The First Year of Marriage: Dyadic Adjustment and Intimacy
Wojtaszek-Healy, Madonna Marie
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/71909
Description
Title
The First Year of Marriage: Dyadic Adjustment and Intimacy
Author(s)
Wojtaszek-Healy, Madonna Marie
Issue Date
1988
Department of Study
Education
Discipline
Education
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Psychology, Developmental
Sociology, Individual and Family Studies
Health Sciences, Human Development
Abstract
The study was designed to investigate the development of marital adjustment and intimacy over the transition period from engagement through the first year of marriage. A cross-sequential data collection strategy was used to measure change in these processes over time. The data were also analyzed for gender differences.
The subjects were 150 couples identified through a Catholic diocese's marriage preparation class registration lists. The couples represented four cohorts, defined by date of marriage. At the first time of measurement, the couples were engaged to be married in 4 months, or were already married for either 2, 8, or 14 months. Couples were assessed again six months later. Responses from both members of the couple were required for inclusion. The instruments used were Spanier's Dyadic Adjustment Scale and Schafer and Olson's Personal Assessment of Intimacy in Relationships. Multivariate analysis of variance and multiple regression were used to analyze the data.
Predictions of decline in marriage over time were not supported, as the results showed no change in dyadic adjustment or the five subscales of intimacy over the transition period.
The sexes were found to be more similar in their assessments of perceived intimacy than of desired intimacy in all areas of intimacy. Males reported desiring more, but also receiving more, emotional intimacy than their wives. Females reported desiring more, but also receiving more, sexual intimacy than their husbands.
Finally, the only demographic variable found to correlate significantly with marital adjustment was whether a couple cohabited prior to marriage. A negative relationsip was found.
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