Virtually all American couples, married or cohabiting, expect sexual exclusivity of one another. This article asks why some people are sexually exclusive while others have sex with someone besides their mate. Previous research has linked personal values, sexual opportunities, and quality of the marital relationship to extramartial sex. This paper integrates these findings in a […]
This booklet emphasizes the importance of marriage in society and provides 101 strategies for strengthening marriages and families. Ideas include celebrating anniversaries of family and friends, starting a Marriage Hall of Fame in your community for those married for 40 years or more, organizing marriage retreats, developing a Strengthening Marriage Club, having a congregation or […]
Infidelity is a major cause of divorce and spousal battering. Little is known, however, about which individuals are susceptible to infidelity, or about the relationship contexts that promote infidelity. This study of 107 married couples examines three sets of possible predictors of infidelity: Personality factors such as narcissism and conscientiousness; relationship contexts, including recurrent sources […]
An addendum to the Family Wellness Instructor Manual for use by instructors for the development of programs and presentations on how to teach family wellness skills to families. ( A curriculum resource)
This exercise was designed for married couples to measure their own level of sexual satisfaction as well as their perceived spouse’s satisfaction, leading to an open dialogue.
Screening and Assessment for Domestic Violence is the fourth in a series of 5 related Guides developed for relationship and marriage educators and program administrators to help them understand and respond to domestic violence issues that may arise within their programs. This Guide describes what has been learned to date about how HMR programs might […]
Thirty African American married couples (N = 60 individuals) were interviewed regarding the challenges and benefits of their happy, enduring marriages. Qualitative coding and analysis revealed 4 key themes: (1) Challenges in African American Marriages, (2) Overcoming External Challenges to Marriage, (3) Resolving Intramarital Conflict, and (4) Unity and the Importance of Being “”Equally Yoked.”” […]
Responding to Domestic Violence is the fifth in a series of 5 related Guides developed for relationship and marriage educators and program administrators to help them understand and respond to domestic violence issues that may arise within their programs. This guide helps prepare healthy marriage and relationship programs to respond when domestic violence is disclosed […]
This investigation of the effects of stressful life events on rural African American women’s relationship well-being, psychological functioning, and parenting included 361 married or long-term cohabiting women. Associations among stressful events, socioeconomic status, perceived racial discrimination, coping strategies, psychological functioning, relationship well-being, and parenting were tested. Stressful events were related directly to diminished relationship well-being […]
Promoting Safety : A Resource Packet for Marriage and Relationship Educators and Program Administrators is a series of 5 related Guides developed for relationship and marriage educators and program administrators to help them understand and respond to domestic violence issues that may arise within their programs. The full Resource Packet consists of the following: Understanding […]