The Relationship Between Marital Characteristics Marital Interaction Processes And Marital Satisfaction

Marital Interaction: Experimental Investigations deals with experimental studies on marital interaction. Emphasis is on the importance of the role of description in the study of social interaction. Methods for the analysis of pattern and sequence, including cross-spectral time-series analysis, are also presented. Comprised of 15 chapters, this book begins with a historical review of several research traditions that have concerned themselves with families and marriages: the sociological tradition; the family therapy or systems tradition; the social learning tradition; and the developmental tradition. Research that points to the potential importance of the observation of consensual decision-making processes is also reviewed. A model of marital interaction called the Structural Model, which can be used to predict changes in marital satisfaction, is described. Subsequent chapters focus on the Couples Interaction Scoring System, an observational system for categorizing marital interaction; modern concepts of the assessment of reliability, particularly the stringent assessment that is necessary for sequential analysis; differences between well-functioning and poorly functioning marriages; couples' interactional styles in terms of communication skill deficits; and the concept of an individual's social competence. This monograph will be of interest to psychologists engaged in research on marriage, as well as sociologists and clinical researchers.

This book explores the subject of marital interaction. It brings together the work of international scholars and is divided into four sections: communication as a means by which couples manage everyday life; communication as a means of expression of emotion; communication and problem-solving; coping with relationships outside marriage. The text is interdisciplinary and looks at the issue from various angles: social psychology, clinical psychology and communications. Particular attention is paid to the emergence of sex differences in interaction patterns and the experience of counselling plays an important part.

Americans are living longer, and the elder population is growing larger. To meet the ongoing need for quality information on elder health, the Encyclopedia of Aging and Public Health combines multiple perspectives to offer readers a more accurate and complete picture of the aging process. The book takes a biopsychosocial approach to the complexities of its subject. In-depth introductory chapters include coverage on a historical and demographic overview of aging in America, a guide to biological changes accompanying aging, an analysis of the diversity of the U.S. elder population, legal issues commonly affecting older adults, and the ethics of using cognitively impaired elders in research. From there, over 425 entries cover the gamut of topics, trends, diseases, and phenomena: -Specific populations, including ethnic minorities, custodial grandparents, and centenarians -Core medical conditions associated with aging, from cardiac and pulmonary diseases to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s -Mental and emotional disorders -Drugs/vitamins/alternative medicine -Disorders of the eyes, feet, and skin -Insomnia and sleep disorders; malnutrition and eating disorders -Sexual and gender-related concerns -And a broad array of social and political issues, including access to care, abuse/neglect, veterans’ affairs, and assisted suicide Entries on not-quite-elders’ concerns (e.g., midlife crisis, menopause) are featured as well. And all chapters and entries include references and resource lists. The Encyclopedia has been developed for maximum utility to clinicians, social workers, researchers, and public health professionals working with older adults. Its multidisciplinary coverage and scope of topics make this volume an invaluable reference for academic and public libraries.

This edited volume draws together a wide range of exciting developments in the study of marital interaction. A significant feature of the book is its focus, not only on conflict and negative interactions but also on the processes by which couples maintain happy and constructive relationships. The chapters review and integrate the extensive literature in this area, as well as presenting important research findings. The contributors come from the disciplines of communication, social psychology and clinical psychology, and have national and international reputations for their work in this area. The findings reflect developments in theory and methodology, and have important implications for those working to strengthen and repair marital relationships.

Romantic relationships are an integral part of most adult lives, and marital problems have been linked to poorer physical and mental health making them the target of much research. Research into potential causes for decreased marital satisfaction has often explored the role of personality in this process and has established that the neuroticism predicts marital satisfaction both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Research has also begun to explore the intra-and interpersonal pathways by which neuroticism may impact relationships, but a definitive model has yet to emerge. This study was therefore intended to refine our understanding of the role of interpersonal interactions in mediating the association between neuroticism and marital satisfaction. To accomplish this objective, I conducted a cross-sectional analysis of neuroticism, marital satisfaction and the affect expressed during couples' problem-solving interactions. A new affective coding system was employed to measure both the intensity and variability of the positive and negative affect expressed during these interactions, and it was hypothesized that this affect would mediate the relationship between neuroticism and marital satisfaction. This model of affect mediation was not supported ; however, both neuroticism and affect were significantly related to marital satisfaction. The neuroticism of wives predicted the marital satisfaction of both spouses, whereas the neuroticism of husbands was unrelated to the satisfaction levels of either spouse. The intensity and variability of the negativity expressed by wives were also correlated with both spouses' marital satisfaction. On the other hand, the affect expressed by husbands was not related to the satisfaction of either spouse. These results are discussed in the context of prior research findings, and potential future applications for the new affective coding system are explored.

after taking into account perceptions of interaction.

In this 1998 book leading researchers present research and theory that focus on how marital dysfunction develops among newly wed couples.