Examined the relationship of commitment in marriage and change in commitment over marriage to the expression of love and marriage problems among long-term Norwegian married couples. Results indicated that those who were committed to their spouses as persons had significantly fewer marriage problems. Those whose commitment increased expressed more…

Abusive, discordant, and satisfactorily married couples were compared on self-report measures of general assertion, spouse-specific assertion, spouse-specific aggression, and spousal physical aggression in their families of origin. Low levels of spouse-specific assertion were characteristic of discordant couples whether abusive or not. Spousal…

Studied emotional intimacy as a possible intervening variable between spiritual intimacy and marital satisfaction. Indicated that the effect of spiritual intimacy, if any, is indirect, operating through emotional intimacy on marital satisfaction. Differences in spouse perceptions seem more related to emotional distance than are similarities…

Notes government study conclusion that Vietnam veterans with supportive marital relationships are more likely to successfully adjust to delayed stresses of combat. Presents a conceptual model of the role of spouse support in Vietnam veterans' adjustment to posttraumatic stress syndrome. Discusses implications of the model for therapeutic…

Describes the development of a personalized version of the Spouse Observation Checklist (SOC), using computer word processing functions to delete neutral and irrelevant items. Comparison of the original and revised checklists with 22 married individuals indicated no significant differences between dependent variables on the two versions. (JAC)

ASSIST is a self-help program for spouses whose partners are employed in stressful occupations. Describes ASSIST from a practitioner's viewpoint, discusses emergent issues among spouses, and suggests using ASSIST as a helping resource. (Author)

Examines the risk of poverty among a sample of elderly couples and widows interviewed over a 10-year period. When individual movements into and out of poverty over time are identified, the risk of becoming poor is more than double the highest annual risk among couples, and is raised by almost 30 percent for widows. (Author/ABB)

Compared elders living in two types of caregiving households and explored their level of depression in each setting. Results indicated that depression level was similar for those residing with a spouse or child/grandchild as caregiver. Mitigating factors included length of time in residence and noneconomic contribution to the household. (NRB)

Interviewed 32 married couples about their experiences and strategies for coping with their children's cancer. Most informants reported that family cohesion was strengthened by their experiences and that spouses were the most important source of support. (BH)

Analyzed data on services offered to battering males in a survey of 90 agencies. Found that most agencies are young, inadequately funded, and provide diverse services independent of each other, and that batterers exhibit characteristics that need specific treatment. Described a developing model for successful treatment. (JAC)

Compared the relative effectiveness of behavioral marital therapy (BMT) with two of its major components, behavior exchange (BE) and communication/problem-solving training (CPT), in married couples seeking therapy (N=36). Results showed that complete BMT was no more effective than either BE or CPT at posttest. (LLL)

Contrasted marriage and family therapy dropouts and completers on interventions they were exposed to over the course of therapy and during the initial session. Results showed families completing therapy were exposed to such interventions as firming up appropriate boundaries, escalating conflict, establishing individual boundaries, and advice…

Some of the major steps taken in selected market economies of Western Europe, North America, and Asia to strengthen their pension systems are presented. Countries that are examined include Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Federal Republic of Germany, Japan, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. (CT)

Depressive symptomatology and marital satisfaction during pregnancy and after delivery were studied in 51 couples. Depression symptom severity decreased over pregnancy and the postpartum period for both men and women. Husbands' marital satisfaction at 6 weeks postpartum was significantly correlated with their wives' satisfaction with the social…

Investigated the application of the empathic set effect to perceptions of domestic violence in college students (N=116). Results indicated that observers can be induced to make attributions about another's behavior that consider environmental factors as contributing to behavior and not attribute such behavior solely to internal or dispositional…