This study found that, prior to beginning school, the typical adult female student at Montclair State College reports moderately positive support from her spouse. However, during the first semester, she encounters mild role conflict and lack of self-confidence in her ability to meet family and academic responsibilities. During her second and third semesters, her husband often resists the role changes which the first semester has revealed are necessary for her academic success. As a result, he withholds support, thereby causing her to suffer increasing time-management and role-conflict problems. However, if she perseveres through this period, her husband eventually develops new role expectancies for both of them and restores spousal support. Eventually, the force of previous socialization and current social pressures cause a consistent rise in power conflict. However, by this time, the student is strongly involved in academic success. Moreover, her own expectancies and those of her spouse are congruent. Both perceive her as individual-wife-mother-homemaker-student and the spouse as individual-husband-father-homemaker-wage earner. Therefore, spousal support and marital happiness remain high. (Author)