This study explores the experience of couples, married five or more years, of the Preventative and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP). This study examined specific skills the couplesâ gleaned from the workshop, as well as, the relational impact that PREP had on the couples' marriage. Six couples were surveyed, ranging in age from mid-forties to mid-fifties and ranging in years married from 8.5 to 29 years. Content analysis was employed to examine the data. Two themes emerged—motivation and impact, and results were organized under these themes. Clinical implications were identified concerning working with couples married five or more years in therapy and future research is discussed. / Master of Science

This study explored the relationship between the multidimensional construct of emotion regulation and relationship satisfaction in couples seeking couple or family therapy at an outpatient mental health clinic. Recognizing the necessarily interdependent nature of dyadic data, study data were analyzed via path analysis consistent with the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM; Kenny, Kashy, and Cook, 2006). While overall emotion regulation was not found to be significantly related to relationship satisfaction, results indicated differential effects for the various dimensions of emotion regulation. Perceived access to emotion regulation strategies was significantly positively associated with relationship satisfaction for both men and women. Awareness of emotions was significantly negatively associated with satisfaction for men, with women displaying a trend toward significance, and acceptance of emotions was significantly negatively associated with satisfaction for women, with men displaying a trend toward significance. Women's acceptance of emotions was also significantly negatively associated with her partner's relationship satisfaction, while her ability to control her impulses was significantly positively associated with her partner's satisfaction. No partner effects were found for men's emotion regulation dimensions. Study limitations as well as research and clinical implications are discussed. / Master of Science

Yes / This study aims to investigate the impact of self and partner experiences of loneliness and social isolation on life satisfaction in people with dementia and their spousal carers. We used data from 1042 dementia caregiving dyads in the Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life (IDEAL) programme cohort. Loneliness was measured using the six-item De Jong Gierveld loneliness scale and social isolation using the six-item Lubben Social Network Scale. Data were analysed using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model framework. Self-rated loneliness was associated with poorer life satisfaction for both people with dementia and carers. The initial partner effects observed between the loneliness of the carer and the life satisfaction of the person with dementia and between social isolation reported by the person with dementia and life satisfaction of the carer were reduced to nonsignificance once the quality of the relationship between them was considered. Experiencing greater loneliness and social isolation is linked with reduced life satisfaction for people with dementia and carers. However, having a positive view of the quality of the relationship between them reduced the impact of loneliness and social isolation on life satisfaction. Findings suggest the need to consider the experiences of both the person with dementia and the carer when investigating the impact of loneliness and social isolation. Individual interventions to mitigate loneliness or isolation may enhance life satisfaction for both partners and not simply the intervention recipient. / ‘Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life: living well with dementia. The IDEAL study’ was funded jointly by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) through grant ES/L001853/2. ‘Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life: a longitudinal perspective on living well with dementia. The IDEAL-2 study’ is funded by Alzheimer’s Society, grant number 348, AS-PR2-16- 001.

Au début des années 1980, des études ont trouvé qu'une plus grande similarité vocationnelle chez les couples était associée à une meilleure satisfaction conjugale. Toutefois, d'importantes limites méthodologiques et statistiques liées à ces études ont pu compromettre la validité des résultats obtenus. D'autre part, la fait que la personnalité vocationnelle des femmes ait pu évoluer depuis ce temps, notamment en raison de leur arrivée massive sur le marché du travail, limite la généralisation des résultats de ces études aux couples d'aujourd'hui. Par conséquent, l'objectif général de la thèse était de documenter la contribution de la similarité vocationnelle des partenaires à deux indicateurs de la qualité de la relation conjugale, soit la satisfaction conjugale et la stabilité relationnelle. Les mécanismes sous-jacents à la similarité vocationnelle, ainsi que la contribution de la similarité vocationnelle à ces indicateurs, ont été examinés à l'aide de l'indice C et du profil de similarité corrélationnel (PSC) dans un premier article. Le rôle médiateur des stratégies de gestions de conflits (SGC) positives et négatives a été évalué dans un deuxième article, en tenant compte de leur possible bidirectionnalité avec la qualité de la relation conjugale. Un échantillon de 104 couples hétérosexuels en cohabitation a été recruté et a complété des questionnaires en ligne. Les résultats ont montré que la similarité vocationnelle était faible à modérée, et qu'elle s'explique principalement par une similarité initiale découlant de préférences chez les partenaires plutôt que par la convergence de leur personnalité avec le temps. Une plus grande similarité vocationnelle était significativement associée à une meilleure qualité de la relation conjugale, surtout en ce qui a trait aux types Artistique et Entreprenant. Seul le PSC a prédit significativement la qualité de la relation conjugale. Les résultats ont également révélé que la similarité vocationnelle contribue indirectement au fonctionnement conjugal à travers une possible relation bidirectionnelle entre les SGC et la qualité de la relation conjugale. Partager des intérêts et des compétences vocationnels similaires semble favoriser la création et le maintien des relations conjugales. Gérer de manière constructive les incompatibilités conjugales liées aux différences vocationnelles, en négociant des accommodations satisfaisantes pour les deux partenaires, est susceptible de contribuer positivement au fonctionnement conjugal. / In the early 1980s, some studies had found that higher vocational similarity within couples was significantly associated with greater couple satisfaction. However, important methodological and statistical limitations may have compromised the validity of their results. Moreover, the fact that women's vocational personality may have evolved since that time, particularly because of their massive entry into the labor market, limits the generalization of the results to today's couples. Therefore, the general objective of the thesis was to document the contribution of vocational similarity to two relationship quality indicators, i.e., couple satisfaction and relational stability. The mechanisms underlying vocational similarity and the contribution of vocational similarity to these indicators were examined using the C index and the profile similarity correlation (PSC) in a first article. The mediating role of positive and negative conflict strategies was assessed in a second article, taking into account their possible bidirectionality with relationship quality. A sample of 104 heterosexual and cohabiting couples was recruited and completed online questionnaires. Results showed that vocational similarity was low to moderate and was mainly explained by initial similarity linked to mating preferences. Higher vocational similarity was significantly associated with greater relationship quality, especially for the Artistic and Enterprising types. Only the PSC significantly predicted relationship quality. Results also revealed that vocational similarity indirectly contributes to couple functioning through a possible bidirectional relation between conflict strategies and relationship quality. Sharing similar vocational interests and competencies seems to help in creating and maintaining satisfying romantic relationships. Constructively managing couple incompatibilities related to vocational differences, by negotiating mutually satisfactory accommodations, is likely to contribute positively to couple functioning.

Background: Just under half of pregnancies in the United States are unintended. And unintended births are particularly high among married and cohabiting adult women. Though family planning behaviors occur in a dyadic context with potentially joint influences of men and women on contraceptive use and pregnancy, most research on pregnancy and contraceptive use is based on reports from only women. Methods: I examined the pregnancy beliefs and contraceptive values of both members of cohabiting and married adult couples to determine how these individual-level characteristics come together at the dyad-level to shape pregnancy outcomes for the couple. I performed multinomial logit structural equation modeling analyses using longitudinal data from the National Couples Survey. I included demographic covariates that have been implicated in prior research as influential for contraceptive use and unintended pregnancy. Results: The male partner's pregnancy beliefs and contraceptive values significantly predicted dyadic risk of unintended pregnancy even after accounting for female partner's responses on these variables. Non-Hispanic Black race and low socioeconomic status emerged as risk factors. Discussion: This study indicates that dyadic analyses are needed to account for male partner influences to appropriately model risk for unintended pregnancy in research. The findings of this research also highlight demographic groups that may benefit from targeted dyadic intervention. / Ph. D. / Background: Just under half of pregnancies in the United States are unplanned at conception. Unintended births are particularly high among married and cohabiting adult women. Though family planning behaviors occur in a couple context, and men and women likely both influence contraceptive use and pregnancy, most research on pregnancy and contraceptive use is based on reports from only women. Methods: I examined beliefs about positive outcomes of pregnancy and values for contraception to be effective of men and women in cohabiting and married adult couples to determine how these individual-level attitudes come together to shape pregnancy outcomes for the couple. I used existing longitudinal data from the National Couples Survey, the theory of triadic influence, and structural equation modeling to test whether my hypothesized relationships between attitudes and behaviors were supported. I also accounted for demographic factors that prior research has flagged as influential for contraceptive use and unintended pregnancy. Results: The male partner’s pregnancy beliefs and contraceptive values significantly predicted whether the couple became unintentionally pregnant (or was at high risk of becoming so) even after accounting for their female partner’s responses on these variables. Non-Hispanic Black race and low socioeconomic status emerged as risk factors. Discussion: The results of this study highlight the importance of including both men and women in research to reach a more nuanced understanding of the factors that shape unintended pregnancy. The findings of this research also suggest that couples in specific demographic groups may benefit from targeted intervention to help them attain their reproductive goals.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2010. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-131). Also available on the World Wide Web.

published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

Text in Afrikaans / Die artikel bepaal welke regsgevolge voortvloei indien 'n saamwoon-verhouding tot 'n einde kom. Daar word eerstens na die posisie in Engeland gekyk met verwysing na vererwing, gesinsgeweld, 'n deliksaksie weens verlies aan onderhoud, verdeling van eiendom en minderjarige kinders. Daarna word die posisie in Swede in oenskou geneem op dieselfde basis. Laastens word die regsposisie in Suid-Afrika bespreek. Die gevolgtrekking is dat saamwoners hier te lande swakker af is as in meeste ander Westerse lande. Die howe hier het nag min leiding gegee oar die klassieke saamwoonverhouding se implikasies. Gevolglik weet saamwoners nie presies wat hulle te wagte kan wees indien so 'n verhouding eindig nie. Enkele voorstelle vir regshervorming word verskaf. / The purpose of the article is to ascertain which legal consequences follow when a "common law" marriage is dissolved. Firstly, the position in England is evaluated with specific reference to inheritance, family violence, a delictual action for loss of support, division of assets and minor children. Thereafter the position in Sweden is evaluated on the same basis. Lastly, the position in South Africa is discussed. It is concluded that participants to a common law marriage in South Africa do not enjoy the same protection as in most other Western countries. The Courts have given little assistance in this regard. Consequently people that live together cannot be certain of the consequences when their relationship is dissolved. Suggestions are provided for legal reform: / Private Law / LL. M.

No description available.

The aim of this thesis was to describe and explore how the partner relationship of patient–partner dyads isaffected following cardiac disease and, in particular, atrial fibrillation (AF) in one of the spouses. The thesis is based on four individual studies with different designs: descriptive (I), explorative (II, IV), and cross-sectional (III). Applied methods comprised a systematic review (I) and qualitative (II, IV) and quantitative methods (III). Participants in the studies were couples in which one of the spouses was afflicted with AF. Coherent with a systemic perspective, the research focused on the dyad as the unit of analysis. To identify and describe the current research position and knowledge base, the data for the systematic review were analyzed using an integrative approach. To explore couples’ main concern, interview data (n=12 couples) in study II were analyzed using classical grounded theory. Associations between patients and partners (n=91 couples) where analyzed through the Actor–Partner Interdependence Model using structural equation modelling (III). To explore couples’ illness beliefs, interview data (n=9 couples) in study IV were analyzed using Gadamerian hermeneutics. Study I revealed five themes of how the partner relationship is affected following cardiac disease: overprotection, communication deficiency, sexual concerns, changes in domestic roles, and adjustment to illness. Study II showed that couples living with AF experienced uncertainty as the common main concern, rooted in causation of AF and apprehension about AF episodes. The theory of Managing Uncertainty revealed the strategies of explicit sharing (mutual collaboration and finding resemblance) and implicit sharing (keeping distance and tacit understanding). Patients and spouses showed significant differences in terms of self-reported physical and mental health where patients rated themselves lower than spouses did (III). Several actor effects were identified, suggesting that emotional distress affects and is associated with perceived health. Patient partner effects and spouse partner effects were observed for vitality, indicating that higher levels of symptoms of depression in patients and spouses were associated with lower vitality in their partners. In study IV, couples’ core and secondary illness beliefs were revealed. From the core illness belief that “the heart is a representation of life,” two secondary illness beliefs were derived: AF is a threat to life, and AF can and must be explained. From the core illness belief that “change is an integral part of life,” two secondary illness beliefs were derived: AF is a disruption in our lives, and AF will not interfere with our lives. Finally, from the core illness belief that “adaptation is fundamental in life,” two secondary illness beliefs were derived: AF entails adjustment in daily life, and AF entails confidence in and adherence to professional care. In conclusion, the thesis result suggests that illness, in terms of cardiac disease and AF, affected and influenced the couple on aspects such as making sense of AF, responding to AF, and mutually incorporating and dealing with AF in their daily lives. In the light of this, the thesis results suggest that clinicians working with persons with AF and their partners should employ a systemic view with consideration of couple’s reciprocity and interdependence, but also have knowledge regarding AF, in terms of pathophysiology, the nature of AF (i.e., cause, consequences, and trajectory), and treatments. A possible approach to achieve this is a clinical utilization of an FSN based framework, such as the FamHC. Even if a formalized FSN framework is not utilized, partners should not be neglected but, rather, be considered a resource and be a part of clinical caring activities. This could be met by inviting partners to take part in rounds, treatment decisions, discharge calls or follow-up visits or other clinical caring activities. Likewise, interventional studies should include the couple as a unit of analysis as well as the target of interventions.