As described in earlier articles, children whose parents have higher income and education levels are more likely to grow up in stable two-parent households than their economically disadvantaged counterparts. These widening gaps in fathers’ involvement in parenting and in the quality and stability of parents’ relationships may reinforce disparities in outcomes for the next generation. […]

This article analyzing national data (N = 7,408) examines the connection between men’s and women’s relative economic contributions in families and the risk of husband-to-wife physical violence and emotional abuse. Family violence researchers have conceptualized the association between economic variables and the risk of intimate partner violence with respect to the structural dimensions of sociodemographic […]

Given the high rate of divorce in the U.S., the alleviation of marital distress and the prevention of marital and family breakdown is a priority for clinicians and researchers. This study evaluated the long-term effectiveness of the Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills (PAIRS) program for enhancing marital relationships. Married program participants (N=137) from 5 […]

There has been a revolution in the way many people think about marriage. Many scholars have moved from a medical approach (watching for symptoms, considering diagnoses, treating disease) to a wellness approach (cultivating strengths, tolerating some limitations, preventing problems). One result of this revolution is less focus on problem-centered communication and increased emphasis on relationship […]

It is a fair question to ask: “”Why a survey on married Arkansans?”” Arkansas has one of the highest divorce rates in country; however, beyond these alarming statistics, this survey was prompted by additional concerns found in local and national data that encouraged marriage educators and providers to work together. In an exploratory stage of […]

This paper presents progress to date on a review examining how marriage and relationship programs–defined as programs to improve the relationship between two people involved romantically–affect the quality of couples’ relationships. This is an important issue given changes in the past several decades in marriage and divorce rates, the rise of single parenting, and the […]

After explaining why Oklahoma should be fertile ground for faith-based social service initiatives, this paper explores the challenges Oklahoma is having partnering with faith-based organizations (FBOs). Oklahoma’s complicated social welfare system and political culture is described, including constitutional limitations that hamper the State’s ability to confront social service issues in a coherent fashion. The overhaul […]