressed and nondistressed Israeli couples' presenting complaints about their relationship, their perceptions of each other's complaints, and perceptual accuracy between actual and perceived complaints, using the Areas of Change Questionnaire. Compared results with a previous study of American distressed and nondistressed couples.…

Corroborates previous research that communication is more equal in dual-career marriages. (PD)

The bereavement process of elderly male and female surviving spouses was compared in a 2-year longitudinal study. No statistically significant differences at any of the time periods indicate that their bereavement processes were characterized more by similarities than differences. (Author/ABB)

A study of dissatisfied married couples found that those who received individual counseling and consultation benefited more than did persons receiving one kind of traditional counseling for couples. (Author)

Examines the delayed reactions to the stress of war (posttraumatic stress disorders) of many Vietnam veterans and the problems their families face as a consequence. Presents a number of considerations for social work intervention. (JAC)

Assessed Emotionally Focused Marital Therapy at initial contact, after an eight-week waiting period, after eight therapy sessions, and at eight-week follow-up. Couples reported no significant changes on measures of dyadic adjustment, intimacy, target complaint reduction or goal attainment after the waiting period, but they reported significant…

Suggests that family behavior research may benefit from using simultaneous equations techniques. Explains three-stage least squares (3SLS) and Zellner's seemingly unrelated regressions and examines an example of 3SLS, focusing on the husbands' household work equation in a six-equation system of husbands' and wives' time allocation. (Author/NRB)

Studied 51 ambulatory patients with commonly occurring cancers and 25 of their spouses to evaluate a group stress and activity management treatment program. Found support for unique effects of the treatment intervention, but also support for improvement in psychosocial adjustment for patients and spouses with the passage of time. (Author/MCF)

Using a national sample of 249 employed couples, effects of own and spouse's education, occupational status, and income are assessed on three dimensions of psychological functioning: ideational flexibility, self-directedness of orientation, and distress. Results for each dimension of psychological functioning are given. (Author/BL)

Investigates the effects of selected features of family and kinship structures on wives' power in marriage. Residence and descent practices are particularly important predictors of wives' power on the cross-cultural level. Organizational resources may be at least as important as material resources in the determination of conjugal power structures.…

Fifty couples who had the most positive or negative reactions in a group of Marriage Encounter couples were interviewed. Results indicated nine couples experienced significant negative changes related to Marriage Encounter, suggesting that distressed couples who attend Marriage Encounters are susceptible to further marital deterioration.…

Studied predictor variables related to the outcome of spouse-aided therapy in 28 married patients with persisting psychiatric disorders. Results showed significant, sustained improvement in couples' ratings of personal and target problems after therapy. Poor response was linked to extrapunitiveness, denial, and adherence to an illness model of…

Examined the relationship between commitment to one's marriage at the onset of therapy and changes during marital therapy in a sample of 42 couples. Results showed that wives' commitment level was significant, while results for men were less striking. Discusses the importance of commitment in marital research. (LLL)

Compared four demographic variables as well as perceived family-of-origin health in relation to marital adjustment in 75 couples who completed the Family of Origin Scale and Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Results suggested marital adjustment is related to family income and similarity of spouses' family-of-origin health experiences. (JAC)