Examined data on frequency with which relationship conflict is experienced in specific content areas and relationship satisfaction for both partners of 75 gay, 51 lesbian, and 108 heterosexual couples who lived together without children. Couple scores fell into six clusters that represented areas of conflict regarding power, social issues,…

Investigated whether greater affection between adult children and their parents leads to more social contact, social contact leads to greater affection, or each mutually influences other. Found reciprocal influence between contact and affection in mother-child relationship, not in father-child relationship. Concluded that motivations for contact…

Using data from a longitudinal study of adolescents (N=608), an examination was made into the connection between the experience of physical discipline in childhood and violence in intimate relationships. It was determined that harsh physical punishment in childhood is directly related to greater perpetration of violence later against an intimate…

Analysis showed that fathers' payment of child support was positively associated with measures of children's well-being. The frequency of contact with nonresident fathers was not related to child outcomes in general. Reports that feelings of closeness and authoritative parenting were positively associated with children's academic success and…

Identifies empirical links between social homogamy, similarity in leisure interests, and role performance preferences and the dynamics of premarital relationships. Data were collected from 168 working- and middle-class couples married for the first time in central Pennsylvania during the early 1980s. Discusses findings. Argues for the importance…

Critically examines self-report measures used by marital researchers, focusing on selected indicators of marital satisfaction, adjustment, and quality. Reviews indicators of marital intimacy and complaints. Explores measures of concepts linked more directly to marital stability, including measures of commitment, relationship alternatives, and…

Examined influence of recent parental divorce on contact and affective relations between 485 white young adults and their parents. Young adults from divorced families had less contact with fathers, and daughters of divorce reported less intimacy with fathers than did intact-family peers. Relations with mothers did not vary between groups.…

Used the investment model to predict relationship status and satisfaction among a sample of heterosexual dating couples. On several dimensions, females had cognitions that were more relationship maintaining than males. Findings suggest that females may be more invested in their relationships than males. This greater investment may provide them…

Using sexual exclusivity as an indication of commitment to a partner, examines commitment within dating, cohabitation, and marriage. Employing data from the National Survey of Women (1991), finds that cohabitation, in terms of sexual commitment, is more similar to dating than marriage, and that cohabitation, relative to marriage, is selective of…

Used data from the 1975-76 Jamaica Fertility Study to examine relationship between fertility and the following transitions in sexual relationship: (1) from visiting to common-law; (2) from visiting to marriage; and (3) from visiting to termination of partnership. Results indicated that childbirth reduced the probability of all three transitions.…

Surveyed 365 college students to investigate their attitudes toward the effects of past sexual behavior, both heterosexual and homosexual, on one's acceptability as a dating or marriage partner. Results showed that both men and women prefer partners without previous coital or oral heterosexual experience, and both strongly rejected those with any…

Analyzed National Survey of Black Americans data (N=2,107) to determine extent and structural correlates of marriage, romantic involvements, and preference for romantic involvement. Found marriage among Blacks dependent on male economic readiness and "traditionality"; fewer marital options for economically disadvantaged males, older…

Examines way women and men organize their gender relations in families around domains of marriage, work, and parenthood through research literature review. Concludes gender specialization persists across all three domains with women most responsible for marriage, housework and parenthood, and men, for provision. Recommends greater examination of…

Examines predictors of early sexual intercourse for a sample of 457 adolescents in grades 8 through 10, from two-parent and single-mother families. Significant decreases were noted in the effect of mother monitoring by 10th grade. The primary predictors of early intercourse were age, opportunity (steady relationship), sexually permissive attitude,…

Using the 1987-88 National Survey of Families and Households, this research examines normative beliefs about marriage and cohabitation among non-Latino whites, Mexican Americans, and mainland Puerto Ricans. Results indicate Mexican Americans tend to be more pronuptial than non-Latino whites. They evaluate marriage more positively relative to…