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.

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An explanatory model of stress and coping among dual-career partners examined the influence of role overload on individual coping strategies and relational coping resources as mediators, using marital quality as the measured outcome. Individual coping strategies included problem-focused and emotion-focused coping. Relational coping resources included maintenance behaviors, cooperative negotiation, and coercive negotiation. Data from a sample of 226 married, dual-career partners were subjected to a path analysis using a series of multiple regressions. Findings generally supported the proposed model. Results suggest that both individual coping strategies and relational coping resources mediated the stressor effects of role overload on marital quality / Ph. D.

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

Thesis advisor: Joanna Venator / This thesis explores an aspect of the work-family conflict by researching the impact of overtime work on divorce rates for high-income occupations. The work-family conflict refers to the conflict that exists within a relationship when work impedes on key, familial responsibilities. Overtime work is an example of this phenomenon, as increased time at the office can act as a catalyst for tension at home. I define overtime work by studying the usual hours worked in a week for individuals, and I specifically study various high-earning occupations to see how additional overtime work affects divorce rates. By analyzing ACS data from 2012-2019, I find that increased overtime hours tend to negatively impact divorce rates. Further, I find that this impact exists primarily in positions that work numerous overtime hours per week, whereas the effect is marginal for those who work limited overtime hours. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2024. / Submitted to: Boston College. Morrissey School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Economics. / Discipline: Departmental Honors.

Doctor of Philosophy / Family Studies and Human Services / Sandra M. Stith / Little information is available on the use of relational aggression in adult romantic relationships. In a sample of 325 married couples (650 spouses) we assessed the use of relational aggression within couples married an average of approximately 18 years to learn more about relational aggression within this population. To understand a potential motivating factor for the use of relational aggression, marital power was also examined. Finally, to learn whether or not relationship satisfaction mediates the relationship between marital power and relational aggression, relationship satisfaction was measured and was found to be a significant mediating variable. Using the actor/partner interdependence model, we found that those who were dissatisfied in their relationships, regardless of perceived marital power, were more likely to use relational aggression. Additionally, those who were satisfied in their marriage were less likely to use relational aggression. Wives participated in more relational aggression than husbands and husbands perceived themselves as having more power and were more satisfied in the marriage. Implications and suggestions for clinicians are offered.

Esta investigación se sitúa dentro de los planteamientos de la Psicología de la Personalidad que enfatiza las variables intrapersonales como determinantes de la satisfacción marital. La Personalidad normal o anormal, puede ser en parte, junto con otras variables, la causa de una relación de pareja satisfactoria o insatisfactoria. Se ha partido del supuesto de que la personalidad de cada uno de los miembros de la pareja contribuye de forma independiente a la Satisfacción Marital. El temperamento también es investigado, en tanto que contribuye a constituir factores o rasgos de personalidad, se analizan las relaciones existentes entre las dimensiones del temperamento y la satisfacción marital. El objetivo de la presente tesis es determinar de forma empírica si las variables del temperamento ( partiendo del modelo teórico de Thomas y Chess, 1977) se relacionan con la Satisfacción Marital. A su vez se investiga si las dimensiones del temperamento están relacionadas con la Conducta Sexual, ya que la Conducta Sexual mantiene relaciones significativas con la Satisfacción Marital. Un segundo objetivo de la investigación ha sido el analizar las relaciones existentes entre las dimensiones de Personalidad, Neuroticismo y Extraversión con la Satisfacción Marital y con la Conducta Sexual. Por último, también se ha analizado si el tiempo de casados y la edad de los miembros de la pareja mantienen alguna relación significativa con la Satisfacción Marital y con la Conducta Sexual. / We have investigated the relacionship between the dimensions of temperament (from Thomas & Chess theoretical model, 1977) and the marital satisfaction and sexual behaviour, in this doctoral thesis. At the same time, we have analysed what is the relationship which the variable of Personality, Neuroticism and Extroversion, holds whith marital satisfaction and sexual behavior. Finally, the relationship between the time of marriage and the age of the couple whith marital satisfaction and sexual behavior.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Sociology. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.