A partner can communicate a problem with another in a healthy way using listening and response methods OR one can use unhealthy styles such as eye rolling or making insults. When partners use a disagreement as an opportunity to grow closer as a couple they learn that differences can actually help a marriage thrive. Read […]

In her blog, Tara Parker Pope introduces an idea to "pre-empt marital strife" as she describes some of the research now taking place in marital maintenance. She cites the work of Dr. James V. Cordova who is researching the benefits of annual marriage checkups. Preliminary findings show that these checkups can increase the quality of […]

Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson met, were engaged, and were married within a four month period in 1934, while Prince William and Kate Middleton dated for nine years before becoming engaged. Researchers suggest numerous reasons that couples are putting off marriage include education, finances, and wanting to work out problems before committing. Read more.

Hostile and distressing interactions with a spouse are linked to problems with a partner's physical health. Learning skills such as how to argue in a healthy way, accepting partners for whom they are, not yelling at yellers, limit venting to others about your relational problems and recalling the lessons from happy times can not only […]

You're more likely to be obese, and chances are your Body Mass Index (BMI) increased to more than it would have been, had you stayed single. Why does this happen? Theories for this increase in weight include the comfort and security from "not having to prove yourself," disruptive sleep patterns from sharing a bed, the […]

John Wooden wrote a letter to his wife once a month for 24 years until his vision began to fail. This demonstration of marital loyalty was remarkable for many reasons including the fact that all of these letters were written after her death. In his tribute to John Wooden, Rick Reilly describes some of the […]

An article by Dr. Phillips includes many examples of where we may treat our dog (or other pet) better than our spouse. When coming home from a bad day we still greet the pet with warmth, but how do we treat our spouses? Pets may irritate us by soiling the floor, but we don't stay […]

Creating and maintaining holiday traditions are far more important to children than most parents realize. Family traditions provide enjoyment that extends far beyond the moment for those who participate; family traditions help define a family. Read more.

Is a partner forgetting to pay bills, do his/her share of the chores, or "ignoring" the to-do list you made for them? Perhaps the anger you feel towards a "lazy" partner is unfounded. A partner with A.D.H.D. may be simply overwhelmed by lists or a messy house. Understanding that a partner has this disorder may […]

Women are still more likely to experience depression when a relationship ends, but men were the most vulnerable to the lows in ongoing relationships. One of the possible explanations is that men lack other sources of intimacy while women will have various types of close friendships outside of the romantic relationship. Read more.