Compared 32 childfree with 20 child-anticipated couples. No differences were found between the groups on marital adjustment, marital type, or sex role identification, although a trend was found suggesting that childfree women tended to view themselves as less sex-typed than child-anticipated women. (Author/NRB)

Results of a statistical analysis of a study of battered wives in shelters indicated that the wives' economic dependence on their husbands almost always ensured that they would return to their husbands and that respondents who considered the shelters useful had a higher probability of returning to their husbands. (Author)

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,…

Examined a sample of dairy farm wives (N=126) regarding stress symptoms, husband support, farm and home task loads, and perceived role conflict between farm and home responsibilities. Results indicated that the content of home and work roles may not be as important as interpersonal dynamics in rural farm families. (LLL)

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)

The inception of a new head marks a challenging transition for the independent school community. Though little has been written on it, numerous programs exist to help heads prepare for and assume headship. In contrast, scant attention has been given to the transition of the spouses and children of heads. However, two other kinds of "first…

Studied level of congruence between personality type of subjects and modal personality type in their environment. Results showed modal personality type of males and females was not similar; correlation was high for congruence level and inclination to remain in an environment and low for congruence level and social acceptance. (Author/RC)

Describes the importance of a good working relationship between lawyers and divorce counselors. Discusses the lawyer's and counselor's roles in terms of predivorce therapy, confidentiality settlement and litigation, and the post-litigation period. A cooperative interdisciplinary approach can help divorcing spouses and their children adjust. (JAC)

Surveyed married professional women (N=232) about their attitudes toward their roles and how they cope with role conflicts. A majority of women stated that they often experienced strains between these roles. Coping strategies such as having family members help with chores, and reducing standards, were significantly related to satisfaction.…

Reviews research dealing with conjugal violence and critically evaluates the usefulness of these findings for clinical practitioners. Suggestions for joining with violent spouses, overcoming initial resistances, and keeping violent spouses in treatment are offered. Situations for which marital therapy may not be considered the treatment of choice…

Surveyed 189 couples to see how they felt about their Marriage Encounter experience four years later. Results indicated that about 80 percent of the couples reported a totally positive experience. The most frequently cited positive aspect was the "dialogue." A significant minority of couples experienced negative consequences. (Author/JAC)

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 effectiveness of communication training in treating marital discord for conjoint and conjoint group modalities. Results showed that conjoint couples (N=16) improved on five of seven outcome variables, while conjoint group couples (N=13) improved on two. One-year follow-up showed substantial reduction in treatment gains. (WAS)

Describes the clinical use of the Marital Satisfaction Inventory (MSI), a multidimensional self-report measure of marital interaction. Two case studies of couples in marital therapy are presented. The MSI is presented as a cost-efficient procedure, permitting objective assessment across multiple areas of a couple's relationship. (Author/JAC)

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)