Theoretical Basis and usefulness
Relationship satisfaction in romantic relationships one of many factors important to explore when treating couples. Therapists may find it useful to measure how much time couple spend together, what are the patterns are when the couple argues, on what they agree or disagree, and so on. Knowing the area of most concern, therapist can tailor treatment to address the presenting issues that the couple wants to resolve and understand more about each other.
Because relationships are evolving and couples involved experience adjustment at different points in their life, the Locke & Wallace Marital Adjustment Test (LW-MAT) studies dyadic adjustment by looking at the process only at specific points on the continuum “focusing on characteristics and interactions of the relationship” (Spanier, 1976, p. 16). Spanier (1976) defines dyadic adjustment in five ways: troublesome dyadic differences, interpersonal tensions and personal anxiety, dyadic satisfaction, and dyadic cohesion, and consensus on matters of importance of dyadic functioning.
Psychometric properties
The predictors of marital happiness are influenced by the interpersonal variables (Gottman, 1994; Karney & Bradburry, 1997). The variables found in the LW-MAT are consistent and measure what they intend to measure (e.g., marital satisfaction) by the way questions are posed in the assessment. Knabb and Vogt (2011) drew from previous research and highlight that marital studies alluded to the concepts that personality variables in one partner tend to predict the level of marital adjustment. Additionally dyadic approach to marital research examines how personality similarities and differences between couples contribute to marital adjustment (Gottman, 1987...
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2. What aspect of personality has been found to be a reliable predictor of marital dissatisfaction, poor reports of health, and depression?
Take for occurrences, section 9, "men are somewhat Pollyannaish about the condition of their marriage, while their spouses are sensitive to the inconvenience." This is not generally so for one side or the other. It is increasingly that couples need to take in the dialect of the other individual and recollect what it took to get the individual
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Assuming that couples are cognitively represented as distinct dyadic units, these mental representations should influence how people perceive both their own couples as well as other couples in the social world. Thus, the present studies adopted both a self-perception and social-perception approach to examining dyadic-level
Marital drift can occur in any marriage relationship, regardless of culture, status, religious beliefs and practices, or lifestyle. Various factors can contribute to marital drift. Individuals and couples face many demands upon their time, energy, and attention. In their research, King and DeLongis (2014) report that the marriage relationship involves a variety complex interactions, all of which are influenced by a variety of stress and coping processes. These interactions (or lack thereof), constraints, and stressors can cause a drift to occur, separating the couple from each other emotionally, sexually, and physically. If not tended to, a marital drift can ultimately end in divorce.
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The primacy of spousal support is also evident in research examining physical health outcomes. Reductions of depression in arthritis patients is related to positive support received from the spouse (Schiaffino & Revenson, 1995). Spousal support increases motivations to improve health for heart transplant patients (Rogers, 1987). The marital relationship prior to, and supportive interaction after the intervention, are also associated with the adjustment of cancer patients (Gritz et al., 1990). Social support in marriage can be operationalized in a number of ways, each of which may help elucidate its role in marital functioning. Support can be defined as the number or quality of support behaviors received in marital interactions (received support). This is typically assessed via observational coding systems that allow outside observers to code the occurrence of support behavior. Support can also be thought of as the perception of spouses as to the availability or adequacy of support provided by the partner (perceived
The long-term success of marriage is measured by how effective and efficient individual couples exchange and express their feeling not only to address the problem that might arise but most important how they resolve it through
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Communication Patterns: How does it Contribute to Marital Adjustment?" Journal of marital and family therapy 25.2 (1999): 211-23. ProQuest Central. Web. 5 Mar. 2013.