In response to recent calls in the literature for a more contextual analysis of the influence of social support processes (e.g., Rook, 1997; Sarason, Sarason, & Pierce, 1992), the current study explores the relationships of spousal support, spousal strain, and well-being among husbands and wives, both within the same day and across days. In addition, the moderating roles of interpersonal and situational contexts within which support and strain are provided are examined. One hundred and sixty-six husbands and wives in stepfamilies were interviewed and then asked to complete a structured diary twice daily for a week. Participants reported their stress, supportive and problematic spousal interactions, mood, and dyadic adjustment. A multi-level hierarchical model was used to estimate average within-person relations among the daily variables, while at the same time controlling for the influence of between-person differences in these variables. Lack of daily spousal support and the presence of spousal strain were both significantly associated with increased negative affect across the same day, although the magnitude of the effect of spousal strain was greater. However, these associations were mitigated for participants who perceived their marriages to be well-adjusted. In addition, daily stressors were directly associated with increased same day negative affect, however daily stressors did not interact with support or strain to predict distress. In contrast, the pattern of the findings for the prediction of negative affect across days was quite different. Of the daily variables, only spousal support, but not spousal strain or daily hassles, was a significant direct predictor of negative affect the next morning. Furthermore, spousal support and spousal strain were found to have a multiplicative association with negative affect the next day. Specifically, the presence of spousal strain attenuated the beneficial impact of spousal support on mood. Further, dyadic adjustment was a direct predictor of decreased negative affect the next day. The findings from this study suggest an interplay among social support, social strain, and well-being. In particular, the importance of considering differential influences over time for support and strain, as well as the moderating roles of proximal and distal relationship factors, was highlighted. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate

This study investigated cognitive components of marital adjustment and the role of social desirability response sets in a sample of retired older adults. It was hypothesized that higher marital adjustment scores would correlate negatively with dysfunctional beliefs concerning marriage. The objectives of the study were to identify which irrational beliefs are related to higher and lower levels of marital adjustment, and to determine the extent to which higher adjustment scores reflect the tendency to respond in a socially desirable manner. The sample consisted of 45 married couples, each partner of which was retired and aged 65 years or older. Assessment was made by self-report using the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (Spanier, 1976), Relationship Belief Inventory (Eidelson & Epstein, 1982), and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (Crowne & Marlowe, 1960). Significant correlations were found between virtually all total scores for the total sample as well as males and females separately. Results support the hypotheses that higher Dyadic Adjustment Scale scores were negatively correlated with lower Relationship Belief Inventory and Social Desirability Scale scores. No significant differences were found between males and females on any of the variables.

This study examined five seminal television series — I Love Lucy, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Jeffersons, The Cosby Show, and Home Improvement — for episodes of conflict. Those episodes of conflict were then analyzed through thematic analysis. Using Baxter's (1988) relational dialectical tensions as a theoretical framework, the internal tensions present in romantic relationships (i.e., autonomy v. connection, novelty v. predictability, and openness v. closedness) served as themes to organize the data. After identifying the dialectical tensions present in each of the series, the shows were then compared to determine if a shift had occurred in each of the dialectics over time. / Department of Communication Studies

This study utilized a qualitative research methodology to examine the perspectives of six subjects, three married couples, choosing abortion to terminate unwanted pregnancies. The subjects were interviewed a few days after the abortion and six weeks after the abortion for a total of 12 hours. The researcher transcribed the interviews and observer's comments written throughout the interview process. The data were qualitatively analyzed to gain an understanding of (a) the factors which contributed to the unwanted pregnancies; (b) the process by which the couples Chose abortion to terminate the unwanted pregancies, (c) factors which contributed to the decision; (d) factors surrounding the abortion procedure; and (e) factors which predisposed the couples to different kinds of post-abortion reactions. This analysis indicated that inconsistent birth control usage was but one factor in the unwanted pregnancy. decision to abort the unwanted pregnancy created relationship conflicts because each subject had different ideas and needs in regard to managing the unwanted pregnancy. Although all of the subjects expressed relief after the abortion procedure was completed, they also expressed feelings such as guilt, sadness, and a sense of loss. All of the couples in the study experienced relationship stress, and discussed relationship issues in the interviews. More concern was verbalized about the relationship than the abortion for the couples in the study. Two of the couples expressed a commitment to making personal changes to improve the marital relationship. For the married couples in this study, the decision to terminate the unwanted pregnancy and abortion mirrored the decision-making and conflict resolution process utilized by the couples in other situations.

This study was designed to investigate two hypotheses. The first was to determine if either an individual's epistemic style or Christian maturity were capable of predicting marital satisfaction among couples where at least one spouse was a church attender. The second was to determine if a matching score between spouses on epistemic style and Christian maturity would be able to predict marital satisfaction among couples where at least one spouse was a church attender. The Global Distress Scale (GDS) of the Marital Satisfaction Inventory was used as the dependent variable. The Psycho-Epistemological Profile (PEP) was used to measure epistemic style while the Shepherd Scale was used to measure Christian maturity.Fifty-two couples where at least one spouse was a church attender ultimately participated in the study. These couples were obtained by randomly contacting churches and soliciting the assistance of church representatives to help elicit participation. Ultimately seven of the churches contacted in this manner participated in the study.The results indicate that only the metaphorical epistemic style was a moderate predictor of marital satisfaction accounting for approximately 4% of the variance. Neither the matching score on epistemic style nor on Christian maturity were able to predict marital satisfaction. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

This study was designed to investiate the relationship between marital satisfaction and adherence to dysfunctional beliefs concerning the marital relationship among married couples in their twenties and retired married couples 65 years of age and older. Additionally, adherence to socially desirable response sets was also measured.Marital satisfaction among older couples was significantly higher than that of younger couples (p < .001). Older men demonstrated significantly greater adherence to dysfunctional beliefs about marriage than younger men (p < .01), while these beliefs were not significantly different for older and younger women. Older couples also demonstrated significantly greater adherence to socially desirable response sets than younger couples (p < .001 for women and p < .01 for men).Increased marital satisfaction was significantly correlated with decreased adherence to dysfunctional beliefs for all subjects (p < .001 for older women and p < .01 for all others) and with greater social desirability responding for all subjects except younger women (p < .01). Level of marital satisfaction among older couples was most influenced by that of one's spouse, while the satisfaction of younger couples was most affected by one's adherence to the belief that disagreement is destructive to the marriage. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

M.Cur. (Nursing Science) / People play a major role in each other’s lives and this is because they rely on one another for survival. Many studies have been done on families and how they experience having persons challenged with mental illness but little has been done on couples and how they experience a relationship where one is challenged with mental illness or on the facilitation of the mental health of couples in a relationship where one is challenged with mental illness. The purpose of this study is to explore and describe the lived experience of couples in a relationship where one is challenged with mental illness in order to describe guidelines to facilitate the mental health of the couples. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was utilised. The research was done in two phases. Phase one focused on an exploration of the lived experiences of couples in a relationship where one is challenged with mental illness. Phase two focused on guidelines to facilitate the mental health of the couples as a framework for the advanced psychiatric nurse practitioner. Purposive sampling was employed in selecting participants for the research study. The criteria were set out to be: couples in a relationship where one is challenged with mental illness with the willingness to participate and above the age of eighteen years. Phenomenological interviews were conducted and field notes gathered. Tesch’s method of data analysis was applied to analyse the data. Themes and categories were identified and a consensus was reached with the independent coder. Measures to ensure trustworthiness were considered and the criteria for ensuring rigour included truth value, applicability, consistency and neutrality. Ethical principles were also adhered to and those included: autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence and justice to protect the human participants. Findings have shown that both partners in a relationship where one is challenged with mental illness, experience challenges in the relationship. They experience the relationship as different to what it was before there was mental illness. The couples experience a change in their social roles, as the partner with mental illness cannot work, provide, or fulfil his or her role in the relationship. The partner without mental illness carries more responsibility than before because of the demands which the mental illness imposes in the relationship. There is also emotional upheaval experienced by both partners because being in the relationship for both of them is overwhelming. They also experience interpersonal distance linked to unhealthy relational patterns characterised by constant fights and drifting apart. The couples also experience a changed relationship with the self, and financial challenges as the mental illness cost them a great deal. The partners with mental illness experience rejection and feel undeserving of spousal support, whereas the partners without mental illness experience a burden due to the increased responsibility that they have to assume and that is both socioeconomic and household roles. Guidelines based on the findings as described by the couples were described in Chapter Four in order to facilitate the mental health of couples in a relationship where one is challenged with mental illness. Recommendations for mental health nursing practice, mental health nursing education and mental health nursing research were made. The study was evaluated and limitations were outlined.

No description available.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the possible relationship between social interest and marital adjustment in a selected group of married couples. Another variable relating to spiritual well-being and religious participation is also considered. In the studies reviewed, the concept of social interest as proposed by Adler has been supported as a psychological construct. It has generally correlated with characteristics that are viewed as social interest components. By contrast, it has generally related negatively with characteristics that are inconsistent with the concept. Of the investigations conducted, most have focused on the relationship between social interest and some aspect of individual functioning, such as psychological well-being, health, mood states, and locus of control. There has been little investigation between social interest and some aspect of individual functioning, such as psychological well-being, health, mood states and locus of control. There has been little investigation between social interest and marital satisfaction and, additionally, the possible relationship to religious participation. The results of this study support a positive relationship between social interest and marital satisfaction, a positive relationship[ between social interest and religious participation, and a positive relationship between marital satisfaction and religious participation.

The purpose of this study was to examine the structure of the midlife marriage, focusing on identity, intimacy, and marital satisfaction. The investigator sought to identify the identity issues that midlife men and women are experiencing, describe the intimacy issues they face as couples, and show if/how these factors relate to marital satisfaction. Data were collected from a purposive sample of 48 midlife couples in the Roanoke Valley area. These couples were subgrouped into two categories: twenty-rive couples were classified as nonclinical couples (not in marital counseling at the present time) and twentythree were classified as clinical couples (currently in marital counseling). Information from the Waring Intimacy Questionnaire (WIQ) was used to analyze identity and intimacy issues and to examine factors that influenced marital satisfaction. Information from the Marital Satisfaction Scale was used to assess the level of marital satisfaction for both nonclinical and clinical couples. The results of the study indicated that (1) men and women who are in marital counseling are in the process of examining their identity issues. Women appear to be reassessing their roles as wives and mothers and are beginning to concentrate on their individuality. The issues for men were less clearly defined. They continued to view work as of central importance in their lives and did not seem to have made the transition from work to family as their main source of identity as Levinson, Darrow, Klein, Levinson, and McKee (1978) predicted. Based on WIQ scores and qualitative responses on the questionnaire, men in both the nonclinical and clinical subgroups, and women in the clinical subgroup did not feel they had an intimate relationship with their spouses. Contrary to the premises of this study, identity and intimacy were not the most significant factors affecting marital satisfaction for these midlife couples. The two factors that most determined their couples· level of marital satisfaction were social desirability and compatibility. / Ph. D.