An investigation of sex roles among married and cohabitating couples showed: (1) that male career success, male career precedence, the decision to marry, and conventional allocation of household tasks are all concomitant and (2) that marriage crystallizes sex roles and behaviorally solidifies male career precedence, facilitating the husband's…

Surveyed the effect of familial interpersonal communication on women's feelings of parental and marital role satisfaction. Found that the women in this sample-- primarily college-educated--were more satisfied when they perceived that their ability to be effective in carrying out family role responsibilities exceeded the role expectation…

Married (N=50) and unmarried (N=50) cohabiting couples were asked to describe four problems which occurred in their relationship. Despite overall similarity of the kinds of problems reported by married and cohabiting couples, married women were particularly likely to complain that their husbands did not give them sufficient attention. (Author)

Evaluated the effect of previous marital history, particularly the husband's marriage order, on the stability of first and second marriages of White and Black women. The most important predictor of the instability of first marriages of women are the previous divorces of husbands. (Author)

Investigated the effect of spousal power distribution on marital quality among Black couples. Demonstrated that the husband-led power pattern was associated with the highest levels of marital quality and that egalitarian and wife-led couples reported similar, lower levels of marital quality. (Author/RC)

Evaluated the influence of stress on the factor structure of symptoms in persons (N=299) while divorcing. Analyses of symptoms provided evidence that stress does affect symptom structure. Ruminative Depression was the only stable factor. A factor suggestive of stress response syndrome was evident among the highly stressed participants. (Author)

Explores the usefulness of "marital alternatives" as a dimension in explaining marital stability, using longitudinal data from a panel of married, White, urban couples from 16 urban areas. Results indicated the dimension of marital alternatives appeared to be a better predictor of marital disruption than marital satisfaction. (Author/RC)

Investigated the correspondence between stage changes hypothesized by the Kubler-Ross theory and the perception of the course of illness by seriously ill patients and their spouses. Supported the use of Q-methodology as a research procedure for investigations of terminal illness. (Author)

Personality and background questionnaires were administered to newly married couples and followed up. Findings indicate correlational similarity and mean differentiation between partners was higher in still-married group than in divorced group. Variation in marital outcome was more accurately predicted from personality than demographic variables,…

In this study husbands were perceived as more psychologically healthy when they had children than when they had no children. Wives were liked less and viewed more negatively on general personality descriptors when they were described as voluntarily childless than when they were involuntarily childless. (Author)

Mate selection barriers beyond individuals' control are presented as reasons for development of formal mate selection networks. Network processes are described and classified according to the degree of third-party involvement and the degree to which anonymity of participants is protected. (Author)

The Minnesota Couple Communication Program had a positive effect on the couple's use of open-style communication and on perceived quality of the couple's relationship immediately after training. Only the positive changes in perceived quality of relationship persisted at the follow-up. (Author)

A study of dual-employed couples examined the relationship between the variables of job status, job satisfaction, and marital satisfaction. Analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between job satisfaction and marital satisfaction and a significant negative relationship between job strain and marital satisfaction. (JOW)

Identified and described the nature of those personality characteristics that enable couples to develop and sustain a vital relationship. Findings indicate that vital marital partners possess personality needs that promote: (1) sexual expressiveness; (2) "otherness" rather than selfness; (3) determination; and (4) high ego strength. (Author)

Defensive projection is discussed as a mechanism important in understanding interpersonal relations. Projections are seen as an important source of both misperception of spouse and reduced self-awareness, leading to resentment and a rigid marital system. In conjoint marriage counseling, the counselor may intervene to correct perceptual distortion.…