The research was a pioneering descriptive exploration investigating the relationship between marital continuance and the psychological needs and energy commitments of graduate student couples. The writer assumed that individuals have certain psychological needs for which they expend energy in one or more specific directions. The writer also assumed that certain attempts to meet needs could lead to conflict and separation between marital partners. For purposes of the study, separation was defined as couples having a period of separation for more than one week due, in part, to marital disharmony. Separation had to take place during the six month interval between the first and second data collections.The population consisted of 86 couples living in university housing at a Midwestern university. One member of the couple had to be registered as a graduate student with the university graduate school. The sample consisted of 50 couples who volunteered to participate. Age of the sample individuals ranged from 20 to 41 years. Length of marriage ranged from 2 months to over 14 years with the mean length of marriage at about 3 years. For 87 of the individuals, their present marriage was their first. For the remainder, all of whom were on the second marriage, 9 were males and 4 were females. During the study 5 of the 50 couples separated.During the first data collection, couples provided demographic information and received a battery of inventories. The Edwards Personal Preference Schedule (EPPS) was used to measure personality needs and interests. To measure the directions of energy commitment, the Energy Commitment Survey (ECS) was administered. Three marital adjustment scales were administered: the Locke Short Marital Adjustment Scale, the Kentucky Marital Adjustment Scale (KMAS), and a modified Renne Likert scale. During the collection of data, husband and wife were seated separately to ensure confidentiality of answers. Following was a six month interval during which the couples were given interpretations of their results. Results of an individual were not revealed to his or her spouse. After the six month interval of time, a second administration of the Renne Likert scale was mailed to the subjects. Separate stamped, pre-addressed envelopes were provided to ensure that spouses would not compare answers. At that time, the couples were also asked whether they had had a period of separation, of what length, and for what reasons.Statistical correlations were performed on all demographic and inventory variables with respect to whether the individuals had separated during the study. Correlations were made on individual scores as well as scores of couple differences. Additionally, a series of t-tests was also performed between those individuals that had separated and those that had not. Analysis of data revealed several significant items at the p<.05 level. Individuals that separated were noted to be older and had had fewer previous separations. With respect to the EPPS variables, females who separated had much less of a need for help, assistance, and concern from others than did those females that did not separate. Significant differences between females and males who separated were found on the variable of Intraception with the females having a greater need to examine the motives of the behavior of themselves and others. Differences on the variable of Achievement between males and females who separated approached significant levels with males showing a higher need for achievement and success. There were no significant results obtained in analyzing the data on the ECS. Analysis of the data obtained on the three marital adjustment scales revealed that loneliness and isolation were directly related to separation (p<.05). In addition it was discovered that the Renne Likert scale had equal or better power to distinguish marital adjustment at the p<.0l level than did the much longer KMAS or Locke scale.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/181600 |
| Date | January 1975 |
| Creators | Van Doren, Richard Witt |
| Contributors | Hollis, Joseph W. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | vi, 104 leaves ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
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