Marital quality is linked to health benefits for men and women. Although women have less risk factors than men for cardiovascular disease prior to menopause, their risk increases substantially after menopause. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of marital quality and vasomotor symptoms on cardiovascular risk factors including C-reactive protein (CRP) and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in women before, during, and after the menopausal transition. The final sample consisted of 92 married women between the ages of 40 and 60 years. Hypotheses were tested using hierarchical regression and general linear modeling. Results suggest that greater marital quality reduces the negative effect of a lower level of vasomotor symptoms on cIMT but not CRP. Contrary to hypotheses, marital quality did not predict CRP or cIMT and vasomotor symptoms were not correlated with CRP or cIMT. While analyses did not support an interaction between menopausal status and lower marital quality on vasomotor symptoms or CRP, there was limited support for an interaction between menopausal status and lower marital quality on cIMT (p = .057) suggesting that for postmenopausal women higher marital quality is related to lower levels of cIMT. Overall, findings suggest that it is important to consider the impact of psychosocial aspects of a middle aged woman's life (i.e., marital quality) in conjunction with biological stressors when assessing cardiovascular risks in women during the menopausal transition.

The influence of religiosity in adolescence on several variables that have been shown to be predictors of marital quality and stability was examined using a nationally representative sample of 3,151 youth, aged 13 to 17 years, from the National Study of Youth and Religion (NSYR). Religiosity was defined to incorporate multiple characteristics including religious beliefs, attitudes, participation, experiences, and identities. The effect of religious affiliation and religiosity was also examined for seven premarital predictors, which included relationship with parents, ideal age for marriage, right and wrong, academic achievement, sexual behavior, attitude toward cohabitation, and attitude toward divorce. Data were collected through telephone interviews using a random-digit-dial method between 2002 and 2003. Youth were categorized into eight religious groups: Conservative Protestant, Mainline Protestant, Black Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Other Christian, and Not Religious. Research questions were analyzed using ANCOVA, OLS regression, and logistic regression. Results indicated that all three research hypotheses were supported by the data. Specifically, religious affiliation significantly predicted level of religiosity, religiosity was related to each of the seven premarital predictors of marital quality and stability, and religious affiliation acted as a moderator in the relationships between religiosity and the seven premarital predictors. Comparison of the eight religious groups revealed that religiosity has a unique influence on youth in the different groups in relation to these outcome variables. In light of these findings, implications, limitations, and future directions for research are discussed.

This study included a representative random sample of 886 married individuals in Utah. This sample was surveyed to discover the relationship between demographic variables, reported mental health issues, and marital quality. In addition, this study sought to discover models, using demographic variables and reported mental health issues, to predict for separate dimensions of marital quality. This survey was a replication of a study completed primarily in Oklahoma, with the addition of questions about the participants' mental health. Spearman's rho, Pearson's R, and multiple regression were used to analyze the data. The results of the study show that: religious beliefs had a statistically significant relationship with commitment/satisfaction, with stability, and negative interactions. Religious activity had a statistically significant relationship with commitment/satisfaction, and negative interactions. The duration of marriage had a statistically significant relationship with stability, negative interactions, and age at time of current marriage. The models found for predicting the separate dimensions of marital quality including commitment and satisfaction, stability, and negative interactions were all robust. Implications and recommendations are discussed.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Denver Theological Seminary, 2006. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 507-522).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Department of Psychology, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Miami University, Dept. of Family Studies and Social Work, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 23-30).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Denver Theological Seminary, 2006. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 507-522).

Este trabalho teve por objetivo verificar evidências de validade para um instrumento de avaliação de estratégias de resolução de conflitos conjugais e investigar o uso dessas estratégias por casais residentes no Rio Grande do Sul. Para tanto, o trabalho foi dividido em três artigos. O Artigo I buscou evidências de validade para o Conflict Resolution Behavior Questionnaire (CRBQ). O Artigo II verificou o uso de estratégias de resolução de conflitos entre homens e mulheres, sua associação a variáveis sociodemográficas e do relacionamento. Por fim o Artigo III identificou perfis de resolução de conflitos, associando-os à qualidade conjugal. Os participantes foram 750 casais heterossexuais, residentes no Rio Grande do Sul, e que coabitavam há, no mínimo, seis meses. Os resultados do Artigo I demonstraram evidências de que a versão brasileira do instrumento é válida para a avaliação das estratégias de resolução de conflitos conjugais. O Artigo II indicou que há associação da resolução do conflito conjugal à prática de alguma religião, ao tempo de relacionamento e ao momento do ciclo vital. No Artigo III, quatro perfis foram identificados: Evitador, Validador, Hostil e Volátil. Os aspectos que podem favorecer o encaminhamento construtivo dos conflitos pelos membros do casal e os níveis de qualidade conjugal associados a cada perfil identificado são discutidos. / This study aimed to verify validity evidences for an instrument for assessment of marital conflict resolution strategies and to investigate the use of these strategies by couples living in Rio Grande do Sul. To achieve this objective, this study is divided in three papers. Paper I investigated validity evidences for the Conflict Resolution Behavior Questionnaire (CRBQ). Paper II verified conflict resolution strategies used by men and women, its association with sociodemographic and relationship variables, and identified conflict resolution profiles. Participants were 750 heterosexual couples, who lived in Rio Grande do Sul state in Brazil and cohabited for, at least, six months. Paper I showed evidences that the Brazilian version of the instrument is valid for the assessment of conflict resolution strategies. Paper II indicated that marital conflict resolution was associated with religious practice, length of relationship and moment of the life cycle. Paper III identified four profiles: Avoider, Validator, Hostile and Volatile. The aspects that can promote constructive management of conflicts by spouses and the marital quality associated with each profile are discussed.

Este trabalho teve por objetivo verificar evidências de validade para um instrumento de avaliação de estratégias de resolução de conflitos conjugais e investigar o uso dessas estratégias por casais residentes no Rio Grande do Sul. Para tanto, o trabalho foi dividido em três artigos. O Artigo I buscou evidências de validade para o Conflict Resolution Behavior Questionnaire (CRBQ). O Artigo II verificou o uso de estratégias de resolução de conflitos entre homens e mulheres, sua associação a variáveis sociodemográficas e do relacionamento. Por fim o Artigo III identificou perfis de resolução de conflitos, associando-os à qualidade conjugal. Os participantes foram 750 casais heterossexuais, residentes no Rio Grande do Sul, e que coabitavam há, no mínimo, seis meses. Os resultados do Artigo I demonstraram evidências de que a versão brasileira do instrumento é válida para a avaliação das estratégias de resolução de conflitos conjugais. O Artigo II indicou que há associação da resolução do conflito conjugal à prática de alguma religião, ao tempo de relacionamento e ao momento do ciclo vital. No Artigo III, quatro perfis foram identificados: Evitador, Validador, Hostil e Volátil. Os aspectos que podem favorecer o encaminhamento construtivo dos conflitos pelos membros do casal e os níveis de qualidade conjugal associados a cada perfil identificado são discutidos. / This study aimed to verify validity evidences for an instrument for assessment of marital conflict resolution strategies and to investigate the use of these strategies by couples living in Rio Grande do Sul. To achieve this objective, this study is divided in three papers. Paper I investigated validity evidences for the Conflict Resolution Behavior Questionnaire (CRBQ). Paper II verified conflict resolution strategies used by men and women, its association with sociodemographic and relationship variables, and identified conflict resolution profiles. Participants were 750 heterosexual couples, who lived in Rio Grande do Sul state in Brazil and cohabited for, at least, six months. Paper I showed evidences that the Brazilian version of the instrument is valid for the assessment of conflict resolution strategies. Paper II indicated that marital conflict resolution was associated with religious practice, length of relationship and moment of the life cycle. Paper III identified four profiles: Avoider, Validator, Hostile and Volatile. The aspects that can promote constructive management of conflicts by spouses and the marital quality associated with each profile are discussed.