The aim of the research was to evaluate the premarital enrichment programme designed by Pretorius (1997) for couples who wish to remarry. The study was motivated by literature, which shows a high likelihood of divorce among divorcees who remarry. Three interested couples responded to advertisements placed in a local Potchefstroom newspaper and announcements made in churches. A qualitative (case study method) research design was used. The programme consisted of six two-hour sessions. The programme was conducted over two weekends. The first three sessions were held with all three couples and the last three sessions with each couple separately due to conflicting schedules. The effect of the programme was assessed by five measuring instruments, participants' metaphoric drawings of their relationships, semi-structured interviews, and the researcher's observations of the interaction between the participants. The assessment took place a week before and four weeks after the programme presentation. The results obtained indicated that two of the couples experienced changes whilst the other couple experienced minimal change. The change that occurred in the two couples were with regards to their communication and conflict management, their implementation of boundaries, intimacy, security in their relationship, growth, and dyadic adjustment. It was concluded that the premarital enrichment programme prepared two couples for remarriage, specifically with regards to their adjustment in the relationship. / Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

The central theoretical argument of this study is that biblical mediation may be a useful short-term method for use in pastoral care, specifically within the bounds of reconciliation in troubled marriages. The goal of formulating a basis theory was to explore what the Biblical teaching is on marriage, marital conflict, mediation and reconciliation. In general, a revelation-historical approach was followed. Specific cases of marital conflict in the Bible were examined. In researching reconciliation the role of Jesus Christ and pastors as mediator was explored. A grammatical-historical exegesis was done on Mat. 59, Mat. 18:15-17 and Rom. 14:19. It was concluded that marriage is a union of companionship based on a covenant and ordained by God and foreshadowing the eternal joyous relationship between Christ and the Church. God hates divorce, which is permitted only in certain circumstances. It was found that biblical teaching on conflict in general may be applied to marital conflict. It was concluded that although not all conflict is caused by sin, sinful attitudes and behaviours, including sinful desires or legitimate desires elevated to demands and distortion of the husband - wife roles designed by God before the Fall, do play a part in causing conflict. With regard to reconciliation it was concluded that Jesus acted as Mediator on the cross, making possible reconciliation between God and man, which also reflects God's will for the horizontal relationship between his people, particularly in marriage. Several examples of informal mediations and of calls to peacemaking were found in the Bible. It was found that Mat. 185-17 allows for mediation or counselling by one or two others in the church in certain circumstances. For establishing a meta theory the goal was to examine biblical mediation as a third party intervention in pastoral care for reconciliation in troubled marriages. A literature study was conducted on mediation, biblical mediation as taught by Peacemaker Ministries and on marital conflict and intervention methods resembling mediation by a survey of the literature in the social sciences. A qualitative empirical study was conducted, by doing biblical mediation with three Christian couples. It was concluded that mediation, and particularly the biblical mediation model used by Peacemaker Ministries, may be used to advantage by pastors for reconciliation in troubled marriages. The aim of establishing 'a practice theory was to propose a biblical mediation model to guide pastors in working toward reconciliation in troubled marriages. This was done by an analysis and synthesis of the basis - and meta theory in hermeneutical interaction. / Thesis (M.A. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Traumatic conflict, abuse and violence within a marriage affect the children negatively. These children may develop signs associated with PTSD and maladjusted behavior in their adulthood. This pastoral care study is an investigation of the effects of marital conflict and abuse of children. It seeks to give answers to questions like: <ul> <li> How does traumatic conflict and abuse within a marriage impact on the lives of the children?</li> <li> Does this traumatic conflict and abuse affect the children to continue the cycle of violence in their own homes when they grow up?</li> <li> How can a child who grew up within an abusive and violent environment care pastorally for those who are in conflict and abusive marriages?</li> </ul> The researcher is a child who grew up in an environment of traumatic conflict and abuse with the marriage of his parents. He now ministers in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa. In his pastoral care ministry, he encounters people who go through the devastation of traumatic abuse and violence in their own marriages. As a caregiver, he struggles to minister effectively to such people because he finds himself being traumatized again by his past, as well as their experiences. This study aims to heal the author of the traumatic wounds he sustained while growing up. It also aims to help probationer ministers, like himself, who grew up in a traumatizing environment. Finally, it aims to come up with a pastoral care methodology that the Methodist Church of Southern Africa could use in order to empower her ministers who may have grown up in dysfunctional environments as a result of abuse, trauma and violence. The author undertakes this study with the assumption that people who suffered traumatically in their childhood cannot minister effectively to those that come seeking for help. The findings of this study will therefore heal the ministers of the hurt and pain they sustained while growing up, and help the Methodist Church of Southern Africa to care for its ministers so that they can be effective in their ministry towards victims of traumatic conflict, abuse and violence within their parent’s marriages. / Dissertation (MA(Theol))--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

The problem is limited to an analysis of the first one hundred divorce suits involving children filed in Dallas County, Texas, during the months of May and June, 1948. The general factors considered are: (a) family background; (b) age; (c) educational background; (d) economic status; (e) previous marital relations; and (f) the number of children.

This study examines the impact of Queen Victoria's political and diplomatic power on the marriages of her five daughters. Queen Victoria's influence on her daughters' marriages highlights her enduring behind the scenes power despite some claims to the contrary. Unlike the sons’ marriages, where considerable outside political influences brought to bear, the daughters’ marriages were almost solely influenced by Victoria. Examining the Queen's five daughters offers an alternate view of her motherhood while simultaneously exploring the diverse gender dynamics between her and her daughters.

No description available.

The marriages depicted in Willa Cather's fiction are a crucial element of her works. Although she does not describe in detail the marital relationships between her characters, Cather does depict these marriages realistically, and they are also interrelated with the major themes of her fiction. The marriages in Cather's works are divided into three general classifications: the successful, the borderline, and the failure. The successful marriage is characterized by affection and friendship. In the borderline marriages the partners are mutually dissatisfied with their relationship, but they do not separate or divorce. The marital failures are complete breakdowns that result in irreparable wounds healed only by the complete withdrawal or death of one of the partners. A study of marriage in Cather's works reveals there are more successful marriages than failures.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Family Studies and Human Services / Anthony Jurich / The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a difference in marital quality between full-time and bivocational pastors and their spouses in the Church of the Nazarene. While the denomination is a world-wide organization this study only considered clergy couples in the United States of America. The denomination has seventy-five districts in the United States. Originally, ten districts were randomly selected, however, due to a low response rate; five additional districts were purposely selected based on the availability of email addresses for the pastors. A mailing was sent to senior pastors and their spouses from the original ten districts. E-mails were sent to senior pastors and their spouses from all fifteen districts. A link was included in the e-mail that directed the individual to the K-State On-line Survey System. From the mail and the e-mail there were one hundred and ninety-nine responses. The survey included the following instruments: the Clergy Family Life Inventory, the Ministry Demand Inventory (Impact and Times), the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale, and the Reduced Sound Marital House. Qualitative questions were also asked according to the individuals’ position (i.e. Full-time Pastor, Full-time Pastor’s Spouse, Bivocational Pastor, Bivocational Pastor’s Spouse). There were six propositions developed for this study, these were: demands of the ministry have a negative effect on marital quality; intrusive congregational expectations have a negative effect on marital quality; the pastor’s own expectations for his/her work with the church will have an effect on his/her marital quality; financial stress will have an adverse effect on marital quality; marital quality is adversely affected when the spouse works outside of the home in order to meet the family budget; and, accepting the influence of his/her spouse has a positive affect on marital quality. Only the last proposition was confirmed. The findings suggest that there is no difference in marital quality between full-time and bivocational clergy couples. However, the reader most also consider the phenomena of social desirability in the context of this research.

The purpose of this study was to identify problem areas in second families as compared to first families . A questionnaire was sent to 31 first married wives and 20 second married wives. Both groups had children living in the home. The first 19 questions focused on parent-child, and husband-wife relations. Respondents were asked to indicate their feelings on a four-point Lichert-type scale of strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree. The next section, which was included for other research purposes, asked respondents how prepared they felt for this current marriage. Following these questions, 12 items were listed asking respondents to indicate if they would have liked more information in these areas before their marriage. Next, respondents were asked to indicate if problems existed in any of the following 12 possible problem areas--marital success, in-law relations, parent-child relations, avoiding divorce, childrearing, finances, religious differences, political differences, interpersonal communication, sexuality, ex-in-laws and ex-spouse. Lastly, a four-point question ranging from excellent, very good, good and poor asked for a rating of the marriage. Demographic information and household make-up was solicited on the last page. A letter of transmittal was included as a cover letter. The letter was hand addressed to the respondent and signed by the researcher. The results indicate that the overriding problem area in the second family as compared to the first family centers strongly on the parent-child relationship. It should be also noted that when asked to rate their marriages, wives in their first and second marriages reported no statistical difference.

This research explored positive paternal involvement in the lives of children within the broader familial context of marital dynamics and positive maternal involvement. The National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH) was used to obtain a longitudinal subsample of 582 first-married couples, as well as the wide range of variables necessary to explore this broader context of paternal influence. Three research questions guided the study: (I) What is the unique contribution of positive paternal involvement-with respect to positive maternal involvement and marital quality- in children's development? (2) How does the influence of positive paternal involvement interact with the influence of positive maternal involvement and marital quality to influence children 's development? (3) To what degree do fathers indirectly influence their children via the marital relationship and the mother-child relationship? Analysis demonstrated little evidence of fathers' unique contribution to children's aggressive/antisocial behavior, school problems, and other outcomes. Similarly, analysis demonstrated no indirect effects for paternal involvement across the 4-5 years span between Wave I and Wave 2 of the NSFH. Specifically, fathers' involvement did not indirectly affect children's outcomes via either the marital relationship or maternal involvement. However, limitations relating to internal reliability rendered findings questionable. Analysis also demonstrated a limited pattern of interaction effects between paternal involvement measures and marital and maternal variables. Specifically, Wave 2 paternal positive activities demonstrated meaningful interactions with maternal positive activities, marital happiness, and marital conflict, with respect to their influence on children's aggressive/antisocial behavior. interaction between paternal positive activities and marital variables indicated that paternal involvement is capable of interacting with other aspects of family context in ways which have both positive and negative consequences for children. Future research efforts address ing these questions should assess parental involvement in greater depth and breath, incorporating a framework capable of addressing both parental warmth and control. Similarly, future research should consider methods capable of addressing multicolinearity resulting from parallel paternal and maternal variables. Finally, future research should explore the various ways in which paternal involvement interacts with other sources of influence within families to impact the lives of children.