Thesis (M.A.P.S.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaf [75]).

Thesis (J.C.L.)--Catholic University of America, 1986. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 58-61).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Trinity Lutheran Seminary, 1986. / Bibliography: leaves 90-96.

This exploratory study followed up ten married couples who attended a voluntary six session psycho-educational Marriage Preparation Programme under the auspices of the Jewish Family and Community Council - Transvaal. A literature review on marriage preparation, evaluation and enrichment provided the framework for the study and interview schedule. The study aimed to confirm and/or modify the existing Marriage Preparation Programme and to explore marital adjustment in detail. The findings indicate : * Couples had positive recall of the programme. * Attending a Marriage Preparation Programme was not necessarily helpful but had a positive influence on couples' commitment. * Respondents experienced difficulties in loosening ties with their families. * The establishment of a family unit was central to marital adjustment. * Role allocation was influenced by role models in respondents' families of origin. * Dealing with socio-economic issues were exceptionally difficult. * Changing roles and expectations of parenthood affected respondents' style of parenting. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science (Mental Health))

Social workers have been interested for many years in the problems of adjustment that occur in marriage, and have attempted to assist those families grappling with marital difficulties. In particular the Family Service Agency of this and other communities has concerned itself with marital discord, and through study has tried to broaden its knowledge, and refine its skills. This study is a part of the re-evaluation that is constantly underway. This study is an exploratory one. It is concerned with the strengths and the limitations of the social casework approach to marital counselling. The six cases examined are difficult ones containing problems of a serious nature. The primary reason for their selection was that they revealed the casework process in some detail. The cases have been summarized, and the casework process closely examined. On the basis of the analyses it was found that ego supportive casework, the observance of the social work principles of self-determination, individuality, objectivity and the non-judgmental attitude, and the use of community resources are extremely helpful to families experiencing marital problems. In addition, the ability of the caseworker to grasp the total functioning of the client in his family and social situation is a positive aspect of the casework approach. The chief weakness of the casework approach as it has been evolved to the present time is the policy of routinely assigning one caseworker to help both partners. When the partners are dependent and immature people they are unable to share a deep, therapeutic relationship with the same caseworker. This study supports a proposal made by Mr. Sidney Berkowitz some years ago. Mr. Berkowitz claimed that the caseworker should decide early in the contact whether serious conflicts or mild disturbance was involved, and that two caseworkers should be assigned in the former instance. Other weaknesses in the casework approach resulted from the caseworker's lack of diagnostic thinking and planning, and from their failure to observe the social work principles. The caseworkers also did not seem to realize the harmful effects of marital discord upon the children, and in only one case was direct casework help extended to a child. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

This study is an existential-phenomenological investigation into the experience of marital satisfaction. It sought to understand the meaning of marital satisfaction as lived. Five married individuals, three females and two males, who had been married for ten years or longer were interviewed. They were selected on the basis that they were experiencing satisfaction in their marriage by their own reckoning. They were located through personal referrals from friends and colleagues. Each person (co-researcher) was asked to tell the story of satisfaction in their marriage. The in-depth interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed and analyzed using an existential-phenomenological approach as outlined by Colaizzi (1978). The protocol analysis resulted in the explication of fifteen themes. The themes (or constituents) were described and then woven into an exhaustive phenomenological description of the experience of marital satisfaction. Finally a concise description of the experience was formulated. The results of the study show that there is a consensus of the experience and meaning of marital satisfaction by those (the co-researchers) living the experience. The study makes suggestions for future research and points out applications of the results in pre-marital and couples counselling. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of the Ridley and colleagues Mutual Problem Solving Program on assessments of relationship satisfaction and perceptions of equity in remarital couples. It was predicted that since the program imposed by its processes and its content, an equitable system by which couples could resolve conflicts, that equity perceptions should improve; and, according to the theoretical propositions of equity theory, it was expected that as equity improved, so should overall relationship satisfaction. Ten couples completed the eight week training program, completing a packet of thirteen questionnaires and one audio-taped discussion of a couple problem, once at pre-test and again at post-test. Using a case study format four couples' results were discussed regarding predictions established by equity theory. It was concluded that at a descriptive level, equity was able to predict the responses of low/no distress remarital couples to the program, but that individual or couple factors were more explanatory than equity propositions when distress was high. Implications for future empirical research was discussed.