The purpose of the current study was to examine links between Gottman's (1994, 1999) conflict resolution (CR) styles and marital distress indicators (the four horsemen), adult attachment, and Snyder's (1997) marital satisfaction inventory. (MSI-R). One hundred and one heterosexual couples (202 individuals; mean age = 43.5 years, SD = 11.15), currently involved in a marital style relationship (length of relationship M = 19 years, SD = 10.8), were recruited via undergraduate psychology students at a Melbourne university, who requested the questionnaires be completed by their parents or other relatives if they were not eligible for inclusion, and via a Melbourne relationship counselling centre. No evidence was found for matching of conflict resolution styles between partners in the couples, therefore hypotheses testing matching of conflict resolution style against marital distress indicators, marital satisfaction and attachment orientation were not supported. Women were found to score higher on the anxiety adult attachment dimension than men, but no gender differences were found on the 'avoidance' adult attachment dimension. Hypotheses testing links between adult attachment and Gottman's conflict resolution styles (CR) were supported. Participants classified into the secure attachment category were found to score significantly higher in validating CR than those classified as avoidant (dismissive or fearful), and significantly lower in volatile CR than preoccupied participants. Avoidant CR scores were found to be significantly lower amongst secure women than dismissive women, and amongst secure men than both dismissive and fearful men. The hypothesis that women would be higher in contempt and criticism than men was supported, whilst the prediction that men would be higher in stonewalling than women was not supported. Participants classified as secure were associated with lower levels of marital distress indicators and marital dissatisfaction variables than those classified as insecure, as predicted; however some gender differences were apparent in the pattern of differences between the attachment groups in these variables. The hypothesis testing partners' similarity to one another on Gottman's marital distress indicators was not supported; however strong support was found for the notion that partners believed themselves to be similar to their partners on these variables. The hypothesis that secure or dismissive participants would have greater perceived similarity than preoccupied or fearful participants was supported for men but not for women. The prediction that anxious attachment scores would be associated with higher accuracy of partner perception was supported for women but not for men. The prediction that anxious attachment would decrease with age and length of relationship was supported for women but not for men; and the final prediction that accuracy of partner perception would diminish with length of relationship was supported for men but not for women. Overall, results of the current study indicate that there are subtle differences between men and women in the experience of distress in marital relationships, as well as in how relationships change over time. Further, the current research offers evidence that the conflict resolution styles proposed by Gottman may be related to attachment orientation, and may offer some explanation as to how various attachment needs are met via these different methods of marital interaction.

The Marital Interaction Dimension Inventory (MIDI) is an assessment that evaluates marital relationships on seven dimensions; sexuality, self disclosure, emotional affiliation, conflict resolution, power outcome, commitment, and identity. The MIDI provides scores on and individual's actual and desired relationship.

This longitudinal study investigated the potential moderating effects of attachment on negative marital interaction and positive child outcomes, specifically school engagement and child self-regulation. Waves I and II of data were drawn from the Flourishing Families Project; participants were 296 two parent families (fathers, mothers and children ages 10-13). Both observational and questionnaire data were used in data collection. Negative marital interaction was assessed using observational codes from the Iowa Family Interaction Rating Scales. All three family members' perceptions were used in assessing parent/child attachment and the potential positive child outcomes of school engagement and child self-regulation. As negative marital interaction increased, both school engagement and the child's self-regulation decreased. Only mother's attachment with child was a statistically significant moderating variable for the relationship between negative marital interaction and the child's school engagement. Gender effects showed that girls were more engaged in school and more self-regulated than boys. Implications for family therapy interventions with problems of child school engagement and self-regulation are explored.

A review of research on family economic distress and its association with teen well-being shows a clear need to expand our knowledge about the connections between economic distress and key teen outcomes. Economic distress can act as an unexpected negative shock to the family system and can influence parent relationship quality, functioning, and involvement in children's lives. In turn, changes in systemic quality, functioning, and involvement can impact adolescents positively or negatively. Using observational coding and questionnaire self-report, this study examined the relationship between economic distress and negative marital interaction and the impact this has on parental involvement as a predictor of child school engagement while controlling for gender of the child. A structural equation model analysis was fit to data from 323 two-parent families. The average age of children for the study was 14.31 years of age. Results showed that economic distress is associated with marital relationship interactions, as well as parental involvement, which also impacts school engagement. Therapists should be mindful of and address current economic distress which their clients are experiencing and be aware of the possible associations with all parts of the family system. Possible interventions in the parent-couple system and increasing both mother and father involvement are suggested.

Remarriages are more structurally diverse, last less time, are more vulnerable, and at greater risk for divorce than first marriages. The newlywed stage of marriage is a critical time when relationship patterns are established or reinforced that can impact a relationship for years to come, yet very few studies have examined remarried relationships in the newlywed stage. This study examined the association between marital interaction, positive communication, and marital instability in 348 newlywed remarried couple participants from a nationally representative sample. Using structural equation modeling (SEM) and actor-partner interdependence model with mediation (APIMeM), the findings indicated that positive communication was indirectly related to increased marital interaction and decreased marital instability. Wife and husband increased marital interaction was related to their own (individual) increased positive communication. Wife and husband increased positive communication was related to their own decreased marital instability and to their partner's decreased marital instability. These findings suggest that marital interaction and positive communication are important factors in promoting marital stability in newlywed remarriages. Implications for relationship educators and therapists are proposed.

The purpose of this study was to bridge the existing gap in the literature by exploring the relationship between the Adlerian concept of social interest, expressed through cooperation and conflict, and perceived level of marital happiness. This study explored behaviors along a continuum of social interest from cooperation to conflict. Preexisting data were used from the longitudinal Marital Instability over the Life Course Project funded by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institute on Aging (Booth, Johnson, Amato, & Rogers, 2003). Data from telephone surveys were collected in 1980, 1983, 1988, 1992-1994, 1997, and 2000 from married individuals who were between the ages of 18 and 55 in 1980. The initial random sample was 2,033, but attrition took place for each of the subsequent waves, resulting in 762 respondents in 2000. Results of hierarchical regression analyses revealed statistically significant relationships in a positive direction between cooperation and marital happiness, and in a negative direction between conflict and marital happiness across all waves of data. Cooperation and conflict as indicators of social interest accounted for between 26% and 37% of the variance in marital happiness, except for the 1988 wave, which was an aberration on all measures and accounted for only 12% of the variance. This still exceeded the a priori effect size selected for the study, a standardized regression coefficient of |.10|. Implications for theory, research and practice include focus on the link between higher levels of social interest as demonstrated through cooperative behaviors and greater marital happiness, one between conflict and lower levels of marital happiness. Marriage and family therapists need to consider the underlying goals of conflict such as power that may reveal underdeveloped levels of social interest. Counselors need to focus on helping couples develop relational skills that include the social provisions needed like empathy, understanding, and support. Future research is needed to more clearly define behaviors along the continuum of social interest.