Date of Award
1987
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Psychology
Abstract
This study was designed to examine the influences of intimacy, gender, and sex-role identity on marital functioning of dual-career couples. The purpose was to determine which aspects of intimacy and sex-role identity were the best predictors of marital adjustment. Also of interest was a description of how the adequately functioning dual-career couples differed on total intimacy, compatibility, conflict resolution, identity, sex, cohesion, affection, expressiveness, autonomy, androgyny, masculinity, and femininity. Additionally, possible gender differences on each of these variables were investigated. The sample for the study consisted of 60 couples who volunteered to participate. They were between the ages of 27 and 55. All were presently employed in a job that met the criteria of being a career. All were married a minimum of 3 years and all had children. Results indicated the best predictors of marital adjustment of dual-career couples combined were compatibility, affection, expressiveness, cohesion, and masculinity. Further, when analyzed separately, compatibility was the best predictor of marital adjustment of adequately functioning males and females. Affection was the best predictor of marital adjustment of dysfunctioning males, and expressiveness and affection were the best predictors of marital adjustment of dysfunctioning females. The adequately functioning group scored significantly higher than the dysfunctioning group on: total intimacy, compatibility, conflict resolution, identity, sex, cohesion, affection, expressiveness, and masculinity. Further, adequately functioning males reported a significantly higher level of identity and masculinity than those of the other three groups. Males in both groups scored significantly higher than females on the dimension of androgyny. Adequately functioning females reported a significantly higher level of expressiveness than those of the other groups. No significant difference was found among the groups in either femininity or autonomy.
Recommended Citation
Stockwell, Glenda Frances, "Influences Of Intimacy, Gender, And Sex-Role Identity On Marital Adjustment Of Functioning And Dysfunctioning Dual-Career Couples" (1987). All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 825.
https://scholars.indianastate.edu/etds/825