This document presents a theoretical approach to couple counseling, a systemic approach which views each spouse as having a personal and relationship history that transcends the present marital one. It notes that this approach views a person's life style along two dimensions: the first dimension examines the person's relational experiences at the…

This booklet was written to help readers understand how the Retirement Equity Act of 1984 makes it easier for both women and men to collect retirement benefits under private pension plans. Since women have had special problems in the pension area, it emphasizes how the retirement law works to their advantage by preventing loss of coverage during…

Contributing to society is important for both society and the person. Today it appears that some married women who are housewives are unable to develop careers, because of frequent breaks in their education and/or training due to the mobility of their spouse. A captured spouse is one who is mobile with her mate and is overshadowed in the career…

Addresses the specific needs of a clearly delineated population of individuals who are finding difficulty adjusting to the irrevocable, but often unwanted, loss of a partner through separation or divorce. Describes emotionally attached or ambivalent persons and their problems. Discusses group work with these individuals, including group…

Evaluated independence of organizational, career, and community commitment among 118 married professional women and examined influence of extra-work variables on the three commitment types. Findings suggest that organizational, career, and community commitment are independent variables; and that extra-work factors strongly influence career…

Compared intimacy in first-married and remarried couples. Data gathered from 33 first-married and 33 remarried couples with the Waring Intimacy Questionnaire revealed no significant differences on total intimacy scores and seven subscale scores. Only conflict resolution was significantly lower among the remarrieds. (Author)

Analyzed data from 2 percent sample of couples who filed for divorce/dissolution in California in six years from 1966 through 1971, to examine the relationship between wife's employment status and marital duration to separation. Results showed housewives were likely to be married longer before separation than were employed wives, except when they…

Examined from a social exchange perspective, the interaction between several indicators of relational interdependence and relational commitment in married individuals. Results indicated that a high level of interdependence positively covaried with commitment. Perceived equity in the distribution of outcomes accounted for the largest percentage of…

The participation by farm women in on-farm and off-farm work is estimated and the effects of female earnings on farm family income are measured. It is shown that farm women make significant contributions to income and help manage income instability. (Author/CH)

Responses of 218 urban husbands and wives and 202 rural husbands and wives were used to test the hypotheses that these two populations would use different coping strategies to deal with the stressors they faced in their different environments and that women would use different strategies than men. Neither hypothesis was supported. (Author/BL)

Two examples of a letter (linear and paradoxical) used to engage nonattending spouses for marital therapy are featured as well as recommendations for research. Engagement rates, using the linear and paradoxical letters are compared. (Author/BL)

Examined the effect of wives' employment on the mental health of husbands. Findings reveal that wives' employment has negative effects on husbands' job and life satisfaction. These results suggest that the overall negative mental health effect may derive, in part, from the occupational domain. (Author/BL)

Investigated reactions of others to the surviving spouse of an individual who commits suicide. Results indicated (compared to those spouses of accident and leukemia victims) that the spouse of a suicide was viewed as being more to blame for the death, as having had a greater chance of preventing the death, and as being more ashamed of the death.…

Presents a structured enrichment workshop designed to facilitate marital intimacy, featuring three modules: (1) self-hood and differentiation; (2) communication of emotions; and (3) negotiation. Theoretical bases of each module are outlined, with special attention given to the role of sharing of hurt feelings as a primary dimension of intimacy.…

Investigated effects of cognitive restructuring efforts to modify unrealistic beliefs of marital partners in 17 couples. Treatment program sought to impact proactively upon positive therapeutic expectations and relationship goals and enhanced base level of marital satisfaction. On all outcome measures, treatment group (N=9 couples) showed…