The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of AAME, a marital enrichment program for African American couples, on martial satisfaction. The major thesis was that racism, sexism, and incongruent gender role attitudes were the most salient factors in marital dissatisfaction among African American married couples. / The research design combined both single case and traditional group methodologies. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analyzed. The dependent variables were marital satisfaction and gender role attitudes. The independent variable was a cognitive-behavioral, psycho-educational, seven week course, culminating with a recommitment ceremony. The sample included eight middle class couples, married from 1-20 years. Each treatment condition included four couples. / Results indicated no statistically significant differences between groups. Qualitative interview data suggested congruence in gender role attitudes was an important factor in marital satisfaction. Furthermore, knowledge of the effects of racism and sexism on African American marriages seemed important in decreasing resentment and unresolved conflict between spouses. Single case data indicated symptoms of psychological distress decreased among experimental group subjects. / Future practice research should replicate the study with larger samples, and include greater heterogeneity of subjects' demographic characteristics. Future social policy and practice efforts should focus on marriage enrichment as a preventive health technology. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-08, Section: A, page: 2983. / Major Professor: Dianne H. Montgomery. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1992.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_76713 |
| Contributors | Blackman, Lorraine C., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 383 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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