A sample of 127 members of the Association of Mormon Counselors and Psychotherapists (AMCAP) responded to a questionnaire regarding their beliefs, practices and training in premarital counseling (PMC). This study was a replication of a previous study of 226 clergy premarital counselors from four Protestant denominations by Jones, E.F., & Stahmann, R.F. (1994). The results of this study were compared with the results of the Jones & Stahmann study. Findings suggest that AMCAP members were less likely than Protestant clergy to believe that PMC should be required of all couples before marriage. AMCAP members and Protestant clergy both rated Enrichment, Testimony/Evangelism, and Education as the three most important topics/roles they focus on when providing PMC. No difference was found between AMCAP members and Protestant clergy in the number of first marriage couples seen for PMC during a 12 month period. AMCAP members saw an average of one couple more than Protestant clergy for PMC with remarriages during a 12 month period. AMCAP members reported the use of group formats and assigned reading materials more frequently than Protestant clergy. Protestant clergy reported the use of individual couple formats and tests or assessments more frequently than AMCAP members. There was no difference in the amount of training between AMCAP members and Protestant clergy with nearly 40% of both samples practicing PMC with no specific training in PMC.

The purpose of this study was to determine the most important premarital couple protective and risk factors associated with marital relationship quality and stability by utilizing meta-analytic procedures to calculate standardized effect sizes for each factor. Extant research was identified and evaluated using the following inclusionary criteria: the dependent variables had to measure some form of marital quality or stability, the independent variables had to be premarital in nature, the participants had to have married after 1969, and the statistics necessary for the computation of a zero-order correlation effect size had to be available. Meta-analytic procedures were then utilized to code studies meeting inclusionary criteria, aggregate conceptually-comparable variables across included studies, and calculate standardized zero-order correlational effect sizes for each aggregated premarital factor. The predictive magnitude of premarital couple factors associated with subsequent marital outcomes was generally moderate. The results indicated both medium and small effect sizes for the various identified premarital couple predictors of marital relationship quality and instability. Positive premarital factors were generally associated with positive marital outcomes and negative premarital factors were generally associated with negative outcomes. The strongest significant protective and risk factors for marital distress and dissolution were as follows. The protective factors against marital distress included premarital relationship quality (e.g., love, satisfaction, support), premarital relationship stability (e.g., commitment, stability), attitude and value similarity (e.g., autonomy, lifestyle, expectations), positive premarital interactions (e.g., assertiveness, empathy, self-disclosure), religiosity similarity (e.g., religion importance, beliefs, denominational affiliation), and family-of-origin experience similarity factors (e.g., attachment, parent-child relationship, parents' marriage, physical violence). The protective factors against marital dissolution included premarital relationship stability, religiosity similarity, premarital relationship quality, and positive interactions. The risk factors for marital distress included negative premarital interactions (e.g., conflict, criticism, demand-withdraw) and premarital violence (e.g., physical aggression, sexual coercion, violence). The risk factors for marital dissolution included negative interactions and premarital cohabitation with one's spouse. No significant gender differences were identified for any of the premarital predictive factors. Study limitations, implications for future research, and recommendations for educators and clinicians are discussed.

The purpose of the present study was to gain more knowledge about single individuals with specific premarital risk factors for later marital problems (e.g. neuroticism or low emotional readiness, family-of-origin dysfunction, poor communication skills, and hostile conflict resolution style). The sample (N=39) completed the RELATionship Evaluation (RELATE) and were selected for the study based on the presence of one or more risk factors. Participants were contacted via email and asked to complete an online version of the Relationship Follow-up Questionnaire (RFQ) to determine their knowledge or awareness of their risk factor(s) after taking RELATE, their motivation for premarital interventions after taking RELATE, their perceived roadblocks or barriers hindering participation in premarital interventions, and their post-RELATE marriage preparation behaviors including their post-RELATE relationship breakups. The results showed that the RELATE increased an at-risk individual's knowledge or awareness of risk factors, increased their motivation for premarital interventions, and had little to no effect on the break-up of relationships. At-risk individuals reported the major roadblocks or barriers to participation in premarital interventions as being time, money, being uninformed, and the perceived distance/inconvenience of interventions. At-risk individuals' post-RELATE behaviors included discussing the RELATE results with their partner and friends and utilizing books and articles related to marriage. They did not report utilizing individual or couples counseling. Practitioners can use this information to make premarital interventions more appealing to at-risk individuals and encourage the use of the RELATE to increase participation in premarital interventions and help prevent later marital problems.

Thesis (M. Div.)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this thesis the focus will be on the challenges that our modern society presents to the church and her understanding of sexuality. Certain “traditional” values are questioned on a continual basis. Many people argue that a new era represents new challenges and therefore new answers are needed – “traditional” values has nothing more to say in this new world. A “traditional” sex-ethic that believes sex should be kept for marriage, is one of the casualties. This thesis attempts to show that such a “traditional” sex-ethic is still relevant in this world, today. This can only be done by taking serious notice of the current state of a modern society, & by respecting the Christian tradition, as well as the Word of God. By bringing the Word of God into a critical dialogue with the modern world and the challenges that it represents, it will be possible to show that a “traditional” sex-ethic is still relevant in this modern world. The Word of God gives us no systematic theory on human sexuality. It is therefore important that we take the central theme of the bible as our point of departure. Love and justice should guide every decision people make: if we want to obey God’s central command of loving our neighbors, we need to approach others with love and justice. By keeping sex for marriage we stay true to what God expects of us. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie word daar gefokus op die uitdagings wat ons moderne samelewing aan die kerk en haar verstaan van seksualiteit stel. Sekere “tradisionele” waardes word bevraagteken, dikwels in die naam van ‘n nuwe konteks. ‘n Nuwe era bied nuwe uitdagings en daarom word baie van dit wat as “tradisioneel” beskou word verwerp as iets wat vandag geen waarde meer het nie. ‘n “Tradisionele” seks-etiek wat sê dat seks slegs in die huwelik hoort, is een van hierdie slagoffers. Hierdie tesis probeer dus aantoon dat só ‘n tradisionele seks-etiek vandag, in ‘n veranderende wêreld, steeds relevant is. Dit kan slegs aangetoon word deur deeglik kennis te neem van die stand van die moderne samelewing, ‘n waardering van die Christelike tradisie, en die Woord van God. Deur die Woord van God krities in gesprek te bring met ‘n moderne samelewing en die uitdagings wat dit bied, kan daar aangetoon word dat seks steeds in die huwelik hoort – nie voor die huwelik nie, ook nie buite die huwelik nie. Die Woord van God bied aan ons geen sistematiese teorie oor die mens se seksualiteit nie. Om hierdie rede is dit belangrik dat ons die sentrale tema van die Woord as ons vertrekpunt sal neem vir ons bestudering van die mens se seksualiteit. Die basis van dit alles is liefde en geregtigheid – God se opdrag om ons naaste lief te hê kan slegs deur hierdie twee riglyne ‘n realiteit word. Deur seks slegs in die huwelik te beoefen, is ons getrou aan hierdie opdrag van God.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

Master of Science / School of Family Studies and Human Services / Jared A. Durtschi / Can having more frequent conversations with a romantic partner prior to marriage contribute to better marital outcomes several years into a marriage? Little is known regarding premarital self-disclosure and its association with distal marital outcomes. Data was utilized from 707 newly married couples assessed across the first four years of marriage through three waves of assessment as part of the Marriage Matters Panel Survey of Newlywed Couples (Nock, Sanchez, & Wright, 2008). Structural equation modeling, including common-fate analysis, was used to test self-disclosure prior to marriage and its association with later marital quality of each spouse and the odds of divorce or separation by the first four years into marriage. Couple-level reactivity was tested as a mediator of these associations, while controlling for known covariates. Results indicated that premarital self-disclosure was associated with wives’ higher marital satisfaction and lower odds of divorce or separation three to four years into marriage. This relationship was mediated by reactivity. Clinical implications are discussed for couples prior to marriage, suggesting more frequent conversations about a wider variety of topics between dating couples.

The purpose of the study was to find the relationship between adolescent premarital sexual activity and involvement in the family, school, and church. The sample was composed of 192 adolescents. The data were analyzed for significant relationships by using chi square test of independence. The study found that there were significant relationships between adolescent premarital sexual activity and family structure, family mobility, parental employment, grade level achievement, and parental attendance at school functions. Since the findings of a study of this nature are pertinent to society, further research needs to be done using a more heterogeneous sample and a more refined, limited instrument. The instrument should be further tested for reliability and validity.

This thesis investigates the relationship between violent conflicts and sexual and reproductive health in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The aim of the thesis is to investigate how war affects demographic outcomes across individual life courses. The thesis contributes to the research field by linking macro level conflict data measuring the intensity and frequency of violent conflict with micro level data on women’s sexual and birth histories and infant deaths across time and place. The results show that war affects infants’ survival and women’s sexual and reproductive health and behavior. The first study finds an increase of premarital first sexual intercourse during the violent conflicts in Rwanda. The second study finds evidence of a delay in the fertility transition due to the Congolese war and the lingering conflicts in East DRC. The third study suggests that the Congolese war affects infant mortality, but only post-neonatal mortality. Despite consistent evidence that conflict affects the everyday life of women and children, the mechanisms that explain this relationship are largely unknown. This thesis identifies important gaps in the research that limit our understanding of the mechanisms at work. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: Manuscript. Paper 3: Submitted.</p>

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:39:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 juliana.pdf: 841775 bytes, checksum: 65ffcf710a9ae37387c1233ee8aa1640 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-05-15 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / This work aimed at contributing for the understanding of the transition from premarital relationships to legal conjugality, identifying rituals, celebrations and practices implied in this change. It was based in semi-structured interviews with six young adults, three men and three women, already legally married, who previously cohabited for at least six months before their marriages. They were asked to mention the more significant events in their respective relationships, since the first days, and then induced to talk about those events, expanding the researcher s comprehension of their personal experience. The results showed that cohabitation was seen by the interviewed as a test drive , which helped them to get the certainty necessary for the decision to marry, without the seriousness of a formal union and emotional risks in case of failure. Regarding the couples families, although in thesis they did not approve this kind of union, for its lack of social acknowledgment, throughout time they tended to act as if the legal formalities were already met, demanding their sons to behave as legally married people. This contradiction did not appear in the case of the couples friends, which treated them accordingly since the beginning of co-habitation. Furthermore, and in accordance with the test drive idea, after making successfully the necessary adjustments the couples also tended to consider the marriage as the next step. The ceremony and marriage s party, as rituals in this transition, now become significant, as they symbolize the importance of this decision. Finally, for all these reasons - and some others related to gender, analyzed in this study - these pre- and post- marital practices oscillate between modern and the traditional models / Este trabalho teve como objetivo contribuir para a compreensão das transições dos relacionamentos fluidos pré-maritais para as conjugalidades legais, identificando rituais, celebrações e práticas utilizadas para demarcar suas respectivas particularidades e modificações. Tratou-se de uma investigação qualitativa da qual participaram seis adultos jovens, sendo três homens e três mulheres, que hoje estão legalmente casados, mas que co-habitaram com seu atual cônjuge por no mínimo seis meses antes do casamento. A coleta de dados foi realizada individualmente, por meio de entrevistas semi-dirigidas. Nelas, foi pedido aos participantes que citassem os eventos que consideram marcantes ao longo do relacionamento do casal, do namoro até o momento atual. Em seguida, foram estimulados a falar sobre esses eventos de modo a caracterizar a experiência vivida nesse relacionamento. Os resultados mostraram que o morar junto é visto por esses jovens como um teste de convivência, que ajuda a dar segurança e a certeza necessária para a decisão de casar, sem a seriedade envolvida numa união legal e com menos riscos emocionais se não der certo . Quanto às suas famílias de origem, apesar delas não aprovarem esse tipo de união pois não a consideram como uma conjugalidade socialmente reconhecida na prática, raramente se opõem a essa situação e, ao longo do tempo, muitas vezes passam a tratar seus filhos como um casal formal, nos aspectos positivos e negativos implicados neste tipo de relação. Quanto aos amigos, estes passam a ver o casal como se já estivessem legalmente casados, tratando-os de acordo com essa idéia desde o início da co-habitação. Além disso, quando o casal percebe que a convivência é possível e que já fizeram os ajustes necessários, surge a idéia de casar. Nesse contexto, a cerimônia e a festa de casamento, importantes elementos de um ritual, passam a ter significado, já que é por meio deles que o casal compartilha com a família e amigos a importância dessa decisão. Destaca-se enfim, que por esses fatores e mesmo outros, referentes a questões de gênero, tratadas nesse estudo, estes casamentos possuem práticas e referências que oscilam entre os modelos moderno e o tradicional

A satisfying sexual relationship is an important aspect of general marital satisfaction. Considering that most people will marry, understanding the factors influencing marital sexual satisfaction becomes important in understanding what makes happy, satisfied relationships and individuals in our society. This study builds on previous research, which has indicated that there are a number of "risky factors" associated with having numerous premarital sexual partners, by demonstrating that there are risks associated with the future marital relationship. Using exchange theory concepts, this study empirically examines the relationship between premarital sexual promiscuity and marital sexual satisfaction. The sample included 313 married males and females between the ages of 18-40 using data from the NHSLS survey, a United States national random sample. The dichotomous dependent variable combined measures of emotional and physical sexual satisfaction. Premarital sexual promiscuity was measured continuously. Implications for clinicians are discussed. Of males, 87.7% reported being extremely satisfied with their marital sexual relationship and 12.3% reported being moderately satisfied. Of females, 84.6% of reported extreme satisfaction and 15.4% reported moderate satisfaction with their marital sexual relationship. The range of partners including the marital partner was 1-191 for men and 1-66 for women. The mean number of partners was 11.35 (SD 19.77) for men and 4.25 (SD 6.3) for women. Results indicate that for every additional premarital sexual partner an individual has, not including the marital sexual partner, the likelihood that they will say their current marital sexual relationship is extremely satisfying versus only being moderately satisfying goes down 3.9%. Additionally, when running models separately for males and females, the male model was more significant at 5.3%. The female model approached significance. Control variables for the models were not significant except that males who were not White, Black, or Hispanic, were 8.9% less likely than White males to report being extremely satisfied with their marital sexual relationship as compared to only being moderately satisfied. This model does not account for individuals who had sex with their spouse before marriage and the results should not be interpreted to include such.