Marital Stability Research Articles

The Influence of Regulated Marital Conflict Resolution Styles on Marital Stability in Kiambu County, Kenya

The purpose of the study was to establish the relationship between regulated conflict resolution styles and marital stability in Kiambu County, Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to: establish the types of marital conflicts among married individuals in Kiambu County; determine the various marital conflict resolution styles used by married individuals in the County, and; establish the relationship between marital conflict resolution styles and marital stability. Descriptive-correlation research design was used. Data was collected from 96 married individuals aged 18 years and above by aid of a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS. The statistical techniques applied included independent samples T-test, Chisquare and Mann-Whitney U test. The results showed that most types of conflicts were solvable. Descriptive statistics indicated that regulated marital conflict resolution styles were used by majority of the respondents, with validating styles being the most applied (M=2.87, SD=0.745). This was followed by volatile styles (M=2.79, SD=0.827) and avoidant styles (M=2.79, SD=0.739). The difference between individuals in stable marriages and those in unstable marriages was not statistically significant in terms of their use of regulated marital conflict resolution styles. It was concluded that regulated conflict resolution styles were a necessary but not sufficient conditions for marital stability. It was recommended that premarital counselors should highlight to the would be couples that some conflicts are perpetual and therefore require coping with, rather than resolving.

English

Marital satisfaction is one of the ingredients of marital stability and is affected by a number of factors. A cross-sectional survey substantiated with qualitative studies was conducted so as to identify the major socio-demographic factors that influence the marital satisfaction of married couples among selected districts of Jimma Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Study participants of 240 randomly selected couples, either the wife or husband, were surveyed and key informant interview was held to collect evidences about the study objectives. As a result, variables such as level of education, number of children, spousal infidelity, marriage type, leisure spending, interest difference, openness among couples, and poverty have brought a statistically significant difference in marital satisfaction. Similarly, qualitative study participants noted that economic background, educational background, type of marriage, religious background, ethnic background, age difference, place of birth, religious discordant marriage, migration, adultery, early marriage, Khat abuse, in-laws interference, family size, sexual incompatibility and polygamous marriage determine the marital satisfaction of couples in the study area. Besides, the study found out the existence of differences on the factors that shape the marital satisfaction of urban and rural couples. Key words: Socio-demographic, marital satisfaction, determinants, Jimma Zone, Ethiopia.

Marital Satisfaction, Stability, and Conflict Among Treatment Seeking Couples after Traumatic Brain Injury

Many relationships are strained after brain injury, with several studies suggesting high rates of relationship dissolution. Few studies are available to help us fully understand the impact of injury on coupled relationships. Among the studies available, the focus has been on the perspective of uninjured partners, with little known about the perspective of the survivor. The current study aims to evaluate survivor and partner ratings of relationship satisfaction, stability, and conflict in 63 survivor-partner pairs seeking relationship therapy postinjury.

Dynamics of maternal union dissolution and childhood mortality in sub-Saharan Africa

ABSTRACTThe family setting has implications for child survival. In this study, the dynamics of maternal union dissolution and childhood mortality were investigated in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Birth history data of 235 454 children from the most recent Demographic and Health Survey conducted in 23 SSA countries were analysed using life table techniques and piecewise exponential hazards models. The results revealed that the childhood mortality rates were 35 vs 32 per 1000 live births (one month), 61 vs 54 per 1000 (11 months) and 95 vs 86 per 1000 (48 months) for children of women in marital dissolution compared with those with intact marriages. Despite controlling for background variables, the risk of under-five mortality was significantly higher among children of women in marital dissolution (relative risk = 1.35, confidence interval: 1.30–1.40). The effect of dissolution on childhood mortality has not changed since the 1990s. Marital stability is an important social structure for child survival.

Protective factors for social-emotional well-being of refugee children in the first three years of settlement in Australia

AimThis longitudinal study investigated protective factors for social-emotional well-being in refugee children in Australia.MethodsNewly arrived refugee children aged 4–15 years were recruited between 2009 and 2013 and assessments were conducted...

Less Alimony After Divorce Spouses' Behavioral Response to the 2008 Alimony Reform in Germany

The 2008 alimony reform in Germany considerably reduced post-marital and caregiver alimony. We analyze how individuals adapted to these changed rulings in terms of labor supply, the intra-household allocation of leisure, and marital stability. We use the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) and conduct a difference-in-difference analysis to investigate couples' behavioral responses to the reform. The results do not confirm theoretical expectations from labor supply and household bargaining models. In particular, we do not find evidence that women increase their labor supply as a result of the negative expected income effect. Neither do our results reveal that leisure is shifted from women to men as a response to the changed bargaining positions. In contrast, we find evidence that the reform has led to an increase in the probability to separate for married as opposed to non-married cohabiting couples.

Risk factors for suicide in offspring bereaved by sudden parental death from external causes

BackgroundParentally bereaved offspring have an increased suicide risk as a group, but the ability to identify specific individuals at risk on the basis of risk and protective factors is limited. The present study aimed to investigate to what degree different risk factors influence suicide risk in offspring bereaved by parental death from external causes. MethodsBased on Norwegian registers, individual-level data were retrieved for 375 parentally bereaved suicide cases and 7500 parentally bereaved gender- and age-matched living controls. Data were analysed with conditional logistic regression. ResultsBereaved offspring with low social support, indicated by offspring's single status and repeated changes in marital status and residence, had a significantly increased suicide risk compared to bereaved offspring with high social support. Moreover, low socioeconomic status, having an immigration background, having lost both parents and loss due to suicide significantly increased suicide risk. LimitationsSeveral variables relevant to bereavement outcome, such as coping mechanisms and the quality of the parent-offspring relationship are impossible to examine by utilizing population registers. Moreover, the availability of data did not enable the measurement of marital stability and residence stability across the entire lifespan for older individuals. ConclusionsHealthcare professionals should be aware of the additional risk posed by the identified risk factors and incorporate this knowledge into existing practice and risk assessment in order to identify individuals at risk and effectively target bereaved family and friends for prevention and intervention programs. Ideal follow-up for bereaved families should include a specific focus on mobilizing social support.

Counseling-supportive interventions to decrease infertile women's perceived stress: A systematic review.

BackgroundInfertility all around the world and in every culture is recognized as a stressful and critical experience that threatens individual, familial, marital, and social stability. Thus, in accordance with the importance of a woman’s mental health and the possible impact of mental health on treatment outcome, finding a way to deal with perceived stress in women can help improve pregnancy outcomes.MethodsThis study is a systematic review on reducing perceived infertility stress in infertile women. The current study was undertaken using multiple databases such as SID, Irandoc, Magi ran, Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Cochrane library, and CINAHL selected from articles pertinent to the study. The selection of papers was undertaken from 1990 through May 2016. The methodological quality was assessed.ResultsThe initial search yielded a list of 725 papers, and then reviewers studied titles and abstracts. Thereafter, 68 papers were incorporated, and researchers reviewed summaries of all of the searched articles. Finally, the researchers utilized the data gained from 29 full articles so as to compile this review paper. Reviewing the studies conducted on reducing infertility perceived stress, the researchers classified related findings into two main categories: supportive and counseling intervention.ConclusionConsidering the fact that there is an international agreement that fertility centers need to offer counseling programs for psychological problems of the infertile, it is especially important to recognize counseling-supportive interventions for decreasing infertile women’s perceived stress and to program plans for decreasing women’s perceived stress. By investigating counseling-supportive stress, we hope that this study has stepped forward toward health care agent’s familiarity with decreasing infertile women’s perceived stress and, therefore, improving treatment consequences.

When equity matters for marital stability: Comparing German and U.S. couples.

Comparing West Germany and the United States, we analyze the association between equity - in terms of the relative gender division of paid and unpaid work hours - and the risk of marriage dissolution. Our aim is to identify under what conditions equity influences couple stability. We apply event-history analysis to marriage histories using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel for Western Germany and the Panel Study of Income Dynamics for the United States for the period 1986 to 2009. For the United States, we find that deviation from equity is particularly destabilizing when the wife under-benefits, and when both partners' paid work hours are similar. In West Germany, equity is less salient. Instead we find that the male breadwinner model remains the single most stable arrangement.

Married Women’s Lived Experiences on the Value of Traditional Premarital Counseling “Go Laya” on Marital Stability in Botswana

Traditional premarital counseling seems threatened and not benefiting the couple as it should be. This has negatively impacted on the establishment of marriage. The purpose of the study was to explore married women lived experiences on the value of traditional premarital counseling, go laya, on marital stability. Traditional premarital counseling has always existed to help prepare couples for the future challenges and expectations in marriage. The study adopted a qualitative phenomenological research design. A purposive sample of 10 married women with varied durations in marriage provided the data through interviews. These interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed. The transcripts assumed a phenomenological approach where bracketing and eidetic reduction were employed. The findings indicate that the traditional premarital counseling is very valuable and has a potential of keeping marriages firm. In addition, although the traditional premarital counseling is an appropriate antidivorce strategy, the main problem is that it has lately lost its meaning. Unlike in the past, it is no longer given the honor and not conducted in depth. Despite the major role go laya has in marriage, its implementation must be reviewed and documented to give direction on how it should be done.

Men's Migration, Women's Autonomy, and Union Dissolution in Rural Mozambique.

Men’s labor migration has been shown to affect marital stability in various contexts, but heterogeneity in the relationship between migration and marital outcomes is not well understood. This study employs longitudinal data from rural Mozambique, a rapidly changing setting with massive yet diverse male labor out-migration, to examine the associations between husband’s migration and union dissolution. It analyzes variation in the likelihood of dissolution according to the success of migration and assesses the degree to which this association is influenced by women’s decision-making autonomy. Results show no overall association between husband’s migration status and the likelihood of dissolution but substantial differences between unions of more successful and less successful migrants. Women’s decision-making autonomy is associated with an increased risk of divorce for women married to migrants but greater marital stability for women married to nonmigrants. Implications of these findings for union stability in sub-Saharan and similar developing settings are discussed.

Research on Correlates of Marital Quality and Stability in Muslim Countries: A Review

AbstractThe study of marital quality and stability has attracted widespread attention over the past two decades, with considerable interest in identifying predictors of marital quality and (in)stability. Most of this research comes from Western countries, however, and similar research from other areas is only beginning to develop. In particular, little coherent literature in this area has emerged from Muslim countries. Understanding how marriages develop, succeed, and fail is important for families across the globe, and perspectives relying predominantly on Western data and research perspectives may be of limited use in other contexts. The current review summarizes the existing empirical literature on the basis of samples from predominantly Muslim countries; identifies existing evidence to reveal important gaps with particular emphasis on personal, interpersonal, and contextual factors; and explores potential mechanisms that might explain associations between these factors and indicators of marital functioning.

Why don't you share your satisfaction with me?

Healthy spousal communication of marital and sexual expectations is one of the most important factors to improve the quality of sexual relations in marriage. This paper has attempted to explore women's expectations of men for having pleasurable sex in a monogamous and steady sexual relationship within the context of Iran. In this qualitative study, 20 interviews were conducted in Tehran from December 2013 to May 2014. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling, face-to-face, in-depth, and semistructured interviews. The collected data were analyzed using qualitative conventional content analysis. The research was designed with regard to Lincoln and Guba's four major rigor criteria in qualitative investigation. Women's expectations for having enjoyable sex were classified in two areas: (1) marital components and (2) sexual components. Marital components included romantic relationships, attention, respect and admiration, appreciation, man's loyalty, and having compatibility. Sexual components included enough sexual skills, good sexual function, and commitment to equity in sex. This research helps to identify women's expectations for having a gratifying sexual relationship and thus contributes to enhanced sexual satisfaction, as well as marital stability and continuity.

Is There the “Sweet Spot” for Age at Marriage and Positive Marital Outcomes?

Using three nationally representative data sets, researchers analyzed the trends in age at marriage, marital stability, and marital satisfaction across the 20th century. Although there is a well-established link between age at marriage and marital stability, less is understood about the link between age at marriage and marital satisfaction. Previous work in this area suggested that it is the absolute age at first marriage that makes a difference. This study examined this hypothesis as well as a second hypothesis that cultural expectations about the “right” age to marry make a difference. Neither hypothesis was completely supported. Trends in normed marital satisfaction scores varied by birth cohort, years married, and age at marriage in nonlinear ways. Implications for relationship educators and practitioners are discussed.

Less Alimony after Divorce: Spouses' Behavioral Response to the 2008 Alimony Reform in Germany

The 2008 alimony reform in Germany considerably reduced post-marital and caregiver alimony. We analyze how individuals adapted to these changed rulings in terms of labor supply, the intra-household allocation of leisure, and marital stability. We use the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) and conduct a difference-in-difference analysis to investigate couples' behavioral responses to the reform. The results do not confirm theoretical expectations from labor supply and household bargaining models. In particular, we do not find evidence that women increase their labor supply as a result of the negative expected income effect. Neither do our results reveal that leisure is shifted from women to men as a response to the changed bargaining positions. In contrast, we find evidence that the reform has led to an increase in the probability to separate for married as opposed to non-married cohabiting couples.

Does religiosity explain economic outcomes?

Most religions in transition economies were marginalized by their former communist regimes. Today, some of these countries are experiencing a revival of religiosity, while others are prone to secularization. Religious norms affect individual decision making with respect to human capital investment, economic reforms, marital stability, employment, and other contexts. This implies that the interests of both religious and non-religious communities may differ and must be taken into account when designing and implementing economic policies, which is a challenge for policymakers.

Betting the House: How Assets Influence Marriage Selection, Marital Stability, and Child Investments

Marriage used to be practically universal, but now persists as an institution for only some groups, while others choose non-marital fertility. This paper posits that if one role of marriage is to insure one partner's investment in children, then home-ownership can be seen as providing the necessary collateral for this contract. As easier divorce and paternity enforcement outside of marriage have reduced the relative strength of the marital contract, the division of assets, particularly the family home, post-separation has remained unique to marriage. We provide a model where husbands can ante up the marital home to elicit more optimal child investments, whose costs are born mostly by the mother, by reducing the chance of divorce while providing consumption insurance to their partner. This, in turn, increases the value of marriage for those able to access this collateralized version of the contract. The model predicts that individuals able to buy a home at the time of marriage will invest more in children and have greater labor specialization, while policy changes that eroded marriage's relative commitment value would have heterogenous effects by asset-holding, both of which appear to hold in US data.

Indian Orthopaedic surgeons are less burned out than their Western colleagues

BackgroundBurnout is a tridimensional psychological syndrome, the consequences of which in surgeons can be devastating. A preliminary review of the literature has demonstrated a paucity of validated studies measuring the levels of surgeon burnout throughout Asia. The purpose of this paper was to assess the prevalence and factors associated with burn out in Indian orthopedic surgeons and compare them to their western colleagues. Materials & methodsThis nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted at the Indian Orthopaedic Association Annual Meeting, via a validated burnout assessment instrument. Variables were compared using the chi-square, Mantel-Haenszel and Mann-Whitney-U tests. Variables associated with burnout subscales and overall burnout were explored using multiple linear and logistic regression. ResultsThere were 299 responses to the survey, 23.1% of the surgeons were allocated burnout status. There was a significant (p<0.001) association between burnout, all measures of satisfaction and health. This association also existed for half-days in public practice (p=0.03) and marital status (p<0.001). ConclusionThis is the first study to assess burnout among orthopedic surgeons in Asia. The use of a validated instrument facilitates future cross study comparisons. There were low levels of burnout in the Indian orthopedic profession, when compared to western countries, albeit a variety of sociocultural factors may play a role. There was evidence to suggest that the number of half-day sessions per week in public practice was associated with burnout, possibly attributed to longer hours and less flexibility. Satisfaction with training pathway was consistently significantly associated with all burnout subscales, a focus for future interventions. A strongly significant association persisted with our previous Australian study between burnout and marital status, emotional support and family stability critical for burnout minimization.

A New Heuristic in Mutual Sequential Mate Search

In this paper, we propose a new heuristic to be used as a mate search strategy in the Todd and Miller’s (1999) human mate choice model. This heuristic, which we call Take the Weighted Average with the Next Desiring Date, is a plausible search rule in terms of informational assumptions, while in terms of mating likelihood it is almost as good as the most successful, yet also unrealistic, heuristic of Todd and Miller (1999), namely the Mate Value-5 rule, which assumes that agents in the mating population completely know their own mate values before interacting with any date. The success of our heuristic stems from its extreme power to lead an average agent in the mating population to always underestimate his/her own mate value during the adolescence (learning) phase of the mating process. However, this humble heuristic does not perform well in terms of marital stability. We find that the mean within-pair difference is always higher under our heuristic (possibly due to high estimation errors made in the learning phase) than under any heuristic of Todd and Miller (1999). It seems that becoming ready to pair up with agents whose mate values are well below one’s own mate value pays off well in the mating phase but also incurs an increased risk of marital dissolution.

A New Heuristic in Mutual Sequential Mate Search

In this paper, we propose a new heuristic to be used as a mate search strategy in the Todd and Miller's (1999) human mate choice model. This heuristic, which we call Take the Weighted Average with the Next Desiring Date, is a plausible search rule in terms of informational assumptions, while in terms of mating likelihood it is almost as good as the most successful, yet also unrealistic, heuristic of Todd and Miller (1999), namely the Mate Value-5 rule, which assumes that agents in the mating population completely know their own mate values before interacting with any date. The success of our heuristic stems from its extreme power to lead an average agent in the mating population to always underestimate his/her own mate value during the adolescence (learning) phase of the mating process. However, this humble heuristic does not perform well in terms of marital stability. We find that the mean within-pair difference is always higher under our heuristic (possibly due to high estimation errors made in the learning phase) than under any heuristic of Todd and Miller (1999). It seems that becoming ready to pair up with agents whose mate values are well below one's own mate value pays off well in the mating phase but also incurs an increased risk of marital dissolution.